One Invitation (Come and See)

Intro: Evangelism Story

We’ve been talking about the power of ONE in this series. We’ve talked about the power of ONE prayer—how Jesus commanded us to pray for more workers so that many people might come to know God. We talked about the power of ONE person—how every single person, no matter who you are or what your career is or what your past is like, has the opportunity to make a difference in the world through God. We talked about the power of ONE decision—

This morning, we’re going to talk about the power of ONE invitation. And I think it’s important because when we talk about reaching our one person who God has laid on our hearts, I think the biggest thing that holds most of us back is that we don’t know what to say.

When I was in seminary, we were required to participate in a personal evangelism program where we went around to the neighborhoods near campus and so I went with a group of people and we went up to people’s doors and knocked and tried to start a conversation about Jesus. And so I watched a couple and pretty much everybody we spoke to was already a believer and we prayed with them and moved on. So then they said, “Okay TJ it’s your turn.” So I go up there and I ring the doorbell and I think I said something like, “Hi, I’m TJ. I’m from the local seminary, and I just wanted to see what you think about God and faith.” So the guy says, “We’re Buddhist.” And I said, “Oh that’s cool!” And then I didn’t know where to go from there. So, I’m like, “Okay, do you mind if I tell you about my faith in Jesus?” And he was like “No thanks,” and that was that.

My feeling is that, for most of us, even thinking about that situation produces anxiety in us, and I think a lot of that has to do with the feeling of being uncertain about what to say.

And my hope is that through our story today, we can take away some of the anxiety about having all the right answers and simply inviting others to come and see Jesus.

So, we’re going to look at a conversation between Jesus and an unnamed Samaritan woman in John 4. And we’re going to consider what kind of invitation Jesus is making to her and what kind of invitation she then extends to the people around her.

PRAYER

An Invitation to True Life

John 4:4–15 NLT

He had to go through Samaria on the way. Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?” Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?” Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.”

An Invitation to True Worship

John 4:16–24 NLT

“Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her. “I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied. Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband—for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!” “Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?” Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

An Invitation to follow Jesus

John 4:25–30 NLT

The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus told her, “I Am the Messiah!” Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked to find him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, “What do you want with her?” or “Why are you talking to her?” The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” So the people came streaming from the village to see him.

ONE invitation

We invite across worldly lines

We invite people to be satisfied (GOOD NEWS!)

We are inviting them to heart worship (Not MY WAY of worship)

We are inviting them to “Come and See” (We don’t need all the answers)