Changing Soils

Father, is we come to you today? Lord, we again, thank you for the blessings and everything that you provide. Lord, I pray that we would never take our good health for granted. And Lord, we lift up those to you within our church family in our community who are struggling with different illnesses. And Lord, we ask that you would bring the healing that they need. Lord, that David lean on you and that you would strengthen their faith during this time. Arby with Carol and Melissa's. They travel home today. Keep them safe. Help Melissa to heal from yet. Another surgery. Lord, we pray for the Minnick family, as they gather around, Karen during this time or just encourage them, and help them through this difficult time and Lord help us with a church family to continue to support them and reach out to them. And Lord we pray for this unspoken request. Lord of a family that has a lot going on right now. Florida, many of us know what that means. And Lord, we've been through difficult times as a family and Lord I pray, that is a church family. We will lift them up in prayer and Lord. If there are any other ways, we can help that you would make those clear. And Lord, we pray that as we dig into your word today, Lord, that you will give us. The piece in the strength in the boldness. To be disciples who desire to make other disciples. We pray the song your most holy name. Amen.

So, as we continue on in this series, about changing soil, you know, making sure that you are rooted firmly in the good, fruitful soil, you know, prayer is an essential component of making sure that you are rooted in the right soil and being able to point others toward that fruitful soil. Prayer is not optional, you know, that was the big idea behind the second message in this series, which I came in even though we didn't have the preschool program that Sunday and I recorded the message. So the message is there online, if you want to go find it on our church Facebook page or my Facebook page, it's there. But it talked about the importance of prayer and Howell, as a person who's a disciple wanting to make disciples prayer, is an essential part of that. Feminine prayer should be an essential part of life of anyone who calls themself a disciple of Jesus Christ. But today we're going to move on from that and as we've prayed for God to give us the courage to speak up. As we've prayed for people that you know, God would bring us people who are open to hearing the gospel. Today, we're going to talk about that of how to engage those people. Sore. Big idea for today is that God has intentionally placed us around the people in our lives to share with them about him.

Do you ever think about that? I mean, just really think about it. All of the random events in your life that have happened have most possibly happen to have you exactly where you are at this time right now, for the reason of you, being able to share the gospel with somebody, Sounds a little crazy but it's 100% true. It's a hundred percent the way God works. You know, he is outside of time. So he sees the whole picture from beginning to end, we can't Salat times. We don't understand how all these things fit together but they do I want to encourage you that wherever you are. You are there for a reason?

And if you'll trust him, God can use you to accomplish his purposes there. So today we're going to talk about how do you start conversations with people? And then turn them towards god without creeping people out. Making them. Think Ono. Here he goes again.

and to do this, we're going to look in John chapter 4 and see how Jesus did this with his encounter with the woman at the well,

So John Chapter 4 verses 1 through 4 is where I'm going to start out. says, now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was, Gaining and baptizing more disciples than John. Although in fact, it was not Jesus who baptized but his disciples, so he left you Dee and went back. Once more to Galilee, Now he had to go through Samaria. Yeah, I want a kid on that verse for there. Because the truth is Jesus, didn't actually have to go through Samaria. In fact, his disciples probably thought it was odd that they were. because in their culture, the Jews and the Samaritans despised each other. They just didn't get along so much. So even though it was a shorter route to go through Samaria, the Jews would rather inconvenience themselves and go out around Samaria to get to Galilee cuz they didn't even want to deal with the Samaritans. They didn't want to associate with them in any way. They despise them that much. And Jesus knew this yet, he still did it. because walking through, Samaria to get to Galilee was the shortest route, but that's not why he did it. Yo, Jesus did it because he was teaching his disciples that in order to reach the people who no one else is reaching. You have to be willing to go where no one else is going.

It's an important lesson. That's a part of this whole kind of mini Workshop. Jesus gives on

Weaving God into your conversation. So continuing on in verse 6

as their traveling, they've just now arrived in Sumerian. Jacob's. Well, was there and Jesus tired as he was from the journey sat down by the well, it was about noon when the Samaritan woman came to draw water. Jesus said to her, will you give me a drink?

His disciples had gone into town to buy food. So Jesus was just there by himself.

You know, and once again Jesus does something that's incredibly unexpected. He strikes up a conversation with the Samaritan woman.

Not only was it completely out of bounds for him as a Jewish person to be talkin to this Samaritan, but Probably even more scandalous was the idea that he is a Jewish man was initiating a conversation with a woman. And the Samaritan woman? No less. Yet Jesus Does It Anyway. He does it because conversations are necessary if we're going to make disciples and live our lives in the fruitful soil. You know, Jesus was often one who didn't just teach with his words. He talked with his actions, he showed them how to do it and even though his disciples weren't there, he knew if he initiated this conversation, They were going to ask questions when they did get back. But notice how Jesus started this conversation with this woman in a very casual way. And he just asked her for a drink of water.

Made. If you think about it, we start conversations with people. We may not know as well in similar Fashion Is Right? Be asked him what they think about the weather. You know, we asked, where your kids go to school, we might ask him, you know, like will where do you work at

You know, it's not all that different from how we do things and that's how Jesus starts this whole conversation because I think he knows by him, simply starting the conversation with her. This Woman's going to have questions,

Because we know often when we make small talk, our only intention is making small talk, right? We don't enjoy the awkward silence, so we try to fill it with something. But that's the difference if we're trying to live as a disciple maker. We try to find a way to turn that conversation from simple. Small talk into a god, Focus conversation.

As their conversation continues here in John 4:9. The Samaritan woman said to him, you are a Jew and I'm a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink? Purchase do not associate with Samaritans. Jesus answered her. If you knew the gift of God and who it was that asked you for a drink? You would have asked him and he would have given you living water. Sir, the woman said you have nothing to draw with in the, well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father? Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it itself. As did also his sons and his livestock Jesus answered. Everyone who drinks, this water will be thirsty again but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water, I give them will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. Woman said to him, sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.

He told her go, call your husband and come back. I have no husband, she replied. Jesus said to her. You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is you have had five husbands in the man. You are now have is not your husband. What you have said is quite true.

You know, we see how Jesus is starting to turn this conversation and he could have kept it on the small talk level, right? He could have kept it at the level of hey, I'm thirsty. Can you help me get a drink? But instead he starts to intentionally deepen the conversation, and Jesus, naturally transition the conversation into talking from talking about. I'm thirsty to talking about eternal life.

Then he transitions at talking to the lady, about some of her tragically painful relationship history that had happened in her life.

And, you know, none of us are Jesus. So it's not like we know everything about everybody Like Jesus Does but we can learn from this of how to transition conversations into meaningful ones. Because the truth is it's simply about asking good questions.

And it's also about maybe bill being willing to share a little bit of your own faith Journey. Your own vulnerability to engage them in a different way.

Yeah, there's a book that I had people read before our church in Wyoming. Went on a missions trip to Bosnian. One of the things I loved in that book as it was talking about serving cross-culturally and how to do that, one of the things that shared in that book is that before you try to teach someone something, Ask them to teach you something. Because it changes the whole dynamic because unfortunately as Americans when we travel to other countries for far too long, it's always been like hey you can all rest easy. Now, the Americans are here, we have all the answers will fix everything.

And you encounter this, when you go to other countries, they think it's pointless for us to say anything. The Americans are just going to do it their way. But you have to break down that stereotype. So, I remember when I talked this to some of the younger college-aged, people who were going on our trip there like Whatever that won't work that stupid. They don't feel that way about Americans. Everyone loves Americans right? hope we get over there and they're going to some different cafes in Bosnia to sit and talk with college students from Bosnia and help them work on their English and they're like, they came back afterwards and like, it worked. Like what worked there like, what we weren't getting anywhere talking with them, but then we said, okay, hey, yeah, this is how we say this in English. Teach me how to say that in Bosnian. Like, after we did that, it just changed there, like they've been talking totally different to us now and, you know, it became a whole thing. And they actually got invited by these other college students to come back and spend other time with them talking with them. And learning more about each other's cultures and it just opened it up. But we don't have to be in another culture for that same sort of thing to work. Cuz he know the whole principle behind that is that you show her your showing someone that you value, their opinion, that you value their input,

so is your wanting to turn a conversation towards God as you're talking to someone, if you can simply put some things in there like, hey, you know, I am trying to figure out how To do this, you know, fill in the blank with whatever. Can I have your opinion on it or can you show me? You know hey I've noticed here at work, that you're really good at this. How are you? So good at that? Can you show me how to do that? It may be something that you already know how to do, but by you asking them how they do it. It shows that you value them that you value their input. You know or maybe you hear them sharing something over break one day about a struggle, they're facing with their kids or will an older parent. You know is they're dealing with these things and you can be like hey you know I had to deal with that too. How did you handle it? Yo, by simply asking these questions, you aren't trying to be nosy, you aren't trying to offend anyone. In fact, what you'll find out most the time is your blessing to them. Cuz even if people don't believe in Jesus, I've rarely heard a person turned down an opportunity for prayer. so, if you are genuinely inquiring it's going to have value.

As the conversation continues between the Samaritan woman and Jesus and John Chapter 4 verses 19 through 26. Sir, the woman said, I can see that you are a prophet. Are answered sisters, worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.

Woman. Jesus replied. Believe me a time is coming when you will worship the father, neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship. What you do, not know we worship. What we do know for salvation is from the Jews yet. A time is coming, and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the father in the spirit and in truth, For they are the kind of worshippers the father seeks. God is spirit and his worshipers must Worship in the spirit. And in truth, the woman said, I know that Messiah called Christ is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us. Then Jesus declared by the one speaking to you. I am he

Which kind of had to blow her mind at that point in time. And know you wonder how much she actually got of understanding that and if you continue to read on in that chapter, you see that she left went and got all the other people from the town told him. Hey, you got to come here this guy, he's told me everything about my life and I just met him. So they come out in through her. The whole Community comes to know Christ.

But what we saw in that last conversation that, you know, as she's asking him questions cuz she still just puzzled, why is this Jewish guy asking me?

To get him a cup of water.

SoJO Jesus does a short little teaching about God and who God is.

But, you know, he continues to weave God into this conversation.

And like I said, you know, even if a person isn't a Believer, I've seldom heard anyone. Reject the idea of prayer. And as you listen to this other person share, or is you potentially Sherrod? Maybe they're like, yeah, I've been through that too. You know, you listen for those pain points, those stress points in their story. And then, that's when you can interject. A simple 8, word question of, has anyone ever prayed for you about that?

Most likely if they don't know, the Lord already know. Sadly, if they do know the Lord, this answer still might be no. So as you hear those pain points, as you hear the things that they're passionate about the things that are really impacting them in their life right now.

It might feel unusual to you but there's nothing unnatural about, you asking the question. If anyone has ever prayed for them about that,

And right, there you go. You have instantly. Brought God into the conversation. Conversation is now on an entirely different level.

You might be wondering, you know, how do I continue to steer a conversation in that way? And again it just comes with asking some of the right questions says you have a normal conversation with somebody

you know, maybe as they're still sharing a story about something they're going through or dealing with in their life, maybe you can share Short story about something that you went through and how you're grateful for how God helps you through it.

You know or maybe you just share something that God recently taught you. Maybe it was in your time reading scripture or in your time praying the god taught you something.

Or maybe there was something great that you've witnessed God, do some miracle that you've seen him accomplish. And you can just share that story to try to encourage them that there is hope in their situation.

Maybe share a little bit of vulnerability and you tell them something you're hoping God will help you with something you're struggling with. describe a trial, you went through and how God helped

you know, we often

aren't willing to say these things to people face-to-face.

You know, something I used to say to my kids and they may not remember this or they probably hate hearing it was, I would always say on their social media accounts, if you can't say, it's the person face-to-face. Don't type it in a message. You know what? Amazes me if you go on all these social media platforms, the things that'll get shared on, you know, especially like, you know, the Decatur nose nosy neighbor page or the Decatur discussion board. So you know, it is amazing. How Frank and real people be like that. Why can't we be that way face to face? I mean, why can't people have that same courage? I bet the comments would change a lot if they were having to have those conversations face-to-face rather than just quickly typing it and hitting sent.

But you know, that's where the difference lies. If we want to live a life in the fruitful soil, we need to be willing to have conversations with people face-to-face. It can't just be through our media.

We have to have the courage to talk to people face-to-face, to be real, to them, to share with them what God has done. Be willing to truly hear what they're saying and sharing. I mean we may not feel like a struggle is a huge struggle. But it is.

you know, what example, I can think of this as a personal example is that, you know, I have to remind myself when I go to talk to somebody Who's getting ready to have a surgery? That I've had a lot of surgery in my life. You name it. It's probably been operated on on me you know but

So my bar is kind of up here for your talking major surgery. I'm like, okay, you do. It's up there. But I mean, if the most major sugar you've ever had, is having a hangnail removed.

That's a big surgery for you. If you're getting your tonsils taken out or something. And you have to remember that and realize he knows someone's fear, can be very real about something you might think, why are you upset about that? Why are you afraid of it? But we shouldn't be viewing it in that way. We should be looking at that conversation thinking, how can I help them to overcome this anxiety, this fear by introducing God into it. Is it can make a huge change.

I remember for Mike Jones when he had his heart surgery, a few years ago, he was terrified And at that time, we were in a Bible, study together and hit his wife, that kind of asked me, if I would come up and talk to him before the surgery. So I've been up there and didn't expect to do this. But I actually ended up sharing all the horrible things that happened to me during all my heart surgeries

All the things that hurt, all the things that you know, went wrong. And Mike laughed afterwards to me he goes, you know, I wouldn't have thought so but he goes that made me feel so much better.

he does, we were all in tears, laughing at some of the stories you told of stuff, you had went through and He does but it made me feel better cuz I realized okay, Dave's went through all that. I'm going to be good after this. And, you know, it's we don't realize sometimes things that we can share with people that will help them. And I think we have to realize as we try to think how can we share our faith with people? How can we engage them in a way that's going to make it real? We have to realize that we can turn any conversation into a conversation that can lead someone to God if we get ourselves in the habit of kind of Dripping God into parts of every conversation that we have.

So I know you all talk to people, I know that you all talk about more than just the weather. So this isn't a difficult thing. It's something we can all do. My prayer is that God will give everyone the boldness to do this. Please pray with me.

Dear Jesus. We thank you that.

You want to partner with each and every one of us to build your kingdom here. honestly, as we think about, Bringing you into every conversation. It's a little bit terrifying. It's a little bit scary. But Lord, I just pray that you will flood our hearts and our minds with the boldness that we need to not be afraid to bring you into a conversation.

Lord to not be afraid to show others that our source of peace, our source of calm our strength Lord help us not to be afraid to show them that our faith in you is at the core of all of that. Lord help us to be able to weave that into conversations, Lord that it would become a natural thing for us to continually just drip you throughout every conversation that we have. So that when we bring it up, it's not unusual to people. They know that we're going to bring God into it. And Lord, I pray that that would cause them to ask questions that would cause us to ask you questions. Lord, and that we would all continue to grow. Lord continue to be disciples seeking to make other disciples Lord. We pray the song, your most, holy name. Amen.

Now, as we continue and we get ready to come to the communion table, you know, that is another great opportunity. You know, the whole reason we do communion is to remember what price did for us on the cross. Be able to explain to others.

What he did for us on the cross is pivotal. It's huge and us being disciplemakers.

But, you know, really it boils down to us being willing to show others that we aren't perfect.

You know, that's why we don't just do communion once and then say I'm good. Don't need to do it again. I did it once. No, we continually do it and Christ told us to do it continually. So we continually remember what he did for us and why Christ knew that we were all human, he knew that we would repeatedly need to ask for forgiveness, that we would repeatedly need to be washed clean by his blood and that is what we celebrate with communion. so, as you come today and take the elements, Yeah. Get your bread and your juice and go back to your seats and then we'll take it all together as a family but in that time be reflecting on God. Where do I need to be bolder? Where can I share about my faith? God, you've placed me where I am for a reason. Help me to see that reason. so, if Julia would come up and join me or come up and Get the communion elements and take them back to your seats.

As we forgot.