The Tale of Three Stories

John 4:1-26

Jesus and the Samaritan Woman

Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman

Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John

4 Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John—

2 (though Jesus himself didn’t baptize them—his disciples did). 3 So he left Judea and returned to Galilee.

4 He had to go through Samaria on the way. 5 Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

6 Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime.

7 Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.”

8 He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food.

9 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?”

10 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.”

11 “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?

12 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?”

13 Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again.

14 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.”

15 “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.” 16 “Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her.

16 “Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her.

17 “I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied. Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband— 18 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!”

Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband— 18 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!”

19 “Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. 20 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?”

21 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.

22 You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews.

23 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.

24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

25 The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

26 Then Jesus told her, “I am the Messiah!”

Introduction: What is the best way to share the Gospel with someone? Jesus gives us an example today - The Church has created new models, formula’s

Formulas commenly used - Church’s model for ministry, not Jesus’ - Can be helpful in the context of Jesus’ model to explain, but not for everyone.

Disclaimer, every person and every situation is different. If we use just this story as a model then we believe we can share only to those we have met for the first time, and they are spontaneous encounters. Sharing the Gospel will become organic and more art then science, and it flows out of a heart that cares for the person.

To share the Gospel Jesus’ way, I believe there are three stories we want to grow in.

Know God’s Story

This means know the Gospel Story We have been preaching through all summer - Apostle’s Creed, Symbols, Know the Plot and how it is connected together.

This means know the implications of the Story, In other words what this story would mean for your life and someone else’s life and the impact on our life - See handout.

Ways that Jesus Demonstrates this.

First, Living the Great Commission = Making a Disciple as He Goes.

Second, His starting point in the Story is the Holy Spirit - Living Water.

Third, He demonstrates the Power of the Holy Spirit - Hearing her life story.

Fourth, The implications of the Cross = Worshiping in Spirit and Truth, One new humanity, breaking down dividing walls, no human made religions.

He

Three stories

Young Man in my office feeling guilty for his sins. - Bridge illustration

Women struggling with conflict, but has work related injury. - Prayer for healing

Groomsmen who believes Christians are hypocrites wants to understand the Prodigal Son Story - Implication of Grace.

How much do I need to know? As much as you know right now. Draw from what you know, and grow in what you do not know so you have more resources. - This Growth is what we mean by building disciples, and growing in Faith.

What becomes apparent, though in order to share God’s story in a way that connects with someone’s life, you must learn their story.

Listen to Their Story

As you read the story it appears that Jesus is not doing much listening, but he is listening often for a story much deeper than what she is saying. Here is what he knows and learns.

She is a Samaritan Women -

Samaritan Story - Faith Rooted in Abraham who worshipped God on Mt. Gerizim and had a temple their, Jacob his grandson who became Israel, built the well they were at. When Israel fled Egypt and came into the promised land the first place the Israelites worshipped was on Mt. Gerizim, so became a key place of worship for all Israel, but when David became King he moved the capital to Jerusalem. After David’s son Solomon reigned the Kingdom split the lower Kingdom being Judah based out of Jerusalem, and the Northern Kingdom being Israel based in the town of Samaria, and worship on Mt. Gerizim. Israel because of idolatry was taken captive by Assyria, Judah not, and so that area became a mixed breed of Israelites and people groups imported in. They became known as the Samarians. Judah, was taken captive later by Babylon, but pure Jewish people came back to Jerusalem with prophetic promises that God would restore all Israel through David’s line. When they attempted to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, the Samarian’s opposed them.

Samaritan Belief - They rejected all but the first five books of the O.T. - so they did not believe Jerusalem was the center of worship as that came after the first five books. They believed in a Messiah, but that was based on a promise given by Moses of a Great prophet to come. The Jews saw that Messiah as coming through David’s line. - This perhaps why Jesus said that the Jews worship what they know because of more prophetic witness of who this prophet might be.

Conclusion - Jesus knows there are political and theological issues between them, but learns that she yearns for the Messiah to come.

Women - It is quite out of the ordinary for men and women to associate, especially alone. This is actually scandalous.

She is outcast and is yearning for belonging

Comes to the well at noon, the heat of the day alone.

He listens deeper - to the Holy Spirit and learns that she has had a troubled past with men. - He offers her belonging through the Holy Spirit. - Adoption into God’s family.

Jesus listen’s in a way that gives empathy, grace, non-judgmental, as well as honors her dignity (by talking with her and asking for water, and by not letting the disciple’s offense be her offense).

Do you know anyone like this women, who needs an empathetic ear, who will listen to understand, who will speak the truth with Grace who will offer what will satisfy their yearning in life? - The Gospel

Bryan’s Story - Tell the story of listening and praying with Bryan about his divorce.

Raj’s Story - Praying with him about his mom.

It may seem like we are focusing entirely on the other person, but it is also important to...

Share You’re Story

This is a little harder to draw out of the text, because Jesus’ Story is God’s story, but in a sense so is ours. These are stories of what God has done in our life.

Jesus is wanting the Samaritan women to see who He is, the Messiah who she is longing for.

Our Stories also are about helping people to see who Jesus is in action.

Not your life story, but maybe sometimes if it is appropriate - Jesus does not share much, but enough, he shares he can give living water, and he shares that he is the Messiah.

We are not talking her usually

When telling your story...

What things were like before God intervened.

How God transformed your life.

And how things are different because of God.

In other word’s Glorify God, not yourself

You have many stories like that…For me, I have the miracles story when I was in first grade, I have the God frowns on mean clicks from Jr. High and I belong to Him story, I have my heart burning moment of reading the gospel’s in High School that made me want to devote my life to Jesus, I have my calling story, I have my prayed to God for 1 year and then boom got an answer story, I have my how do I parent stories, my trusting God to provide stories

Telling Justin about Ben and poke’s story

Both my feeling overwhelmed

And How God has the big picture.

He reflected back to me - Ben is Trusting You, and You are Trusting God.

I have talked to my friend, and debated using apologetics many times before, but it was when I told that story, my story was the first time I felt he understood.

People can argue with Philosophy, with logic, with reason, but they will rarely argue about your story.

rarely argue about your story.

It shows that the Gospel is real to you, not just a set of ideas.

It shows that you are one begger trying to show another begger where there is food, not that you are better than, or that you are trying to win an argument.

It shows that you are human - If you have a pulse you have issues, and you have found fulfillment - not in your great brain, or self-help techniques, or your own will, but by God and in God.

It demonstrates the possibility of what God can do in someone’s life.

The key is not just in knowing three disconnected stories, but to connect them together. Where do your stories intersect?

Connect the Three Stories

Connect the Three Stories

The Women’s story is that she is an outcast looking for belonging and meaning in her life and she is living in a desert of relationship where there is no refreshment.

Jesus hears that story and offers her the story of the Holy Spirit, Living Water that will give her the refreshment of belonging for eternity.

Jesus’ own story as the fulfillment of the Messianic hope, gives her hope that He can actually provide what she longs for.

My friends this is an organic way to share the Gospel. That is to care enough for the people we come across to hear and understand their story. Than by the Guidance of the Holy Spirit, listen to the Spirit for those parts of the Gospel Story, and those Stories in our life that can make connection with their Story.

And As you share stories with one another, explore Jesus together.

This is an art, it is not a formula, It is organic. You might use some formulaic tools in your tool box that may be helpful from time to time, but ultimately it is to help people see their lives interwoven into the Good News of Jesus.

Reference the Reformed Confessions: The Reformed Confessions are statements of faith written to clarify the Gospel at times when the Church was in crisis. Canon’s of Dort: Head II, Article 5