Jesus: The Living Water
Notes
Transcript
Series Review
Series Review
e.g. Was asked, but decided against doing sailing camp,
bad memory (disaster, couldn’t control the boat, got stuck a few times, came crashing into the dock - I told you so v. telling stories, laughing on the way home)/ they tried something new, learned (failed?), and it was exciting. me: saw the failure, the danger, and didn’t want to do it again: but was not boring, was an adventure that I missed out on
recent experience (no wind, floating around in heat) about a sailing trip; safe, predictible, but boring
Do you find Christianity boring? is our relationship with Jesus boring? Is church boring (sometimes their not all the same)
church is boring - is that the same as saying a relationship with Jesus is exciting? why boring?
maybe too safe; maybe we want entertainment and/or therapy, should be more: an adventure; maybe we haven’t experienced Christ to the fullest - it’s hard to get others excited about things we aren’t experiencing
sometimes we make it boring by making it safe and predictible and routine; then it’s work; another volunteer group among many;
Sermon Introduction
Sermon Introduction
comic book club; attending, describe; can only be a fan, can never really partake (compare to a tennis group, running club)
a fan of Jesus, or a follower; can’t be a follower unless we have partook of Jesus, experienced him; know him;
living water - don’t just copy me; imitate me; do what I do, say what I say - that’s good, but before you can do that, you need to experience me;
Woman at the Well: Sinner or Victim?
Woman at the Well: Sinner or Victim?
When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?”
The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”
Divorced 5x, living with a 6th? The sinner or the sinned against?
Divorced 5x, living with a 6th? The sinner or the sinned against?
Divorced 5x, living with a 6th? The sinner or the sinned against?
We are all responsible for our actions, but we are also responsible for allowing conditions to exist (opiod addiction: these are individual actions, and the people that take them are responsible; there is a culture around us; if we recognize that but don’t address it, we are responsible for that;
we see someone making bad choices and we say nothing do nothing, we are responsible;
I could stop right here, because I’m thinking of how easy it is to become a passive Christian observer rather than an active Christian wanting nothing less than to see a transformed world
we don’t like Christians who get involved in politics; we don’t like the partisan politics - neither do I - but at least they are out there; I would rather you become a political activist than be content warming a church chair (any day of the week and twice on Sunday)
Jesus addresses her misery, not by elaborating on her sin, explaining why she’s a sinner; he offers her life; that has brought death but by explaining
Satisfaction in a Dissatisfying World
Satisfaction in a Dissatisfying World
Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again,
“My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
Water is a metaphor for life. Water is something we take for granted: we wash dishes with us, let the faucet run too long; splash it on our faces; use it for so many non essential things;
national water week: explain; the importance of water, how others can go without, depending on the weather and other factors; (ever forced to observe national water week? tropical storm) meaning: Jesus is necessary for life
That’s hard for us because we have so many opportunities for temporary satisfaction; I go back to the shopping metaphor: whether it a mall or the internet, we are constantly being offered satisfaction. what in your life really satisfies us:
I heard a pastor once said, “You will never be satisfied without Jesus.” I’ve said that, and I’ve heard parishioners say, “I wouldn’t describe myself dissatisfied.” family, job, health, finances - I’m doing great. (Jesus is for the miserable?)
(e.g. Potomac) - what if any of those were taken away?
cisterns; necessary for life, needed to be done well; consequences;
cisterns; necessary for life, needed to be done well; consequences;
Jesus is not an historical figure that inspires us (e.g. MLK)
Jesus is not an historical figure that inspires us (e.g. MLK)
Jesus is not an historical figure that inspires us (e.g. MLK)
that’s like saying that we believe that water exists, that we think it’s a good thing; we participate in it; w
a gift - not a choice
a gift - not a choice
pursue temporary things - assess the way we prioritize our time, asses our church ministries
: does this have eternal significance?
Inward Transformation
Inward Transformation
whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. :14
but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
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 them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
John 4:
the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
I’m not getting anything out of this; I’m dissatisfied with Christianity, the church; - giving God a chance; setting his own terms for God; drawing a line in the sand;
I’m not getting anything out of this; I’m dissatisfied with Christianity, the church;
wrong approach: Jesus is there for people who desire inner transformation: change my heart, my attitude
other wise the same patterns continue
there are people who need inward transformation (
people do not need our advice - they need life, do not need temporary relief; temporary comfort; they need life;
people do not need our advice - they need life, do not need temporary relief; temporary comfort; they need life;
other wise the same patterns continue
other wise the same patterns continue
the change we need is not external (e.g. painting rotten wood - replace the wood) andy griffith show - gritting their teeth and talking nice
transforming not just our appearance, outward actions; inward means changing our desires; (we always follow our greatest desires- being robbed; example of desiring other things more than Christ; more than loving others,)
It is outward.
It is outward.
Transforming the World
Transforming the World
it is flowing out - abundant, for everyone, not for personal experience - what good is growth if we don’t give to others; what good is money if we aren’t generous with it; what good is our faith in Christ if it doesn’t transform the world [personal relationship?]
but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
it is flowing out - abundant, for everyone, not for personal experience - getting smarter, feeling happier;
we exist to transform the world; mission of the church:
we exist to transform the world; mission of the church:
teaching, vbs, fellowship; mission trip and local; Project Outreach, Fa
it is flowing out - abundant, for everyone, not for personal experience - what good is growth if we don’t give to others; what good is money if we aren’t generous with it; what good is our faith in Christ if it doesn’t transform the world [personal relationship?]
what good is growth if we don’t give to others; what good is money if we aren’t generous with it; what good is our faith in Christ if it doesn’t transform the world [personal relationship?]
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 them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
the only thing that will
It is a gift - invite?
: does this have eternal significance?
It is a gift - invite?
It is a gift - invite?
Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
remember that gift that changed your life v. gift that collected dust and ended up at a yard sale or a thrift store?
remember that gift that changed your life v. gift that collected dust and ended up at a yard sale or a thrift store?
was it a moment?
was it a process?
is it not there?
