JOHN 4 // STAFF RETREAT

OUT OF TINY SEEDS, GROW MIGHTY TREES

OUT OF TINY SEEDS, GROW MIGHTY TREES

AS MR. HUFFMAN SAID:

GROWTH IS A PROCESS

A PROCESS THAT CAN SOMETIMES TAKE A LIFETIME

IF WE ARE GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS THAT ARISE:

ARE WE ALL IN?

HOW ARE WE AS A STAFF GOING TO STAY MOTIVATED THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS:

WHAT IS IT GOING TO COST US?

IF THINGS DON’T GO AS PLANNED, ARE WE WILLING TO PICK UP THE PIECES?

WHEN YOU THINK OF A MIGHTY TREE, WHAT COMES TO MIND?

THE SEQUOIAS, THE REDWOODS, ETC

IT TAKES 12 YEARS FOR A SEQUOIA TO START BEARING CONES AND SEED

THESE SEQUOIAS CAN GROW TO BE MIGHTY IN STATURE

FACTS ABOUT SEQUOIAS

3RD LONGEST-LIVING LIVING TREE SPECIES

CAN LIVE AS LONG AS 3K YEARS

CAN ONLY GROW BETWEEN 5K-7K FT. ELEVATION

IT TAKES 12 YEARS FOR A SEQUOIA TO START BEARING CONES AND SEED

They live to be about 3,00 years old, with the oldest at about 3,200 years old.

They live to be about 3,00 years old, with the oldest at about 3,200 years old.

The 2nd Largest Tree in the World is a Sequoia by the name of General Sherman

This dude is about 2,500 years old

For perspective

This would put the birth of this tree in the time of

Joel and Malachi.

When Plato became Socrates’ Pupil

Who remembers the movie 300?

When Sparta faced Persia with 300 men.

GENERAL SHERMAN IS A RESULT OF CONTINUAL GROWTH

QUESTION:

AS MR. HUFFMAN SAID:

GROWTH IS A PROCESS

A PROCESS THAT CAN SOMETIMES TAKE A LIFETIME

IF WE ARE GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS THAT ARISE:

ARE WE ALL IN?

WHAT IS IT GOING TO COST US?

IF THINGS DON’T GO AS PLANNED, ARE WE WILLING TO PICK UP THE PIECES?

IF WE AREN’T GOING TO SEE SOME KIND OF LIFE UNTIL YEAR 12

IF WE WANT TO SEE MIGHTY TREES COME FROM TINY SEEDS

I THINK WE NEEED TO REVISIT HOW WE APPROACH THIS GROWTH PROCESS

TURN TO

John 4:31–38 NKJV

31 In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” 32 But He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” 33 Therefore the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?” 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! 36 And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37 For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”

JOOHN 4:31-38

John 4:1–38 NKJV

1 Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John 2 (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples), 3 He left Judea and departed again to Galilee. 4 But He needed to go through Samaria. 5 So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. 7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” 8 For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. 9 Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. 10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? 12 Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?” 13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” 15 The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 17 The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.” 19 The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.” 21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.” 27 And at this point His disciples came, and they marveled that He talked with a woman; yet no one said, “What do You seek?” or, “Why are You talking with her?” 28 The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, 29 “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” 30 Then they went out of the city and came to Him. 31 In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” 32 But He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” 33 Therefore the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?” 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! 36 And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37 For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”

JOHN 4:1-

PRAY THAT GOD WOULD REVEAL TO US HOW PRECIOUS IT IS TO LABOR IN HIS NAME

PRAY THAT WE WOULD SHIFT OUR PERSPECTIVE IN THE GROWTH PROCESS

PRAY THAT WE WOULD NOT GROW WEARY IN DOING GOOD.

THIS TEXT PICKS UP MID STORY

JESUS HAD JUST FINISHED MINISTERING TO THE WOMAN AT THE WELL

THOUGH WE DIDN’T READ IT, I BELEIVE MOST OF US ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE STORY

I WANT US TO TAKE ONE THING AWAY

Most of the time we see ourselves as the Saving Source in that text

WE ARE ALL VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS STORY

IT SETS UP THE TEXT WE ARE GOING TO STUDY PRETTY WELL

Most of the time we see ourselves as Jesus in this text

Most of the time we see ourselves as Jesus in this text

We see ourselves as the church going to the lost

Doing whatever it takes to get to Samaria

All so that one person would be impacted by the Gospel.

Sparking a fire in that person

Which later spreads to her entire city

Instead of us being the ones with all the right answers, and the distributors of God’s Good News.

I want us to see ourselves as the destitute

I want us to see ourselves as the spiritual outcast

I want us to see ourselves as the woman at the well

I don’t want us to do it just this one time

I want us to live there

To start our day there

WHY?

Because in recognizing our current and constant state of necessity OF JESUS

We will better understand the need of the students

When we realize our current and constant dependency of Jesus

We will better display who we trust

If we are starting our day with a prideful spiritual posture

We are setting ourselves up for failure

INSTEAD, WE MUST LET THE REALITY OF YOUR SPIRITUAL-NEED AWAKEN US

THIS WOMAN PRIDED HERSELF IN HOW SHE WORSHIPPED GOD

BUT SHE DIDN’T WORSHIP CORRECTLY

SHE KNEW JACOB AS HER FATHER

BUT HAD LIMITED KNOWLEDGE OF HER HEAVENLY FATHER

UPON, SPEAKING WITH JESUS

HER WHOLE PERSPECTIVE ON THIRST CHANGED

FURTHERMORE, HER CURRENT SPIRITUAL/MORAL STATE WAS CHALLENGED.

WHAT WAS PERMISSIBLE FOR HER

WHAT WAS OK WITHIN HER CULTURE

WAS CHALLENGED BY A SIMPLE QUESTION

“GO, CALL YOUR HUSBAND”

FRIENDS, IS OUR DIALOGUE WITH JESUS LIKE THIS:

IS THERE A LIVING CONVERSATION WITH THE LORD?

Where the reality of our sinfulness humbles us

Where the reality of our imperfection causes us to be gracious

Where the reality of our need draws us closer to Jesus

THE WOMAN AT THE WELL WAS USED POWERFULLY ONCE SHE REALIZED THAT HER THEOLOGY AND PRACTICUM WAS ERRONEUS.

SHE REACHED AN ENTIRE CITY, WHEN SHE ALLOWED THE GOOD NEWS TO IMPACT EVERY AREA OF HER LIFE.

IT SHOULD HUMBLE US, THAT GOD WOULD USE US TO CREATE TOMORROW’S CHRISTIAN LEADERS

IT IS A HUMBLING THING, TO KNOW THAT FOR THE NEXT TEN MONTHS WE GET TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF A YOUNG MAN/WOMAN’S LIFE

She see’s Jesus

THE QUESTION IS THIS:

Jesus asks her for a Drink

HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO IT?

He was thirsty

IF THE END RESULT IS “MIGHTY TREES”

He was weary

HOW ARE WE GOING TO CULTIVATE A CULTURE THAT YIELDS THAT RESULT FROM TINY LITTLE SEEDS.

His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.

NOTICE HOW I ASKED “HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO IT”

Instead of giving Him a cup of water

John 4:31–32 NKJV

31 In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” 32 But He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.”

JOHN 4:

She asks him a question:

JESUS, AS HE IS SHOWING THE DISCIPLES HOW TO CHANGE THE WORLD

According to what we learned yesterday, we know that questions are used to engage

Knows that every interaction has the potential to change the trajectory of someone’s thinking

Check out what she asks:

The Disciples knew He was tired

“How is it that you being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?”

They knew He was weary

This isn’t a light conversation

After the long journey to Samaria

She is confronting the Jewish culture

After sending them to go get food

She is exposing the tension between two cultures

JESUS PUTS HIS PHYSICAL NEED ASIDE TO TEACH THEM A SPIRITUAL LESSON

I can’t tell you how many days my lunch was interrupted

The Pure Jewish Culture, and the Indignant Samaritan Culture.

How many times my food went cold

How many times the Lord had a different plan for lunch

“I HAVE FOOD TO EAT OF WHICH YOU DO NOT KNOW”

What was Jesus talking about?

The Woman

This woman wants answers

Is he talking about a different type of food

“Y’all been having Gyros and Fallafel”

Jesus wanted to introduce them to Tacos and Mulitas?

“LET ME SHOW YOU WHAT REAL NOURISHMENT IS”

NOPE

JESUS IS TAKING T

John 4:33–34 NKJV

33 Therefore the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?” 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.

JOHN 4:

JESUS’ HUNGER WAS NOT IN QUESTION

THE DISCIPLES HAD BEEN TRAVELING WITH HIM

HAD BEEN OBSERVING HIS EVERY MOVE

KNEW WITHOUT A DOUBT THAT JESUS HAD TO BE HUNGRY

IT IS AT THIS TIME THAT JESUS REVEALS TO THEM THE “AHA MOMENT”

“My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His Work”

Jesus wants the disciples to know one thing

That there is a deeper nourishment than feeding the physical needs of the body.

He says:

What nourishes me

What gives me energy

What replenishes my soul

Is actively doing the Will of Him who sent Me.

GREEK: Thelema // Desire, Purpose, Will of Him who sent Me

How many of us want to actively do what God desires of us?

How many of us want to live out His purpose for our lives?

How many of us want to complete the work He has called us to?

Being able to say Tetelasti on a day to day basis

Completing His task

Being able to say Tetelasti on a day to day basis

That is what fueled Jesus

This is what drove Him

This is what He lived for

FRIENDS, WHO, WHAT, WHERE DO WE DRAW FROM TO COMPLETE THE WORK THAT THE LORD HAS CALLED US TO?

Is that source sufficient?

Is it sustainable?

Is it able to reach or exceed your potential?

JESUS DIDN’T JUST PUT HIS HUNGER ASIDE TO GIVE US SOME GOOD ADVICE

HE IS GIVING US A WAY TO EXPERIENCE WHAT “EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL THAT WE CAN ASK OR THINK” ACTUALLY MEANS

IN DOING THE WILL OF THE FATHER YOU WILL REALIZE

That there is no better place to be

That He is meeting your every need

That He is your everlasting source of power

That He is your sustenance

That He will help you exceed all expectations

FOR ME:

For me, it is teaching 11th Grade Bible at CCHS

It is leading this class Spiritually

Educating them on what the Bible says about Life and Godliness.

BUT NOT JUST THAT

Purposing daily to

She wants a clarification

She is trying to draw out of Jesus a deeper conversation.

This isn’t about water anymore.

I KNOW I AM GOING TO TEACH 11TH GRADE BIBLE

It is about perspective

But will I do it in a way that GLORIFIES GOD?

It is about dignity

Will I do it in a way that reaches PEOPLE?

It is about realizing what Legalism can do to a people group

Will I do it in a COLLABORATIVE way?

HERE IS A LITTLE HISTORY:

Will I demonstrate the qualities of a LEADER?

Who were the Samaritans?

Will I grow and fascilitate GROWTH?

After the Assyrian Army conquered the Northern Kingdom in 772 BC

FOR ME, THESE BENCHMARKS AREN’T JUST TO KEEP OUR ADMINISTRATION HAPPY, THEY ARE GOING TO GLORIFY GOD AT THE GREATEST LEVEL.

They deported most of the inhabitants of this area.

SO WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE?

FRIENDS, WE ARE NOT SIGNING UP TO START WITH A BANG, AND END

This caused Samaria to become a very diverse Community

HOW WILL WE BE FRUITFUL IN THIS SCHOOL YEAR?

You would have Jews & Gentiles living together

JOHN 4:35-

John 4:35 NKJV

35 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!

These two people groups intermarried

FRIENDS

Thus forming a unequally yoked community

DO WE SEE STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND PARENTS AS JUST ANOTHER GROUP OF PEOPLE

The Samaritans would be considered “backslidden”

OR DO WE SEE THEM HOW JESUS SEES THEM?

They would be seen as lesser than the Pure Jewish Race, even thought they were part Jewish

DO WE SEE A FIELD OF BARRENESS

They used the same Pentateuch as the Jews

The celebrated and worshipped the same God

But because they were of mixed race, they could not worship in Jerusalem

OR DO WE SEE PEOPLE WITH THE POTENTIAL OF HEAVEN IN MIND

HOW WE SEE THE SCHOOL YEAR WILL GUIDE OUR ATTITUDE

I can’t guarantee a harvest

But I can guarantee that I will pray like its going to happen

I can guarantee that I will labor as if the fields were white

I will persevere through the challenges to see the change that I am praying for.

JESUS, WHEN HE LOOKED AT THE POTENTIAL OF A HARVEST, HE HAD ONE OBSTACLE:

PARTICIPATION

Matthew 9:37 NKJV

37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.

FRIENDS, WE CAN’T DO THIS ALONE

OUR ADMINISTRATION CAN’T DO THIS ALONE

YOU CAN’T DO THIS ALONE

BUT TOGETHER, BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, WITH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, AND THE LEADING OF OUR GOD AND FATHER, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

CHECK OUT WHAT JESUS SAYS:

John 4:36–38 NKJV

36 And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37 For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”

JOHN 4:

AS WE CO-LABOR // COLLABORATE AS CHRISTIAN LEADERS

AS WE WORK SIDE BY SIDE

SOME OF US MAY BEAR FRUIT

SOME OF US MAY REAP THE HARVEST

HOWEVER, IT IS BOTH THE SOWER AND THE REAPER THAT REJOICE TOGETHER.

Church we are on the same team.

Whether you are MCA, or CCHS

We are under one banner and that is the banner of Jesus Christ

One will sow, another will reap.

And God will receive the Glory.

Check out how kind and generous Jesus is:

To allow us to be apart of the Harvest

To call us to this mighty work

To partner with Him in what He has been doing all throughout the lives of these children.

FRIENDS, LAST YEAR I WAS ABLE TO SEE FRUIT THAT I HAD NOT LABORED FOR

I SAW THIS HAPPEN IN MY LIFE

#1 I REALIZED