The WELL: Casting the Vision

A. My personal journey

1. Soledad’s vision

2. My choosing to follow God’s plan, not my own

3. How God gave me the name

B. The WELL

2. the need for water is the common denominator for all life- it empowers life

3. traditionally it has been a woman’s job to get the water from the well

1. When you think about a well in the Bible, what is the first passage/story that comes to your mind?

2. I went home immediately and looked up this story, and the Lord began to show me what I want to share with you, today.

want to share with you, today.

want to share with you, today.

3. Read John 4: 6-30

2. the need for water is the common denominator for all life- it empowers life

3. 4: 6-30

mind?

C. Woman

What is the reputation of this woman - an adulteress

What is the reputation of this woman - an adulteress

In her community, she was cursed and exiled

Women were traditionally the ones to go to the well to draw the water and take it back to their families. This was a daily chore and wells began to become a gathering place (a place of community). This would have been done early in the morning, but this woman is at the well at the sixth hour, (verse 6) which is noon- the hottest part of the day.

How many of you venture out to do chores in the hottest part of the day? Not me! So why was she there? Because she was sure not many others would be there. She wouldn’t have to endure the ridicule and rejection of others, and be faced with her own shame.

D. Empowered

Jesus, a Jew, speaks to her.

Jesus sees her and acknowledges her. This would have been unheard of in this culture. Samaritans were considered by Jews to be unclean, but Jesus doesn’t care about this because he sees past the labels that society has placed upon her.

He then asks about her husband, already knowing the answer. She answers him, I have no husband, which is only a partial truth, and Jesus reveals to her that He knows the whole truth- she has had 5 husbands and she is currently living with a man without being married.

After making her face the truth of her sin, Jesus then reveals the truth of who He is.

E. Leader

Look at what happens immediately after Jesus reveals himself. v. 28

The woman gets up and leaves, forgetting the pot that she had taken to retrieve the water.

Her purpose before meeting Jesus at the well was to get water, but after she meets the “living water” her purpose is changed. She returns to her town, why? To tell others about her encounter.

She goes to the men. Why men? They were the most powerful and tells them. Remember who she is - a woman and an adulteress. She potentially puts herself in danger by bringing attention to herself at all, much less telling them of this wondrous encounter with a stranger.

Her boldness to share her encounter with Jesus led others to seek Him.

F. Legacy

What was the result? verse 39 Because she “testified” (she told her story) many came to know Jesus as their Savior.

Her legacy was changed from adulteress to Christ-follower; from cursed to redeemed.

She became a well-spring of eternal life.

G. What has God revealed to us in this passage if we put the points together.

1. Woman - W

2. Empowered by the Savior - E

3. Leading others to Christ - L

4. leaving a Legacy of redemption -L

H. Charge to the Women

At this point, I will explain the vision of this ministry and give a charge to the women.

I will encourage them to fill their “wells” daily with the Word of Christ so that they may become overflowing with the Good News.

I will also encourage them to return home to their families, their churches, and their cities to dig new “wells” where others can come and meet Jesus.

- Jesus commands us to be His witnesses, to testify, share our stories, to let our wells overflow, not just to our families, our churches, our cities, but to the world.

I will share about the women in the Sudanese refugee camps and tell them about the love offering that will take up during the evening session.