A Faith That Matters

John 4:3-30

Intro:

The text we just read comes on the heels of another great encounter that Christ had with a man. We all know this man to be Nicodemus. What we have with these two encounters there is one thing that is similar, they both meet the Master. But looking at these two people the contrast could not be greater. One was a man, the other was a woman, one was a jew the other a Samaritan; the one respected the other an outcast; the one seen as a moral man, the other as having no morals at all; one coming to Jesus by night the other by day and the list could go on. What this tells me is that, it does not matter your pedigree, your prestige, or your person, Christ is available to all.

I would like to notice two things by way of introduction about Christ before we examine this woman at the well.

1. Christ was determined: when it came to this woman Christ was determined. Verse 4 of our text states that he must go. What wonderful words; He must… I thank God that He was determined to find me when I ran from him for 22 years, but he never gave up on me. We all love the parables in Luke 16, they show the determination Christ has when it comes to finding those that are lost.

2. Christ was directed when it came to this woman. Verse 4 again tells us he must needs go through Samaria. Jews and Samaritans did not get along, and when Jews had to go from Judea to Galilee, they would be sure to take a detour around Samaria, but Christ had direction, He came to this world to seek and to save that which was lost and he was doing just that when he went through Samaria.

Thank God for caring enough for us that he is determined and directed to come our way. Thank God for His saving grace and mercy. Today, though I want to real briefly look at the woman at the well and her faith she had. You say this woman did not have faith she was lost? Oh no my friend she had faith, for God deals to every man a measure of faith, she just had faith in the wrong things. So for the next few moments I want to preach on “A Faith that Matters”

Main

I) She had faith in her rituals

This brought about three things:

A) It brought about comfort

B) It brought about confrontation

C) It brought about confinement

II) She had faith in her religion

A) It brought about Pride

B) It brought about Perceptions

C) It brought about Pre-Suppositions

III) She had faith in her redeemer

A) A new work v28

B) A new witness v29a

C) A new worship v29b