JOHN 4:27-54
Lesson # 8
SUCCESS: BRINGING PEOPLE TO TRUE BELIEF
I. Introduction:
Q? Could some of you share how you came to Christ?
Q? Could some others of you share who was the person who witnessed to you about Christ?? What did they do or say?
Note:? Let’s see if the Lord can show something tonight that changes the way we witness, so that we can be affective for the salvation of souls.
II. What Nurtures An Insightful Man:? Harvesting Ripe Souls:? 27-38
A.? The Woman’s Witness:? 28-30
Have someone read John 4:28-30
Q? What is the essence of this woman’s testimony?
An = He is the Christ, he revealed my faults?
Q? Is that how we witness, do we witness to the wonder of God knowing our faults?
Q? How would this look today if you tried her method?
An = We would have to be sure that two things were true:? first we really had been shown our faults by the Lord and second that we could afford to be open about it because we knew we were forgiven.?? So often we really are not convinced we are sinners or we are not convinced we are accepted.? So…we do not witness!
Q? Is it important that we witness?
An = Some people answer this incorrectly in two ways:? first evangelism is not my gift or we speak about “living” the life and not talking about it.? Let’s see if that is how Jesus would view it….
III.? Harvesting Among the Samaritans:? 39-42.
A.? Teaching Teachers:? Creating the Teachable Moment:? 31-38
Have someone read John 4:31-33
Q? What are the disciples concerned with, as good employees should be?
An = the health of their leader.
Q? Why does Jesus answer their question in the manner in which He does, is He not frustrating them or confusing them?? Why does He do this?
An = He cares about them, not just Himself.? He is creating a “teachable moment”.
Have someone read John 4:34.
Q? For those of you who care about communicating affectively, or who are communications majors, is Jesus’ method of creating a metaphor that puzzles his listeners a good communication techniques, if so why?
Q? What is Jesus’ message concerning the “food metaphor”?
An = Doing God’s will is the food, the nourishment of the perfect example of humanity.?
Q? Is Jesus correct?? Does doing God’s will bring true nourishment to your life?
Have someone read John 4:35-38.
Q What is the will of God in this instance?? What are we to perceive or understand (remember, eyes are the organs of perception, or understanding).
Q? How ready is the harvest??? What does that mean for us today?
Q? What does 4:37-38 mean?? What does it mean to you today?
B.? Group Harvest:? the Positive Affects of Honest Sinful Confession:? 43-45
Have someone read John 4:39-40
Q? Why did the Samaritans first believe in Jesus Christ?
An = because of the vulnerable but honest witness of the woman.? She confessed her sin, by giving glory to Christ’s ability to reveal herself to herself.?
Note:? The Samaritans found this attractive, they wanted Him to stay.
Have someone read John 4:41-42
Q? Why did our author add these two verses, what do they tell us?
An = Our witness is not to bring others to ourselves or to our experience, but to Christ Himself.? Their faith is to be theirs, not a derivative of ours.
Q? Does this episode show how to witness, to reap a harvest?? What does it teach us?
IV.? Harvesting Among the Galileans:? 43-54
A.? Group Harvest:? 43-45.
Have someone read John 4:43-45.
Q? In verse 43 it appears that Jesus is accepted, that He is successful, why does He speak of what is mentioned in verse 42?
An = Let’s see what else we can add to this by reading on….
B.? Individual Harvest, An Example Given:? Physical Implementation:? 46-54.
Have someone read John 4:46-48.
Q? How does Jesus qualify His statement in John 4:44 with His comment in 4:48?
Q? Is Jesus content to be “received” or does He want something more?? Does He want more than the amazement of the people?? What is it?
Q? If you were the person with the ill son, would you have appreciated Jesus’ comment in 48?
An = Probably not!? All we would want was not the sign to believe, but the health of our son.? At these crisis points in our lives, belief, non-belief, etc. are not our concerns, but the need.?
Note:? Notice two things:? how the father reacts to Jesus’ statements about signs and belief and what Jesus then does….
Have someone read John 4:49-50
Q? How does the father react?
Q? Is what Jesus does cruel?? What is Jesus after??
Q? What will Jesus Christ do to you, if John’s Gospel is an accurate description of the Son of God??
Q? What would this look like in the 20th century?
An = Notice Jesus answers the man’s request with a request.? The man asks for healing and Jesus asks for action.? To act with His body, not just the man’s mind.
Now let’s see if Jesus’ way of doing faith works…
Have someone read John 4:51-54.
Q? What would this look like if you did some witnessing in the next few weeks?? What would have to be true?
An = There would really have to be a God.? He would have to back up your words.
Q? What would this mean if you wished to grow in your faith in the next few weeks??
Q? What would you need to do?
Q? What would God need to do?