My First Year Of Ministry Lesson 4 Series

Note: All Scripture references in this lesson are from

The Bible by Jesus unless otherwise noted

A. CLEANSING THE TEMPLE: JOHN 2:13-22

1. Introduce My first year. “When Passover came, spring A.D. 26, I went up to temple” (John 2:13).

2. No longer tolerated heresy and evil, but confronted evil by action. “My disciples said, ‘His devotion to the Lord’s house burns in Him like a fire’” (John 2:17).

a. Clean out. “I made a whip . . . drove the animals out” (2:15).

b. Outward rejection. “Overturned the tables of the money changers” (2:15).

c. Yelled. “Stop turning My Father’s house into a market” (2:16).

3. Jewish leaders challenged. “What miracle . . . gives you authority to do this?” (2:18).

a. My coming resurrection. “Destroy this temple . . . raise it up in three days” (2:19).

b. Miracles for people, not for religious leaders. “Many believed in Me because they saw the miracles” (2:23).

B. MY EMPHASIS – PERSONAL SALVATION – BORN AGAIN: JOHN 3:1-21

1. Religious leaders and everyone. “You must be born again to see the kingdom” (3:3).

2. How? “Born again of water and the Spirit” (3:5). What is water?

a. Baptism.

b. Holy Spirit (John 7:38-39).

c. Scriptures (Ephesians 5:26).

d. Symbol of law.

e. Natural birth. “What is born of flesh is flesh” (3:6).

3. Results. “The wind blows anywhere . . . hear . . . can’t see . . . describes those born of the Spirit” (3:8).

4. Believe natural to understand spiritual. “Believe what I say about this world . . . believe heavenly things” (3:12).

5. Why I came. “I come to earth from heaven . . . to explain heavenly things” (3:13).

6. The Father loves all. “My Father loved everyone so much He gave me” (3:16).

7. Salvation. “To die for each of them” (3:16).

8. How to get. “Everyone who believes will not perish, but have eternal life” (3:16).

C. MY FOCUS – ONE NEEDY WOMAN: JOHN 4:1-26

1. The woman.

a. False religion. “You don’t know whom you worship” (4:22).

b. Immoral. “You have had five husbands . . . not married . . . living with” (4:18)

c. Alienated from others. “Noon . . . a Samaritan woman came” (4:6).

d. Prejudice. “You a Jew ask . . . me a Samaritan” (4:9).

2. Approach.

a. Use natural. “Give me a drink” (4:7).

b. Apply spiritual. God offers you water. “Drink the water I give and you will never thirst again” (4:14).

3. Pointed her to salvation. “Worship the Father in Spirit and truth” (4:24).

a. Spirit is Holy Spirit.

b. Truth is Scriptures.

4. She believes Messiah will come to explain all things.

a. Jesus answered. “I am He” (4:26).

b. She responds. “Left her water pots . . . hurried off to tell men . . . come see . . . the Messiah” (4:28-29).

5. My challenge to you. “Look at field . . . already ripe for harvest” (4:35).

6. Reproducible message. “Many Samaritans believed in Me because of the woman” (4:39).

D. TAKE AWAY

1. My priority is individuals, not institutions, religious forms, or places of worship.

2. I always present truth—to religious people—to intellectuals—to political—to the sinful and outcast.

3. Salvation always My passion, the world My focus, each person My priority.

4. Be proactive, take Me to people, don’t invite them to come to you.

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.

Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.

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