One to One Evangelism
Reading: John chapter 4 verse 1-30.
In our relationship with Jesus we need both to:
• Know him (We do that better by).
• Learn about him (Must always lead onto).
• Live like him.
• All 3 of those things are interwoven and out work themselves in this chapter;
Quote:
"An unprejudiced mind is the rarest thing in the world"
• Unless you happen to be like the man who said:
• "I am not prejudiced, I hate everyone!"
If we are honest we will admit that we have prejudices:
• My prejudices may not be yours and yours may not be mine;
• But if we are honest we have them!
• And there has only ever been one man who was not - Jesus Christ.
Quote:
• May be that is why D.L. Moody said:
• "The biggest argument against Christianity, is Christians"
• And yet Moody also said,
• "The biggest argument for Christianity, is Christians."
Because if we get close to Jesus, it will motivate us to;
• Be available for people (like Jesus .........).
• Accept people (like Jesus ........................).
• Win people (like ......................................).
Note: Jesus had at least 4 reasons to reject this lady:
• To be biased, to be prejudiced against her.
• But he breaks, cuts through them all;
(1). First reason he could have been prejudiced was racial:
• Verse 3: "He had to pass through Samaria"
• No self respecting Jew would go through Samaria, they hated each other
Ill:
• Story of the Good Samaritan had such an impact.
• No such thing; ill: Honest thief!
• From centuries back there had been this feeling that the Samaritans had:
• Intermarried with other nations and they had corrupted their Jewish stock.
• These Samaritans were now half- breeds who had polluted and compromised their faith:
• They were despised by the Jews.
• This was land sandwiched between Judea to the south and Galilee to the north,
• Jews always went around Samaria, they would not voluntarily go through it.
Don’t forget Jesus was a Jew,
• He lived for thirty years with Jewish customs and Jewish ways.
• Throughout his life he constantly saw Jewish prejudices modelled as the norm!
• But Jesus did not take on board any of those prejudices:
• He was motivated by love for individuals – Jew, Gentile...even Samaritan!
• And so he breaks down the first barrier which was Racial:
• Verse 9:
"You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (for Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)”
Ill:
• If you’ve got a pencil you can mark off 6 times in just five verses (verses 4-9):
• The words Samaritan or Samaria:
• The writer is wanting to get across a point,
• He is emphasising the fact Jews and Samaritans do not mix.
• Yet this Jew does mix with Samaritans!
• Because he saw beyond her national identity and saw the person!
(2). Social prejudice, social barrier (vs 7&27)
• Jesus was talking to a woman,
• Quote: “Big deal you say”, listen it was!
Ill:
• Woman at the time of Jesus were not treated with any respect at all:
• A popular prayer each day was this one,
• "I thank you God that you have not made me a woman."
Ill:
• The Pharisees, the religious people,
• Taught that men should not talk to woman on the street,
• Quote;
• "Let no man talk to a woman on the street no not even to his own wife, or daughter, or sister".
• And therefore never a Samaritan woman !!
Note:
• Don’t you just love verse 7: "And Jesus said to her".
• Jesus always treated woman as equals:
• He showed respect and courtesy to them and always had time for them.
• Maybe that is why they were his best followers!
Ill:
• Verse 27:
• "When his disciples returned and were SURPRISED to find him talking to a WOMAN".
• Jesus was prepared to be misunderstood even by his own disciples;
• If it meant he could win this woman to Christ.
(3). Religious barrier, prejudice (Vs 19-20):
• More blood has been spilt over religion than perhaps anything else !
• ill: The very first murder in the Bible was Cain killing Abel over religion:
• That’s why I don’t preach religion, I preach a person - Jesus Christ !!
• Ill: Religion is man working his way up to God, Christianity is God coming down to man.
Notice:
• Jesus points out to her it is not "Where" but "How" we approach God that’s important;
• And he goes on to say "It is by how you come" that counts.
(4). Moral Barrier, prejudice (vs 16-19).
Ill:
• Outcast - normally woman drew the water at dawn or dusk,
• The cooler hours of the day, when they would all go together,
• This woman comes to the well all by herself (isolated);
• And she comes at noon, the hottest part of the day.
• She is an outcast because of her life style.
• No one else will give her the time of day – but this man does!
Note:
• The tact and the wisdom of Jesus in these verses;
• When dealing with people on moral issues, we need tact and wisdom.
• Ill: Tact is a lost art – making someone feel at home when you wished they were at home!
• Wisdom: the ability to apply our knowledge sensitively and honestly.
• You and I would probably got a lashing from this Samaritan woman;
• “Mind your own business! Go back to your own territory etc”
• Not Jesus!
• With tact and wisdom he reached out to this woman and she responded in kind.
• Because he cared, because he valued this individual – he acted;
• Ill: DVD – Pen & Teller.
Question: How exactly did he break through the barriers:
Answer: 7 insights from the master evangelist!
(1). He made the effort (vs 4).
• “Now he had to go through Samaria...”
• He went to her!
Ill:
Phone call & request!
ill:
Sundial.
ill:
Cromwell.
(2). He humbled himself (vs 7):
• As we’ve seen for a Jew to talk to a woman (Samaritan) was not on!
• For a Jewish Rabbi to talk to a woman (Samaritan) was scandalous!
• Jesus was willing to lose his reputation for the sake of the gospel;
• Ill: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them!”
Note:
• To be effective in reaching people we will need to make the 1st, 2nd & 3rd step towards folk.
• Despite the negative reactions:
• Ill: Defensive (verse 9).
• Ill: Sarcastic (verse 11).
• Ill: Argue. (verse 20).
• Each time Jesus just humbly carries on the conversation.
(3). He was natural (vs 10-15)
• He did not have to force the situation to get an opening;
• It naturally flowed out of the conversation.
• i.e. Not “I am the bread of life”
• i.e. But “Living water”.
• Too many of us are answering questions that nobody is asking!
• Ill: Scratch where people are itching.
ill:
Duncan Road; "Enrich your marriage".
(4). He was positive (vs 10-15).
• Ill: “Turn or burn”.
• I would rather be positive rather than negative!
ill:
• Child with a razor blade.
• Child with an apple.
ill:
• Salesman whose sales were poor, told his boss;
• "You can lead a horse to water but you cannot make it drink".
• Boss replied,
• "You’re job is not to make them drink but to create a thirst"
(5). He was honest (vs 16-18):
• Having offered this woman ‘life-giving’ water;
• He now tells her that she couldn’t have it!
• There is a beautiful balance in the life and words of Jesus.
• The way he changes the pace and he tone of the conversation is brilliant.
• Jesus never soft peddled his message o r the demands of God.
• But he had the great gift of wisdom!
• Knowledge is knowing what to do.
• Wisdom is the ability to apply that knowledge in the right way:
• He is not condemning her.
• But in that one statement he simply exposing her, to herself and situation.
• She knew what the problem was.
• She also knew that Jesus knew because he tactfully & respectfully points it out!
(6). He was instructive (vs 20-24):
• He told her how to get it;
• Eternal life goes beyond a physical relationship i.e. ‘Spirit’.
• You tried to find satisfaction in human relationships and failed;
• You need a different type of relationship - i.e. ‘Spirit’.
• Also you are living a lie, not married but you live like you are;
• To know God requires honesty and truth not deception & lies!
• In our witness we must make sure we do not miss this key:
• Of showing folks the link between what they have and what they want.
(7). He made it personal (vs 25-26)
• Vs 25: The woman says; “When the Messiah comes” he will have the answer:
• Vs 26: Jesus said: “You are looking & talking to him!”
• Jesus has brought this woman to a key moment in their conversation;
• This is a make or break moment!
• Her response to the person of Jesus;
• Will determine whether or not she gets to taste that ‘Life-giving’ water!
• Ill: Jesus puts us in those uncomfortable situations!
(3). What were the evangelistic results ?
(1). The woman’s attitude.
• Verse 9: Jew.
• Verse 11: Sir.
• Verse 19: Prophet.
• Verse 29: Messiah.
(2). Told others (vs 28).
Quote:
"You are either a missionary or a mission field"
(3). Others come to Christ (vs 39).
• We are called not just to fish,
• We care called to catch fish,
• That is to be effective in our evangelism.
And to be effective means:
• In our relationship with Jesus we need both !
• Know him, learn about him and live like him.
Ill:
DVD Pen & Teller.
Ill:
Split into two’s to pray for 1 person this week to share the gospel with!
