Summary: Looking honestly at the woman at the well and how each of us fits into her patterns.

THE WOMAN AT THE WELL...

SCRIPTURE: JOHN 4:1-42...

INTRODUCTION:

* This is a story that is very familiar to most.

* Songs have been written about it - sermons preached

from it.

* This was not a chance encounter - v. 1 says

that “Jesus must needs go through Samaria”.

* A Jew would not normally take such a route because

of the feelings about the “half breed” Samaritans.

* Yet this woman is like many today.

I. SHE WAS BANKRUPT SPIRITUALLY... vv. 15-18

A. SOCIALLY OUTCAST:

* She came to the well at noon - alone, which is not how it is done.

* She was shunned because of her lifestyle.

B. A WOMAN WITH A PAST:

* She had been divorced five times [not the

unpardonable sin].

* Now she was living with a man outside of marriage.

C. SHE WAS SEEKING FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS MISSING

IN HER LIFE: v. 15

* NOTE: she asked for the water.

* WHY? There was something missing.

II. SHE WAS BULL-HEADED RELIGIOUSLY... vv. 19-25

A. SHE KNEW ABOUT CHURCH:

* NOTE: we have our own idea about worship.

* “It doesn’t matter if it is Biblical, as long as it

is tradition.”

B. SHE KNEW ABOUT PROPHECY:

* She knew enough about religion and the Bible to be

dangerous.

* People today know the Bible but not the Author of it.

C. SHE KNEW ABOUT RELIGION BUT NOT A RELATIONSHIP:

* She knew about worship, but not relationship.

* She knew about church, but not the Christ.

III. SHE BELEIVED SUCCESSFULLY... vv. 26-30

A. HER TESTIMONY VERIFIES IT: v. 28-29

* She gave her testimony.

B. THE BIBLE VERIFIES IT: v. 39