Sharing Your Faith: 101 Series

JVP Emphasis:

Sharing Your Faith: 101.

John 4:1-27-38

I. Make yourself aware of your opportunities to share. (v. 4-7)

A. First, making two points about “opportunity.”

1. “I would share more, I just don’t see the opportunities.”

a. Opportunities are there if we can just make ourselves aware enough of them to see.

b. Illus.: Man praying for “opportunity” to share his faith. Big man gets on his bus and breaks down crying. “Lord is this an opportunity?”

c. Example: my JVP experience.

d. “Well, the opportunity just doesn’t seem to present itself.” Why? (Transition into below.)

2. Most people take advantage of an opportunity that presents itself. Jesus takes advantage by presenting himself to an opportunity! (v.4)

a. “Did Jesus really have to go through Samaria?”

b. No. It was actually advised not to go. (See Map)Cross over Jordan River, head north from there.

c. Jesus made his own opportunities.

3. Have we ever gone out of our way to share our faith?

B. Jesus didn’t allow his “barriers to become boundaries”. (v. 7)

1. What were the barriers between Jesus and this woman?

a. She was a Samaritan.

b. She was a woman.

c. She was of ill-repute. (vs. 6b, 16-18)

d. He was tired. (v. 6) “Let me sit this one out, Lord.”

e. Peer pressure from disciples. (v.27)

2. Jesus broke down all those barriers with one question. “Will you give me a drink?”

a. Consider how much power a simple gesture can have.

b. Illus.: Children and their arts/crafts

-Not only build their self-esteem, but you become a person through whom they can see Jesus!

3. Example: My chance visit with a woman in the hospital.

4. This is our focus with the JVP. Opening opportunities.

a. Erase the misconceptions. IE Compared to Mormons visitations.

b. Explain our actions.

5. We want to open doors of opportunity in these homes so that, one day, we may be put in a position “to be Jesus to them.”

II. Be ready to give an honest testimony about Jesus in your life.(vs. 9-15)

A. What does Jesus present this woman?

1. A spring of living water welling up into eternal life.

2. This is abundant life here on earth that leads to eternal life in heaven.

B. Ask yourself, “What difference has Christ made in my life?”

1. Verbalize it and use it.

2. My testimony: Older brother dying young

III. Be available to them where they live. (v. 16-26)

A. Jesus went to her in her sin (v. 16-18)

1. Through 5 husbands (divorces more than likely) and currently living with someone.

2. The biggest obstacle in witnessing is the fact that most people anticipate some type of judgmental attitude from us.

a. There has never been a Bible that has been published by the “Louisville Slugger”.

b. Yet we, all too often, use our Bible as a ball bat to condemn sin in another life.

3. Jesus had every opportunity to “slam” her in her sin.

4. Why didn’t Jesus focus on the sin?

- Because He had more concern for the sinner!

- “What about removing sin?” I Cor 5:9-13)

Don’t get me wrong. Sin is a big issue and should not be ignored! But there is a greater issue at hand: the sinner. He should not be overlooked.

IV. Have a heart of passion for those who are lost.

(vs. 31-36)

A. We must develop a passion for the lost. (31-34)

1. Imagine the forlorn look on his face.

a. Disciples: “Master, eat something.”

b. Jesus: “I’m not hungry.”

c. Have you be so preoccupied with something that you could think of eating? This was Jesus.

2. The will of the Father = Reaching the lost.

3. For Jesus, reaching the lost was His “food”.

-What is He saying?

a. This is what I hunger for.

b. This is what fills me.

c. This is what satisfies me.

4. Illus.: How to determine something is aflame.

a. It ignites other material.

b. “A fire that doesn’t spread will eventually go out.”

c. “A church without evangelism is a contradiction.”

5. You say “I don’t have a passion for the lost.” 1of two things is the problem.

a. You’re not completely aware of the gift of salvation.

b. Not aware of the lost.

B. We must have eyes to for the lost. (31-35)

1. What did the disciples see?

a. Samaritans.

b. Villagers.

2. Describe what Jesus saw.

a. Sheep without a shepherd.

b. A “pearl of great price.”

c. Prodigal sons and daughters coming home.

3. Can we see what Jesus saw that day?