Sermon Central
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The Truth About Salvation, Part 5 Series
Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Nov 9, 2025 (message contributor)
Summary: When we consider the woman at the well’s responses to Jesus, something happens in all of us that almost feels ... natural. We either feel pity, or sorrow, or (maybe even) judgment for her … yet … aren't we in the same position today in our sin? Yes!
John, Part 14
Series: The Truth About Salvation, Part 5
John 4:1-14
- Continuing mini-series: “The Truth about Salvation”; two more messages left
-- We’ll finish this next week; which sets up an incredible truth about Jesus
-- Today: unpack together a familiar story – but (CH) do we know its application?
- Read John 4:1-14 / Pray
Point 1 – Jesus Travels to Samaria
- Jesus has left Judea to help take the heat off of John; RE: religious questions
-- Traveling back through Galilee, he passes through Samaria (MAP)
– Judea: southern section of Israel
– Galilee: northern section of Israel
– Samaria: central section (between the north and south) of Israel
- Backstory: Bitter hatred existed between Jews and Samaritans:
– Why Samaritans were bi-racial, half Jews (by birth) / half Samaritans
– When captured by King of Assyria 700 yrs earlier, they were scattered
– Naturally, intermarriage took place as they resettled in new lands
- Their religious practices were also infused in the new lands they lived
– This caused a mixture of false gods and God to be worshiped
– Infuriated ‘native Jews’ who developed a learned hatred for them
– Eventually God of Israel won, but they weren’t considered “real Jews”
-- SEE: Our legalism is often the fuel when it comes to unfounded hatred!
- As Jesus traveled, He came to the town of Sychar (ancient pronounce: sue-har)
-- Very little known about this city except for three Biblical events:
– Jacob bought a piece of land here (Genesis 33:19)
– Jacob willed this land to Joseph as he was dying (Genesis 48:22)
– Joseph’s bones were eventually buried in this area (Joshua 24:32)
- TR: This sets up the discussion to happen and eventual Gospel proclamation
-- RE: Series called “The Truth about Salvation” – see the first two truths …
Point 2 – First truth: Jesus is the Living Water
- Couple of things to understand:
1. Living water is “of God”; it is found in the new life that God gives
2. Living water is “the gift” of God; freely given / not earned or deserved
3. Living water is “received” by asking for it; it comes from a desire to have it
- Water that is alive is continuously refreshed; this is what Jesus is offering
-- To a Jew, living water represented as active & moving (think: fresh spring)
-- Dead water would be the opposite (a pond; mosquito breeding ground, etc.)
- It can only come from a place higher than man; must be from authority over us
-- For example: the woman talks of the importance of the well given from Jacob
-- True, this is important – consider the words of Jesus in response (re-read v10)
- Much like we still do – she missed what is really being said …
-- Her focus is on physical things (drawing water, having a bucket, rope, etc.) (v11)
-- And! She is comparing this to Jacob (a man) who she only knew of (v12)
- CHALL: How often do we compare the wisdom of God to what “we know”?
-- APP: Do we try to draw comparisons and value of who He is over our wisdom?
-- This is exactly what this woman does in v12: “this we have, so who are you?”
-- Remember testimony last week, John 3:31 – “…He is greater than anyone else”
- TR: Leads to an important question: Why does living water matter?
Point 3 – Second truth: Only Living Water can Satisfy
- Humanity always has a problem here: We continue to try to find our own way!
-- From the Garden to now we look for ways to manufacture satisfying solutions
-- EX: We try to excuse sin in the hopes of satisfying our own selfish needs/wants
- This act is a perfect example of using “stagnant” or “dead” water to provide hope
-- IMP: If it’s of our own making it will never last b/c it is from “the creation”
-- WHY? We cannot manufacture something greater than the Creator! (rem: gift)
- This is exactly what Jesus is teaching this woman … It’s not about the well!
-- She is focused on its archeological and historical importance (from who it came)
-- It’s not about the church building, the song preference, or “fill in the blank”
- She is having a real encounter with THE true life (Jn 1:14) and totally misses it!
-- This is what Jesus unpacks and teaches her in v14 (APP for today) (Re-read)
- Give you 5 key truths about living water to reflect on:
1. Living water comes from Christ alone – John 7:37
2. Living water keeps us from thirsting again – Zec 13:1
3. Living water is a well that is placed IN us – John 7:38
