What If Jesus Moved Into My Neighborhood?

Text: John 4:1-42

Title: What if Jesus moved into my neighborhood?

Introduction

Although every neighborhood is different there are some things that are common to almost all neighborhoods.

1. Our neighbors may know little or nothing about the bible

“You worship what you do not know, we worship what we do know…(V22)

2. Our neighbors often have no friends who are genuine Christians.

“for Jews do not associate with Samaritans” (V9)

3. Our neighbors tend to be suspicious by nature.

“You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (V9)

4. Our neighbors often feel that issues in their lives are out of control.

“The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband” (V18)

5. Our neighbors often have multiple alienations in their lives.

“It was about the sixth hour…” (V6)

6. Our neighbors are seeking life before death

“The woman said to him give me this water so I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”(V15)

What if Jesus moved into my neighborhood?

1. He would have concern and compassion for his neighbors.

“Now he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink? (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) (V4-8)

A. Why did the disciples go into the town? To buy food.

B. Why did the Samaritan woman come to the well? To

draw water.

C. Why did Jesus have to go through Samaria? Was it not to show concern and compassion for others.

Jesus went into Samaria because of his concern and compassion for his neighbors but that is not necessarily everyone’s motive for moving into a new neighborhood.

Let’s look for a moment at the Pharisee’s motive in following Jesus into Judea in verse 1-3.

“Jesus realized that the Pharisees were keeping count of the baptisms that he and John performed (although his disciples, not Jesus, did the actual baptizing) They had posted the score that Jesus was ahead, turning him and John into rivals in the eyes of the people. So Jesus left the Judean countryside and went back to Galilee.”

John 4:1-3 The Message

Jesus brings concern and compassion. Let me tell you what the enemy brings.Competition and conflict.

Don’t we all know neighbors who have that spirit of competition and conflict. They have to have the best of everything. They don’t get along with anyone.

You and I can not be a Christian and be in competition and conflict with our neighbors. Instead we are to have concern and compassion for our neighborhood.

2. Before He talked to the neighbors, He would talk to the Father.

‘My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. “Do you not say four months more and then the harvest? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields they are ripe for harvest.” Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. (V34-36)

Every neighborhood is really a spiritual field.

(WE ALL LIVE IN THE COUNTRY)

You and I are put in our neighborhoods to sow and reap.

The only way we will see our neighbors come to God is if we first bring our neighbors to God in prayer.

Remember that we already said several things that neighborhoods have in common.

Some neighborhoods have these negative characteristics stronger than other neighborhoods.

Jesus would pray first before speaking.

As you walk though your neighborhood pray for the different homes or apartments you pass. Ask God to touch them.

3. If Jesus moved into our neighborhood he would invest time in these people.

“When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink? (His disciples had gone into town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him. 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.)

In order to invest time in his neighbors Jesus would

a. Make the first move.

b. Not hang out only with Christians

I know that he would not hang out only with Christians because when the twelve disciples went into the town to get food he didn’t go.

The longer we are Christians the less non-Christian friends we have.