We continue our sermon series entitled “Tough Questions Jesus Asked”. Preaching from Nathan Gordon. Service led by Kuda Osoba.

Sermon Notes

Can we offer God anything?

Have you ever wondered what you could do to help God in any way? Is there anything we could give to God that would be of worth or significance? After all, David describes God as the king of glory. (Psalm 24:8-10)

The simple answer is nothing. We could give God nothing that He does not already possess.

God delights in our faith and trust in Him.

However, although God needs nothing that He does not already possess, God honours faith, and faith honours God.
Without faith, it’s impossible to please God, according to the writer of Hebrews. (Hebrews 11:6)

The Situation =
An unlikely encounter results in an important question (John 4:4-14)

• According to chapter four, John records an unlikely encounter that broke the social etiquette and norms of his day.
• It was not socially acceptable for Jews to interact or have any dealings with Samaritans because of a longstanding feud.
• The Samaritan race came about after the Assyrian captivity of the Northern Kingdom of Israel in 721 B.C. Some of the Jews who remained would inevitably intermarry with the Assyrians.
• A woman visiting Jacob’s well to draw water at noon was rare. Most people would visit the well in the morning or evening.

Challenge = Despite such an unlikely set of events, at noon in Samaria, a woman encounters Jesus. Some of the most impactful moments in our lives can often come about without warning or preparation. Always look for encounters with Jesus through The Holy Spirit, even today.

The Complication =  
They were singing from different hymn sheets (John 4:7-14)

• Jesus posed his question as a loaded one to move the conversation from water to spiritual life.
• Initially, the Samaritan woman could only see what was before her. Water from Jacobs well.
• The woman was confused that a Jewish man would ask for a drink from a Samaritan.

Challenge  = Jesus crossed all social, cultural, and political barriers to share the Gospel, and we who follow him must do no less. What barriers do you need to cross for Jesus?

The Resolution & Celebration =
Other brands are not available (v13-26)

• Jesus explained the reality that natural water can only quench our thirst temporarily.
• The woman jumped at the opportunity never to have to come and draw water again. She was still singing from a different hymn sheet and did not fully understand Jesus’ identity and message.
• After a more detailed conversation about spiritual matters, such as the appropriate place to worship, the woman received a clear response from Jesus. “I, the one speaking to you – I am he.”
• Jesus is the only one who can satisfy our hearts longing; no other way or method comes close.

Challenge = Not everyone will understand the Gospel message immediately. We must be patient with people to come to the correct understanding of Jesus for themselves.

Today, Jesus, like the woman of Samaria, wants to give us living water for our souls. If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, be encouraged Jesus wants to satisfy the thirst of our hearts. Secondly, if you are a believer, our spiritual wells may become clogged and weighed down by life’s challenges.

 Allow Jesus to replenish and reinvigorate your well to spring again with fresh spiritual water.

Questions

1. Discuss a time where you were challenged to break down cultural barriers to connect with someone in a meaningful way? (Read John 4:4-9)
2. How does the Bible and the Gospel message help and equip the church to reach beyond cultural and social barriers that exist even today?
3. Have you ever experienced an unlikely encounter with God that stood out and impacted your life? Discuss how the encounter came to be.
4. Jesus often used parables and metaphors to draw people’s attention to a spiritual/kingdom principle. Discuss some helpful metaphors that link with the Gospel message in a clear way.
5. Read John 3:1-21 & discuss the similarities between Nicodemus encountering Jesus versus the Samaritan woman?