We continue with our sermon series ‘People who have encountered Jesus’. Preaching from Nathan Gordon with the virtual service led by Beverley Sills.
Sermon Notes
Whether your drink of choice is soft, alcoholic, sweet, bitter, cold or hot, drink is not only essential for our bodies to function, but there’s also a social and economic value of consuming fluids that has been severely impacted during the pandemic. With pubs and restaurants closed and home visits suspended, the social element of bonding over a cup of tea or coffee has been sorely missed around the country and even in our local church.
The Gospel writer John records an unusual encounter between a Samaritan woman and Jesus at Jacobs well in Sychar. The encounter is intriguing as they discuss a number of topics from water, martial relationships, Jesus’ identity and worship, which ultimately led to the woman sharing about her encounter in the city.
We are familiar with Jesus using parables to convey a spiritual meaning in his teachings. On this occasion, we see another illustration using water to express the need to satisfy our soul’s thirst.
Let us consider the following points of teaching from this interesting encounter at Jacob’s well, and seek to address the sermon title question “What are you drinking?”
- Physical Water vs Living Water ~ v13-14
- The woman was focused on drawing natural water from the well, but Jesus was interested in water of another kind.
- Deuteronomy 4:29
- The results of a thirsty Soul ~ v16-18
- The woman’s marital and relational problems exposed
- The soul seeks satisfaction in the wrong places without the truth of God’s will through Jesus Christ. (Galatians 5:19-21)
- short term happiness and fulfilment
- The results of a satisfied Soul ~ 25-30
- eternal satisfaction and fulfilment
- a burning desire to share the good news
- enters into the soul and remains within as a source of spiritual refreshment and satisfaction.
- John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Sometimes we look for satisfaction and fulfilment in the wrong places, that can be detrimental to our soul’s health. The woman’s encounter with Jesus in Samaria teaches us that only Christ can truly satisfy the yearnings of our soul. Physical water can hydrate the body, but only Jesus can fill the depths of our souls with the refreshing sustenance of living water that will never run dry.
Hymn: Fill my cup Lord by Jessy Dixon
Like the woman at the well
I was seeking
For things that could not satisfy
And then I heard my Savior speaking
“Draw from My well that never shall run dry”
Fill my cup, Lord
I lift it up, Lord
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul
Bread of Heaven, feed me ’til I want no more
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole
There are millions in this world
Who are craving
The pleasures, earthly things of gold
But none can match the wondrous treasure
That I find in Jesus Christ my Lord
Fill my cup, Lord
I lift it up, Lord
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul
Bread of Heaven, feed me ’til I want no more
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole
Here’s my cup, fill it up and make me whole
Questions
1) Have you ever tried to find meaning and purpose apart from Jesus? What kinds of things did you pursue in order satisfy the longing of your soul? Was the result really satisfying?
2) When you look around at our world, what kinds of things do you see people pursuing in order to fill their lives with meaning and purpose? Do any of these things really satisfy?
3) How many times had this woman been married? What does Jesus reveal about her current living situation? What does this indicate about the woman’s desire to find love and acceptance?
4) What is the result of the living water that Jesus offers? (Verse 14)
Sermon Details
Sermon Title: What are you drinking?
Bible Reading: John 4
Preacher: Nathan Gordon
Worship Leader: Beverley Sills
