H2O Series: Living Water
Sermon 1: Share the Living Water
John 4:7-14 - Victory Fellowship
January 16, 2022 – Rev. Roderick Grabski
How is it that you came to be here? What’s the name of the person who really influenced you to be a follower of Jesus? If you’re a Christian, what is your story? We all have one.
Influence is the power that you have to shape and change people’s lives, and you have more influence than you could possibly realize. Most of us want to make a difference. We want to influence, but we just underestimate how much influence we have to change the people around us.
We have influence over our family and close friends. Most of us recognize that influence. It’s a natural influence. It’s not an easy influence, but we understand that our words and our actions influence those people.
There is also another circle of influence and there are many more people in it than you realize. There are people all around you that you have the power to impact. Maybe you don’t even know their name. It’s just a familiar face at the gym, somebody that tends to work out the same time you do. Maybe it’s the neighbor a few doors down and you wave at each other when you pass by, but it’s just never been much more than that. Maybe it’s that server at the restaurant where you like to eat. Maybe it’s a coworker down the hall from you. You’ve small-talked but that’s about it. Maybe it’s a classmate of yours in high school or in college. But maybe God has placed them within your circle to alter their eternal destiny. Do you think that’s possible?
Who is in your circle of influence? Try this- imagine that there is a ring around you that extends fifteen feet in every direction. As you go through out the day pay attention to the people who step into your circle. And then pray - “God, someone’s in my circle. How would you like me to influence them?”
So how do we introduce those whom we can influence to Jesus?
1) Through your consistent example
2) Through your genuine excitement
3) Through your creative efforts
4) Through your sincere appeal
1 Peter 3:15: “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…”
Think through your family and close friends. Are you prepared to give an answer for the hope that is in you? In other words, tell your good friends about your best friend.
Now Jaime read from the Gospel of John chapter 4. Here we see Jesus reaches out to a woman. Now to be honest, it is a woman that most of us would’ve overlooked. Had we noticed her, it’s likely we would’ve avoided her. Yet, she steps into the circle of Jesus and her life would never be the same again.
In John 4:4, look at what it says. It says, “He had to go through Samaria.” That’s kind of an interesting choice of words, Jesus had to. I think he had to because of this woman who lived there. We don’t know her name but he knew her name. We don’t know her story but he had formed her in her mother’s womb. Jesus knew that she had desperately been searching for something to satisfy the emptiness in her soul, and he just had to go through Samaria so he could talk with her.
Let’s just learn five lessons of how Jesus reaches out to her when she steps inside of his circle.
1. He seeks her out. (Influence requires proximity.)
2, He asks questions.
3. Jesus moves the conversation from the superficial to the spiritual.
4. He moves the spiritual into the personal.
5. He answers the question but he moves on.
This woman steps into Jesus’ circle and her life is changed. What did she do? She goes out and she reaches other people with the good news.
God used her and he wants to use you where you are. Where you work is not an accident. The neighborhood you live in is not an accident. The grocery store you go to, the restaurant you eat in—none of these things are accidents. I believe that God has strategically placed us throughout this community with our circle of influence so that we can reach people with the good news of Jesus Christ. He wants to use you—your unique personality, your unique gifts—to introduce people to Jesus – the Living Water that forever satisfies.
Conclusion: (Bulletin Insert)
Maybe you’re thinking, “I want to reach out and be part of what we’re doing as a church, but I don’t know how to go about this.” Well, if you just look at the story in JOHN 4 there are a few approaches. I bet one of these fits you.
PRAYER
SONG: Pass it On
John 4:7-14 NLT
7 Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” 8 He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. 9 The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?” 10 Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” 11 “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? 12 And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?” 13 Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. 14 But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
