Sermon Tone Analysis

*The Right Place with the Right Readiness*

*John 4:1-7 *

*Intro:*

·         A couple of weeks ago, we talked about G.R.O.W.T.H.

o    Greet God — Read God’s Word – Overcome obstacles – Witness – Throw yourself into God’s work – Honour the Lord

o    As we go back to studying John’s Gospel – we’re going to focus for the next couple of weeks on W – Witness

·         *Why witness?*

o    *The need of our world*

§  / *John 14:6 - *Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through me./

·         There is only one way

·         We must tell people or else they will miss it

o    *Jesus’ command*

§  / *Matthew 28:19-20 - *19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”/

·         We are to make disciples

o    Evangelize  - share the Gospel

o    Disciple – help them grow

o    *Example of the church*

§  / *Acts 8:4 - *Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word./

·         As the church was persecuted, the leaders stayed in Jerusalem

·         The people scattered and witnessed

o    *It is God’s Method*

§  / *Romans 10:13-14 - *13For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

14But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him?

And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him?

And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?

(NLT)/

·         God gives us all the privilege of sharing in the most awesome responsibility in the world!

·         *Having said that, we need some direction on how to do this*

o    John 4 is one of the greatest passages about this

o    We get to learn from the Master Himself!

§  This week – preparing for evangelism

§  Next week – doing evangelism

·         *If we are going to see spiritual growth, we must be involved in witnessing.*

o    *If we are going to be effective in our witness, how should we prepare?*

I.

Allow God to Lead Through Circumstances  (1-3)

A.     Background

*1.    **Jesus and His disciples were reaching people!*

a.

Even more than John the Baptist and his group

*2.    **Pharisees – religious leaders but not of God – put pressure on Jesus*

a.       Jesus could have fought back – but it wasn’t the time

b.

So Jesus left

(1)    He left a fruitful ministry

(2)    He left his home area

(3)    He left what was familiar to him

c.

The circumstances did not look good

B.    Application

*1.    **We must be sensitive to God’s leading!*

2.       Circumstances – even the bad ones – are always in God’s control!

a.       @ I get my hair cut in the late afternoons – I’m tired – sit in the seat and relax  - doze off without moving my head – many times I have people in there who, when they find out I’m a pastor, have questions – I’ve had many opps to share the Gospel – I could say, “All I want to do is rest”

b.

You get to the doctor’s and find you have to wait – look at the person next to you

c.        Someone comes unglued at you – they obviously need Christ’s peace

*3.

*Make a practice of – esp.

when things seem to be going wrong (when YOUR plan is not working) – to* look around for God’s appointment \\ \\ *

II.

Live on Purpose (4a)

A.     Background

1.       Jesus HAD TO pass through Samaria

2.       Why?

a.       Construction? — the only road?

— obligations?

b.

Because He knew who was there needing Him

c.

Because He was so in touch with His Father that He knew that was where He was to go

B.    Application

*1.    **When you begin your day, do you seek God’s guidance?*

a.       I’m not talking about asking Him to help you have a good day

(1)    To avoid trouble

(2)    To have everything run smoothly

b.       I’m talking about asking God to make you sensitive to what HE is doing around you and what part HE wants you to play in that work

*2.

**Some ideas*

a.       Start the day with a prayer of dedication

b.       Carry tracts with you

c.        Get around unsaved people

d.       Realize that God is always at work and invites you to join Him \\ \\

III.

Overcome Prejudice  (4b)

A.     Background

*1.    **Jesus went through Samaria*

a.       Normal journey was to go on the other side of Jordan

*2.    **Samaritans and Jews hated each other*

a.       Samaritans were half-breeds

b.       Enemies of the Nehemiah

c.        Worshipped God other than in Jerusalem

d.       6-9 AD defiled temple – scattered bones during Passover

e.       Jewish writer referred to them as: /“//that foolish people that dwell in Sichem.”

/ (Sirach 50:26)

3.

But Jesus went there on purpose

B.    Application

1.

When I say prejudice, your first thought is probably “race”

a.       Certainly we must look past race.

(1)    God so loved the world – not one particular race!

*2.    **But there are other prejudices that we must overcome as well*