Primary Text: John 4:4-26
Memory Verse: “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:23-24
Introduction:
Many important events transpired in the life of Jesus when He was on the way to somewhere else. Although He had a clear mission in mind each day, He also lived in the “now,” making the most of each opportunity. He was a Master of time management and efficiency, never allowing a momentary urgency to crowd out His overall objectives, but He was also in touch with the immediate. We have much to learn from the balance He maintained. However, there is a larger matter to learn from Christ’s experience with the woman at the well.
It will do us little good to embrace our mission for God, plan out our days, go about accomplishing our tasks, and even give attention to immediate opportunities, if we don’t have the right heart. Namely, will we serve Christ and others, or ourselves? Our decision will affect the kind of heart we have. Little hearts, though safe and protected, never contribute anything.
Conversely, ministering hearts, though vulnerable, are also the hearts that know the most joy and leave their imprint on the world. Cultivate deafness, and you will never hear the discords of life, but neither will you hear the glorious strains of a great symphony! Cultivate blindness, and you will never see the ugly, but neither will you see the beauty of God’s creation. Cultivate a small heart, and while you may avoid more obstacles, you will never know the empowering winds of the Holy Spirit. We must choose between personal comfort or seeing lives changed and great things happening for God’s kingdom.
We only have to glance at a daily newspaper to see there is a great need for ministering hearts—enlarged hearts—caring hearts. The story of our Lord and the woman at the well gives us insight into the ministering heart. A ministering heart is an expansive heart that ministers when it is weary; it is filled with such love that it crosses the normal barriers of life and reaches out; it sees God’s potential in every opportunity. Such was the heart of the Lord.
Studying the Word
Lesson Study
- Why was Jesus in Samaria? John 4:3-4
- Why was Jesus sitting on the well? John 4:5-6
- For what reasons is it amazing that Jesus spoke to this particular woman at the well? John 4:7-9
- How did Jesus use His desire for water to teach a profound truth? John 4:10-15
- How did Jesus demonstrate to this woman that He knew all about her and her personal life? John 4:16-18
- What important revelations did Jesus give this woman about worship, and about Himself? John 4:20-26
- What was Sychar’s response to the Samaritan woman’s testimony? John 4:27-30
- How does Jesus use this situation to teach the disciples? John 4:31-38
- What end result was due to Jesus’ unlikely conversation with the woman at the well? John 4:39-45