Title: The Needs of a Thirsty Soul
Descript.: A Sermon on the Samaritan Woman at the Well
Text: John 4:1-42
Usage: Preached January 24, 1993 AM at SDCC.
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A. INTRO
An unquenched thirst is one of the most compelling sensations our
body is capable of delivering! Illus.- Two-a-day football practices
in high school in Texas. Illus. - thirst after 5 hours of violent
vomiting. The tissues themselves seem to cry out for moisture.
But thirst can describe more than just the longing of the body
for liquid, it can also describe the longing of the soul for
acceptance, usefulness, and communion with the living God! And the
emptiness created by the lack of these things is just as compelling as
the thirst of a parched body. The thirst an alcoholic is trying to
quench is not satisfied with what is in the bottle. The needs that
lure another person into sexual promiscuity or infidelity can also be
described as a thirst. Likewise, the sense of accomplishment sought
by the "workaholic", the fun sought by the hedonist, and the leisure
sought by the lazy. All of these fruitless behaviors are misguided
efforts to quench a thirst that can ONLY be quenched by Christ!
Consider the encounter Jesus had with an outcast Samaritan woman
in John 4. This brief conversation lays bare her heart and show how
very thirsty she is and how she (AND WE) can be satisfied!
B. BODY - The Needs of a Thirsty Soul
1. To be Accepted
That this was a crying need of her heart is revealed by:
a) The timing of her trip to the well (noon instead of the cool of
the day)
b) Her astonishment at Jesus' conversation with her: Samaritan,
woman, and outcast! He was having more to do with her than her
own people did!
c) Her response to His revelation of Himself: Left the water Jar!
Have you ever felt rejected, abandoned by all that you thought
cared about you? Jesus wants to walk with you -- wants to help. No
matter how others treat you, He cares. Moreover, those who are
truly His followers care too! Notice that the disciples were
learning -- though surprised, none were critical of the
conversation.
2. To be Needed
"How are you going to draw water -- you need my bucket!" Here
was a woman longing to be needed and useful to someone. She
probably felt "disposable".
As Christians ARE WE NEEDED? Not in the sense that the is
anything God CANNOT accomplish without us. He is OMNIPOTENT. But
He has chosen to work through us to take the gospel to the world.
This woman wanted to be needed, to be more than something to be
used up and thrown away. And while Jesus did not need her to draw
water -- He did need her to tell the village. An interesting
footnote is Philip's work in the same region (same village?) in
Acts -- tremendous response! Maybe because of the seeds planted
this day!
3. To Have Fellowship with God
"Where can I go to find God? Is it true that Jerusalem is
better than here?" She had been worshipping in the place she had
been taught was right -- but she was still empty. Many Christians
share her plight -- they try to find the right church and go there
regularly -- but still are EMPTY, THIRSTY.
Jesus' teaching here is crucial: It is not WHERE, but HOW
that counts! Worship is not RITUAL, but relationship. Illus:
Marriage counseling with man who never speaks with his wife -- "But
I live in the same house with her!?"
If you still feel empty, maybe you have been seeking Him
through RITUAL. Instead, do the things that cultivate RELATIONSHIP
-- prayer, meditation, read His letter, discuss things with Him.
Awfully one-sided? No, not if you ever really try it with an
openness to the Spirit!
C. CONCLUSION
Do you want a place where you are accepted and loved, even when
others reject you? Some task or mission to make your life MEAN
SOMETHING? Do you want to KNOW God?
Come to Him, based on what you've been told. Believe in Him,
based on what you learn of Him yourself. Follow Him and have your
thirst really quenched!
D. COMMENTS
Prepared by Scott L. Purcell
Minister of Stokelan Drive Christian Church
1501 Stokelan Drive
Malden, MO 63863
(314) 276-2343 daytime
(314) 276-4201 evening
Reproduce, modify, and use freely
for the glory of God and the Growth of the Kingdom!
If these outlines are of some benefit to you,
a note, postcard, or phone-call would be most welcome!
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