Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Evangelical
Jesus the Great Evangelist: a sermon on John 4

Jesus the Great Evangelist: a sermon on John 4

Last updated on: June 13, 2020 at 10:12 am by Adrian Warnock

Jesus the Great Evangelist: a sermon on John 4 2020-06-13T10:12:18+01:00 Adrian Warnock

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Jesus is the model evangelist and we can learn from his example how to get caught up on his mission to seek and save the lost. This is a sermon about the Woman of Samaria in John 4. Brief sermon notes follow the audio.

John 4:1-42

We tend to think of Jesus as the Great Shepherd or Pastor, or as the Great Priest, as the Great Apostle of our faith, as the Great Teacher, as the Greatest Prophet of them all. But he was also the greatest evangelist.

1. What do you live for?

Jesus was not about temporary fame or reputation but cared for people

When he heard that he was getting famous with the Pharisees, he went somewhere else.

He left his big city ministry behind went to a backwater place where he was not so well known. Surely this was partly because it was not yet the time for him to die, but also, Jesus ministry was not about building a crowd but a people.

He was a master disciple-maker, preparing his disciples for their future leadership by getting them to baptize and wanting time close with them.

We see his compassion for the lost in the way he ordered his steps. Passage says he “MUST” go thru Samaria, whereas the truth was the Jews usually had a route around it to avoid these people who they saw as inferior.

Do you avoid so-called “inferior” people? Or do you treat everyone you meet as human?

Do we care about our image, or about people? Are we prepared to prioritize people over tasks?

He was open to people at all times, even when tired.

He didn’t say, “Cant you see I am somebody important, leave me alone, I have a job to do in being the Messiah”

He engaged. Care for people is not just an abstract thing but a reality.

We are trained in our society to pass people by, and not think of them as someone to talk to or engage with.

We too must learn to care. WE must think about the lost, and their eternal state often. We must realize that the people around us if they are not saved are on their way to hell. They could go there tomorrow.

We must PRAY. And we must be willing to reach out and enage like he does:

2. How to evangelize

a. SPEAK with people and engage them

b. Ask or offer a favor. In this case he asked. Makes you vulnerable. Water = difference in a hot country between life and death. Would have been almost passing out. Time here was actually noon, so would have been hot.

Shows that we are ALL part of the same people, we are ALL the same at heart.

c. Find a connection and elaborate
You can make a LINK with anyone
Cross culturual communication begins in the same place. Break down barriers between woman and man, between Jew and Samaritan by meeting at a common place. Look for a LINK between you and the other person.

Jesus builds on their common need for water, and then begins to make a spiritual point.

d. TWICE sidestepped controversy when it wasn’t the real issue. Not that he couldn’t have answered, and indeed second time he kind of did but, on his terms. He let her make her point then made his rather than getting into a row.

d. Be ready for prophetic moments These can hit you in the moment, or even be something you don’t realize is happening. Here, Jesus’ prophetic insite opened the doors massively. Note that even he doesn’t say “Thus sayeth the Lord…” Natural prophecy.

e. GO and Tell, vs COME AND SEE
Jesus is not the only evangelist in this story, the Woman evangelizes her town. Her message is simple “Come and see a man”
Bring people to Christ by brinigng them to church. But also share your story and the simple gospel.
We can and should do both. Different strategies helpful.

3. Encouragement to evangelize

a. There is nothing more rewarding….Jesus speaks of it as nourishing him like food!
b.The vastness of the harvest: it is HERE NOW to be reaped….elsewhere Jesus told them to pray “send out workers” then sent them out also to be co-labourers with him, a massive privilege.
c. There are sowing and reaping roles and we should rejoice in each of them. You will not lead everyone you meet to Jesus, but you can leave tehm a bit closer to him than they were at the beginning.

Various strategies.
The vital place to begin is with our hearts.

DO WE WANT TO
Life for God
Display glory of God
Tell people about God

Previous Post

February 15, 2014

Strange Fire Debate stoked by Grace To You Internet Ministry Coordinator

Next Post

February 24, 2014 Why silence about controversies should not be read as agreement

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 1 and 2 Corinthians 1 and 2 Thessalonians 1 and 2 Timothy 1 John 300 Leaders A Life of Joy Abortion Acts of the Apostles Adrian on radio Adrian on TV Adrian's Story Albert Mohler Amazing Grace Arminocalvinist Spectrum Assurance Atonement Atonement Series Attributes of God Barnabas Best of the Blog Bible Bible Software Bible Translation Biblical Inerrancy Billy Graham Bob Roberts Books C. J. Mahaney Calvinism Cessationism Charis Warnock Charismatic Spectrum Charles Simeon Charles Spurgeon Church Leadership Colossians Complementarian - Egalitarian Spectrum Complementarianism Conferences Culture Daniel Debates Deuteronomy DGM08 DGM13 Discernment Doctrine Don Carson Ed Stetzer Eddy Leo Ephesians ESV Bible Translators Interview Evangelism in a Post-Christian World evolution Exodus Expository Preaching Ezekial Faith and Feelings Family Florida Galatians General Genesis Get Wisdom - Proverbs sermons Gifts of The Holy Spirit Gifts of the Holy Spirit 2006 Global Faith Forum Godly Attitudes Gospel Gospels Grace Greg Haslam Grudem vs Piper: The Baptism Debate Healing Heaven Hell and Rob Bell Hebrews Henry Tyler Henry Warnock Holy Spirit Holy Spirit Baptism Hope Reborn Hugh Palmer Irresistable Grace Isaiah J. I. Packer Jack Hayford Joel Joel Warnock John John Lanferman John MacArthur John Newton John Owen John Piper John Smyth Jonathan Edwards Josh Harris Justification Justin Taylor Kenneth Ulmer Leadership Leadership Lessons from 1 & 2 Samuel Lex Loizides Liam Goligher Lig Duncan Limited Atonement Lou Fellingham Mark Dever Mark Driscoll Martyn Lloyd-Jones Matt Chandler Mental Health Missionary Methods: St Paul’s or Ours? My Story N. T. Wright Nehemiah NWA08 NWA09 NWA10 Opinion OT History Books Pentateuch Personal Personal Revival Philippians PJ Smyth Podcast Politics Preaching Prophecy Proverbs Psalms Raised With Christ Reformed Charismatic Regeneration Relationships Resurrection Resurrection & Salvation Revival Rice Broocks Rich Man and Lazarus Rick Warren Rob Rufus Roland Allen Romans Sam Storms Sanctification Series Sermons Sermons on Philippians Serving Jesus at Work Sexuality Sin St Paul Steve Chalke Strange Fire Suffering T4G T4G Statement TAB09 Tamasin Warnock Teamwork Terry Virgo The Atonement Debate - Chalke book The Soulwinner The Spirit-Filled Church The Traitor Within Theologcial Spectrums Theosis Tim Challies Tim Keller Titus TOAM06 TOAM07 TOAM08 TOAM09 TOAM10 TOAM11 Todd Bentley Tope Koleoso Total Depravity Video Water Baptism Wayne Grudem Worship

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 May 2025 April 2025 January 2025 November 2024 October 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 August 2023 May 2023 April 2023 February 2023 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 August 2021 May 2021 April 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 January 2019 December 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 June 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 June 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 April 2003

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What did Lamentations describe happening to Jerusalem?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Its blessing and expansion Its destruction and mourning Its prosperity Its rebuilding

Books by This Author Books by Adrian Warnock

See All Titles »