“Come and See…” John 4:7-42

A Few Lessons from the Account of the Samaritan Woman… We must not allow the past to hinder us [16] Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” [17] The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; [18] for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” (John 4:16-18 ESV)

A Few Lessons from the Account of the Samaritan Woman… We must not allow the past to hinder us The truth is that a changed life, a real life, is a touching witness to truth. Like Paul, Peter, Barnabus, or Simon…

A Few Lessons from the Account of the Samaritan Woman… We must not allow the past to hinder us We must not allow earthly pursuits to distract us [5] So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar…[8] (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) (John 4:5-8 ESV) Knew Jesus longer Knew him better Knew him personally But no one came to see Jesus because they went to get food

A Few Lessons from the Account of the Samaritan Woman… We must not allow the past to hinder us We must not allow earthly pursuits to distract us RESULT? “some” went out, and “many” believed

A Few Lessons from the Account of the Samaritan Woman… We must not allow the past to hinder us We must not allow earthly pursuits to distract us We must keep the invitation simple Samaritan woman was not… emotional, shocking, exciting, or overwhelming Samaritan woman was not just simple though, she was specific

A Few Lessons from the Account of the Samaritan Woman… We must not allow the past to hinder us We must not allow earthly pursuits to distract us We must keep the invitation simple Samaritan woman was not… emotional, shocking, exciting, or overwhelming Gallop Poll: 1 in 4 who don’t attend regularly anywhere say they would if they were invited.

A Few Lessons from the Account of the Samaritan Woman… We must not allow the past to hinder us We must not allow earthly pursuits to distract us We must keep the invitation simple We must let the church speak for itself [22] You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. (John 4:22 ESV)

A Few Lessons from the Account of the Samaritan Woman… We must not allow the past to hinder us We must not allow earthly pursuits to distract us We must keep the invitation simple We must let the church speak for itself We need to be prepared, not all will believe Isn’t success.. meeting / study / baptizing / and growing? brethen coming / understanding / rescued? NO

[66] After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. [67] So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” (John 6:66-67 ESV) [14] If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. [15] If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3:14-15 ESV)

5 What then is Apollos. And what is Paul 5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. (1 Corinthians 3:5-7 NASV)

A Few Lessons from the Account of the Samaritan Woman… We must not allow the past to hinder us We must not allow earthly pursuits to distract us We must keep the invitation simple We must let the church speak for itself We need to be prepared, not all will believe We need to see the urgency

[10] But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. (2 Peter 3:10 ESV)

A Few Lessons from the Account of the Samaritan Woman… We must not allow the past to hinder us We must not allow earthly pursuits to distract us We must keep the invitation simple We must let the church speak for itself We need to be prepared, not all will believe We need to see the urgency With all her problems the Samaritan woman went into the town and invited. People can be saved by our efforts…