Leaving Waterpots Behind John 4:16-30

Woman at the Well Review of events 6/30/2019 am Woman at the Well Review of events Jesus, on His way to Galilee, stops outside Sychar, having become hungry and thirsty; disciples go on into town seeking food A woman approaches to draw water; Jesus begins discussion of “living water”; requests she summon her husband She concludes He is a prophet; He indicates that He is the Messiah She runs into the town to inform others Randy Bowles 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Woman at the Well Review of events But why did she leave her waterpot? 6/30/2019 am Woman at the Well Review of events But why did she leave her waterpot? Probably did not have an abundance of them Probably didn’t forget it May have been an inexpensive pot Because she found something more valuable than water or a waterpot and it had become a hindrance to her new goal; she left it to pursue what was more valuable! Randy Bowles 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

Waterpots We Need to Leave Behind 6/30/2019 am Waterpots We Need to Leave Behind If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. - Matthew 5:29-30 Randy Bowles 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Waterpots We Need to Leave Behind 6/30/2019 am Waterpots We Need to Leave Behind Waterpots can be anything Bad or sinful – greed, worldly pleasures, pride Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. - Colossians 3:5 Pride – we could be seeking the favor of men Randy Bowles 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

Waterpots We Need to Leave Behind 6/30/2019 am Waterpots We Need to Leave Behind Waterpots can be anything Bad or sinful – greed, worldly pleasures, pride Neutral things – sports, television, computer, hobbies, food, music, politics Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. - I Corinthians 8:8 Randy Bowles 7 7 7 7 7 7 7

Waterpots We Need to Leave Behind 6/30/2019 am Waterpots We Need to Leave Behind Waterpots can be anything Bad or sinful – greed, worldly pleasures, pride Neutral things – sports, television, computer, hobbies, food, music, politics Good things – maintaining house and yard, work, volunteering, academics Randy Bowles 8 8 8 8 8 8 8

Waterpots We Need to Leave Behind 6/30/2019 am Waterpots We Need to Leave Behind Waterpots can be anything We need to avoid letting worldly “things” crowd out spiritual things: Academics Possessions Accomplishments “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” - Matthew 22:36-37 Randy Bowles 9 9 9 9 9 9 9

Leave Behind Waterpots for: 6/30/2019 am Leave Behind Waterpots for: Personal Bible study What do you read just before going to bed? Listening to e-books on way to work So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. - Romans 10:17 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge … - Hosea 4:6 Randy Bowles 10 10 10 10 10 10 10

Leave Behind Waterpots for: 6/30/2019 am Leave Behind Waterpots for: Personal Bible study Worship assemblies and Bible classes Preparation on Saturday for Sunday Do you give any thought at all to worship while traveling? Randy Bowles 11 11 11 11 11 11 11

Leave Behind Waterpots for: 6/30/2019 am Leave Behind Waterpots for: Personal Bible study Worship assemblies and Bible classes Evangelism Do we engage in worldly social events (e.g. clubs, hobbies) with a view towards finding lost souls? Do we prepare ourselves to teach the lost? What if the woman had decided she was too busy gathering water to tell others? Carry church business cards Have Bible Correspondence courses available Study/learn an organized method for presenting the gospel Randy Bowles 12 12 12 12 12 12 12

Leave Behind Waterpots for: 6/30/2019 am Leave Behind Waterpots for: Personal Bible study Worship assemblies and Bible classes Evangelism Drawing closer to brothers and sisters Look for times to socialize with brethren Learning their problems, difficulties, and needs If our calendar is too crowded with “other things,” we won’t have time to get to know our brothers & sisters better. Randy Bowles 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

Conclusions It’s all about judgment – how is your judgment trained? 6/30/2019 am Conclusions It’s all about judgment – how is your judgment trained? Do spiritual matters “get the left-overs” in our lives (Matthew 6:33)? Matthew 6:33 – But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Hebrews 12:1 – Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us… How are you running your race (Hebrews 12:1)? Randy Bowles 14 14 14 14 14 14 14