********************************************************************
PASTOR WOOD’S Sermon notes
Today’s Message Notes: March 15, 2020
Title: “Jesus Welcomes A Thirsty Guest That None Would Have Expected”
Text: John 4—The Samaritan Woman
Intro: A well-known, modern parable—The one who gets the son gets it all.
I. Jesus knows who the Samaritan woman at the well is.
A. We meet a lonely woman at a well and many like her.
B. Jesus doesn’t look at the value of a person the same way others do.
1. Luke 7:40-50 A woman anoints Jesus with oil
2. Simon sizes her up as a ‘sinful woman.”
3. Simon sizes Jesus up as a failed prophet.
4. The disciples size her up as wasteful.
5. Jesus however praises her devotion.
C. Five broken marriages define this woman’s life before she meets Jesus.
1. Men were allowed to divorce their wives for trivial things like burning supper.
2. This was likely in Samaritan culture too
3. Rabbinical Law only lets a woman marry three times—she is “beyond redemption”
4. Imagine how she feels about herself—a picture of many today.
5. When Jesus confronts her sin He is also calling out the sins of the men of Sychar
D. Good thing the disciples were sent away.
1. When they return they were surprised Jesus was talking to a woman.
2. Rabbis don’t talk to women—but then again normal rabbis don’t bless the little children either. (Mark 10:12-14)
3. Jesus doesn’t stress about the opinions of others. a. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”
b. “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?”
c. We know the vibe.
II. So how about a drink of Living Water?
A. Jesus sees a fixer upper, someone worth saving, someone He can’t help but love. His appraisal is all that matters.
B. Jesus takes the Samaritan woman to church at Jacob’s well.
1. Jacob’s well is a spring-fed well, meaning the water was always moving, fresh, and never stagnant.
2. Living water defined the well’s character and unique nature—illustrates Jesus as living water.
3. Jesus asks for a drink from a sinful, Samaritan woman.
4. “I am a Samaritan woman and you are a Jew. How is it that you ask me for a drink?”
C. Jesus offers her Living water and she catches on that He is claiming to be someone important, more important than her father Jacob who gave them the well.
D. “Sir, give me this water.”
E. Jesus takes her to the next level.
1. “Sir, I have no husband.” –A partial truth at best.
2. A part of her is still trying to hide—factually true but not the whole story.
3. Jesus gently exposes her sin while at the same time revealing that He has divine knowledge of her true self.
4. Jesus could go deeper but He is not trying to embarrass her, He is trying to save her.
5. It’s enough to make the point.
6. 1 John 1:8-9
III. The Father is worshipped in Spirit and in Truth.
A. God doesn’t living on Mt. Gerizim, nor in Jerusalem.
B. Salvation is however from the Jews of which Jesus clearly is.
1. A Son of Abraham,
2. of the tribe of Judah,
3. A King in David’s Line
4. It’s not in a where but in a Who
a. “I am…”
b. “…truth…”
C. Worship is done in spirit….
1. Worship in Spirit is two-fold.
a. Spirit of God,
b. spirit of your mind and heart.
2. Out of the heart come the things that make us clean or unclean.
3. James 1:22-27
D. Worship is done in Truth- aletheia.
1. It is a word that applies to one’s character.
2. The truth is definitive of who Jesus is.
3. The truth is His word is the truth that sets sinners free (John 8:32).
4. To worship in spirit and in truth is to succeed at 1 John 3:18 “Dear children, let us not love with words or lip-service but with actions and in truth.”
E. Then Jesus declared, ‘I who speak to you am He.'”
Conclusion: A lesson from a little white car with lots of rust.
Taking it Home
1. Do you look at yourself as Jesus does? Perhaps too highly? Or perhaps not well-enough?
2. Think about your hopes for a future and how you imagined it. Did they turn out? How has reality impacted or shaped your faith in Jesus?
3. Where has the Lord blessed you with the opportunity to share Your faith openly? How did it bless you?
Further reading—Perhaps Reread John 4 and James 1
********************************************************************
PASTOR WOOD’S Sermon notes
Today’s Message Notes
Title: “When Temptation Knocks”
Text: Matt 4:1-11
Introduction: The goo of temptation.
I. We all understand temptation
A. 1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
B. Look for the signals of a temptation and remember you are prone to sin.
C. Contrast this with Jesus who has no sin. Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet he did not sin.”
II. It is written: “Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God.” Deut 8:3
A. Heart of this temptation: Not self-indulgence but self-preservation at all costs.
1. The idea is for Jesus to think about Himself first before the Father’s will and before giving Himself to the cross.
2. It is a temptation that Jesus condemns in the parables such as with the parable of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31.
3. Whenever we feel threatened we often cross into a sense-of self-preservation.
B. It is Written “Man shall not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Deut 8:3).
1. When the plague came to Wittenberg in 1527 and most of the town including may priests left to escape it Martin Luther and Katie stayed to care for the sick at great risk to themselves.
2. A time that inspired the famous hymn, “A Mighty Fortress.”
C. Jesus Does not think only for Himself.
1. He thinks first of the Father’s Will to be sacrificed for us on the cross.
2. Jesus loves us also
3. The most descriptive characteristic about Christians is their love for others and their willingness to sacrifice their own needs for the sake of others.
III. “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” (Deuteronomy 6:16)
A. Two temptations may be found here.
1. A temptation to manipulate the Lord to our own will—”I will trust you if you serve me.”
2. A temptation that an unbeliever might challenge us with. “If you really trust God prove it by endangering your life.”
B. Numbers 14:20-23 tells us the Israelites tested God ten times—tested His patience, challenged His character, complained all the time, and routinely questioned God’s wisdom.
1. God is not obligated to prove Himself to us especially since He already has in the cross.
2. Consider this fact: Jesus after His resurrection felt no obligation to appear to his enemies who condemned Him to the cross but only to the faithful (1 Corinthians 15:1-11)
C. Satan misuses scripture—get to know it so you won’t be fooled.
1. Satan misquotes Psalm 91:11.
2. This Psalm is not saying that with enough faith, Christians can avoid poverty, cancer, and trouble.
3. This is a psalm that does not speak of worldly safety but of Spiritual Salvation.
4. “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty… He is my fortress…”
D. Salvation is promised, an easier life is not.
IV. “Worship the Lord and Serve Him only.” Deut 6:13
A. This is a temptation about control or power.
1. Satan has never liked the fact that Adam and Eve were given authority by the Lord to rule over God’s creation in Genesis 1:26.
2. Psalm 8 confirms this when it says, “You Lord, have put all things under his feet…”
3. However it is also written in Psalm 103:19 “The Lord has established His throne in the heavens; and His sovereignty rulers over all.”
4. 1 Cor 10:26, “The Earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.”
5. Philippians 2:11 Every knee bows and every tongue confesses Jesus as Lord in the end.
B. Satan, makes a commercial sales pitch.
1. “Act now!”
2. Remember the Noah movie commercials? Deliberately misleading.
3. Control in this world is the illusion—false advertising.
C. But Jesus is very clear when he speaks to Pilate in John 18:36, “My Kingdom is not of this world.”
1. Jesus gives Himself away—Made like man and died for His sins.
2. Comes to take our place on the cross.
3. Contrast—”you shall be like God.”
4. Sin strives to take God’s place.
5. No control but self-control in real world.
6. The Lord honors self-control and humility—that is how He overcame the world in the cross.
Conclusion: The irony of temptation is that by God’s grace temptation when it is overcome builds a faith with “stronger bones.”
Taking it Home
1. What are the signals that temptation is knocking on the door of your heart?
2. Of the temptations mentioned today which do you struggle with most? What do you do when this temptation comes knocking?
3. How has God blessed you when you have resisted temptation?
Going a Little Deeper Consider reading Genesis 39 James 1
********************************************************************
Pastor Woods’ Sunday Class
When to Walk Away
Pastor Woods will be starting a new Sunday School Bible class on March 15 entitled, When to Walk Away: Finding Freedom from Toxic People, written by Gary Thomas (author of Sacred Parenting & Sacred Marriage). What does it mean when one is a “toxic person”? How does one recognize a genuine example of a toxic person? How far is far enough when dealing with such a person? How does one exercise faith in Jesus when toxic people act as stumbling blocks? Are they toxic or is it really just me?
********************************************************************
PASTOR WOOD’S 50 & SHOWING IT!
Thank You from Pastor Woods
Thanks for a fun 50th. I was truly surprised last Sunday when I walked into the Fellowship Hall expecting to introduce our new members and found a room full of people wearing masks with my face on it. It was clear that you all at Grace are wonderfully warped along with my family and clearly had too much fun setting me up. I thank you for all the Epson salts, cremes, depends, and plethora of old people gifts. I could have gladly avoided the raisins and the prunes which were in no short supply. They will make a great holiday gift for the pantry. Thank you for the food, the fun, and the fellowship of it all. Thank you, my friends. As for getting older…well…It’s all downhill from here. Love in Christ, Pastor Woods (a.k.a. new senior citizen)
********************************************************************
Pastor Woods’ Sunday Bible Class
Meet in the Choir Room.
********************************************************************