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Sunday School Special : Lesson 61

Text: John 4
23 May 2021

SUNDAY SCHOOL SPECIAL 23 May 2021

Text: John 4

Subject: Evangelism

Focus: Special Challenges II

INTRODUCTION

1. Dealing with delicate issues

a) Family issues
b) Death
c) Divorce
d) Multiple Marriages
e) Living together (unmarried)

2. The Family Concept in the 1st Century

a) The Legally Married State
b) The problem of living together though unmarried

THE INVITATION OF THE LORD JESUS

1. Calling the husband

a) Natural to share “the good news” (The Gospel)
b) Invitation given

2. Unearthing latent/ deep problems

a) Admission of the Samaritan woman
“I have no husband” John 4:17a
b) Candid response of the Lord Jesus
i) “You have well said” (no husband) John 4:17b
ii) “You have had 5 husbands” John 4:18a
iii) “The one whom you now have is not your husband” John 4:18b
c) There was no condemnation!

THE RESPONSE OF THE SAMARITAN WOMAN

1. She was not ready/ not willing to speak about her marital affairs

2. She commented

“Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet” John 4:19

a) She was impressed
b) How could the Lord Jesus have known about her life?

4. She added

a) Samaritan Worship
i) Worshipping in Mt. Gerizim 
ii) For centuries (John 4:20a)
b) Jewish Worship
i) Worshipping in Jerusalem
ii) The only place to worship (John 4:20b)
c) Another delicate issue
i) Religion
ii) Worship
iii) Traditional practices
iv) Centuries old practices

THE RESPONSE OF THE LORD JESUS

1. Typical

a) Candid
b) Clear
c) Non-condemnatory
d) No compromise either

2. Worship as God desires it

a) Worship 
i) Not confined to Mt. Gerizim
ii) Nor Jerusalem
b) New understanding/ practice of worship
i) The hour is coming
ii) Now is (the hour) (John 4:21a)
c) True worship 
i) Began with Jerusalem
ii) Established by the Lord
iii) Worship by the Jews is correct (John 4:22a)
iv) Salvation is of the Jews (John 4:22b)
d) Emphasis of New understanding/practice of worship
i) The hour is coming
ii) And now is (John 4:23a)
e) True worshippers
i) Will worship the Father
ii) In spirit
iii) In truth (John 4:23b)
f) Emphasis again
i) Worship in spirit
ii) In truth (John 4:24)

THE RESPONSE OF THE SAMARITAN WOMAN

1. Faith in the Messiah to come (John 4:25a)

2. He will tell us all things (John 4:25b)

THE FINAL WORD OF REVELATION 

The Lord declares that He is the Messiah (John 4:26)

EVALUATION OF “SPECIAL CHALLENGES” EVANGELISM

1. Free and open Discussion

a) Free exchange of words/thoughts allowed for
b) Steady focus of the Lord Jesus 
i) The Gospel (in particular)
ii) Biblical truth (in general)
iii) Worship (New and enlightening)

2. The Lord Jesus did not press the Samaritan woman to make a decision

a) Concerning sin
b) Concerning lifestyle
c) Concerning religion 
d) Patience was obvious

3. The Part of the Samaritan woman

a) Many things to think through
b) Personal life issues to be dealt with
c) Faith in the Lord Jesus as the Messiah