Following Jesus’ Example: Sharing the Living Water Gospel

Nov 10, 2025

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus Models Intentional, Compassionate Evangelism

Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well demonstrates a model for personal evangelism that is both intentional and compassionate. He crossed cultural and social barriers, prioritized her spiritual needs over his own physical fatigue, and graciously addressed her sin without condemnation. Jesus seized a divine appointment, meeting her where she was, and used the ordinary context of drawing water to reveal her deeper thirst for living water. His approach was direct yet gentle, showing us that sharing the gospel is not about programs but about people—meeting them in their need and pointing them to the Savior. [39:32]

John 4:27-30 (ESV)
Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?” So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” They went out of the town and were coming to him.

Reflection: Who in your life might be overlooked or avoided by others, and how can you intentionally reach out to them with the love and message of Jesus this week?

Day 2: The Urgency and Joy of the Harvest

Jesus calls his followers to lift up their eyes and see that the fields are white for harvest, emphasizing the urgency and opportunity to share the gospel. He reminds us that the world is in great spiritual need, and that God has prepared hearts to receive the message of salvation. The work of sowing and reaping is a shared task—sometimes we plant seeds, sometimes we gather the harvest, but always it is God who gives the growth. There is no greater joy than seeing someone come to faith in Christ, and Jesus invites us to participate in this eternal work, trusting him for the results. [01:02:48]

John 4:35-38 (ESV)
Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to “lift up your eyes” and notice someone around you who is ready to hear about Jesus?

Day 3: The Power of Personal Testimony

The Samaritan woman’s simple testimony—“Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did”—was powerful enough to draw many from her town to Jesus. Despite her past and the shame she carried, she did not keep the good news to herself but invited others to discover Christ for themselves. Your story of how Jesus has changed your life matters, no matter where you have come from or what you have done. God can use your testimony to open doors for others to encounter the Savior, and often it is the authenticity of a changed life that compels others to seek the truth. [01:13:08]

John 4:39-42 (ESV)
Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

Reflection: What part of your story could you share with someone this week to point them to Jesus, trusting that God can use even your past for his glory?

Day 4: Obedience to God’s Will Brings Spiritual Nourishment

Jesus taught his disciples that his “food” was to do the will of the Father and to accomplish his work. True spiritual nourishment and satisfaction come not from meeting our own needs first, but from obeying God and serving others. When we are focused on God’s mission, we often find that our own needs are met in unexpected ways, and our hearts are filled with joy and purpose. Jesus’ example challenges us to prioritize God’s calling, trusting that he will sustain us as we step out in faith to share the gospel. [01:00:08]

John 4:31-34 (ESV)
Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.”

Reflection: Is there a way God is calling you to serve or obey him today that might require you to set aside your own comfort or routine? What would it look like to say “yes”?

Day 5: Trusting God with the Results

We are called to be faithful in sharing the gospel, knowing that it is ultimately God who brings about spiritual growth and transformation. Whether we are sowing seeds or reaping a harvest, our role is to show up, do our part, and trust God with the outcome. The story of the Samaritan woman and her town reminds us that God can use even the most unlikely people and situations to accomplish his purposes. Our faithfulness in sharing, praying, and inviting others to Jesus is never wasted, for God is always at work behind the scenes, drawing people to himself. [01:11:07]

1 Corinthians 3:6-7 (ESV)
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.

Reflection: Who is someone you have been praying for or sharing with, but have not yet seen respond? How can you entrust their journey to God today, believing that he is working even when you cannot see it?

Sermon Summary

This morning, we began by honoring those who have served our country, recognizing the courage and sacrifice of our veterans. We prayed for them, acknowledging not only the physical but also the unseen wounds many carry, and asked God’s blessing and comfort for them and their families.

Turning to John 4, we reflected on Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. In a world of billions, with so many yet to hear the gospel, the urgency and responsibility of personal evangelism became clear. Jesus’ conversation with the woman is a model for us: he was intentional, meeting her at a divinely appointed moment, setting aside his own needs, breaking through cultural and social barriers, and using the physical need for water to reveal her deeper spiritual thirst. He addressed her sin with both honesty and grace, never condemning but inviting her to receive living water.

We considered the motivation behind Jesus’ actions. His “food” was to do the will of the Father—to accomplish the work he was sent to do. This is not just a task for the Son of God, but a pattern for all who follow him. The disciples, arriving at the end of Jesus’ conversation, were invited to see the world differently: to lift their eyes and recognize that the fields are white for harvest. The need is great, but the opportunity is greater. Jesus calls us to join in the work—not as isolated individuals, but as part of a long chain of faithful witnesses, each playing a role in sowing and reaping.

The Samaritan woman, transformed by her encounter with Jesus, left her water jar and ran to tell those who had rejected her about the Messiah. Her testimony, though simple and honest, led many to believe. Yet, as the Samaritans came to Jesus themselves, they discovered firsthand that he truly is the Savior of the world. Our stories matter, but it is the word of Christ that brings true faith.

We are reminded that God does not call us to evangelize in our own strength or wisdom. He provides the opportunities, sustains us in the work, and brings the growth. Our part is to be faithful—to go, to invite, to share, and to trust that God will use our obedience for his glory and the good of the world. The harvest is ready. Who will go?

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus Models Intentional, Barrier-Breaking Love Jesus’ approach to the Samaritan woman was marked by intentionality and a willingness to cross social, cultural, and personal boundaries. He sought her out, met her in her need, and engaged her with compassion and truth. This challenges us to examine our own willingness to reach those who are different, marginalized, or overlooked, trusting that God’s appointments often lie outside our comfort zones. [41:19]
2. The Father’s Will Is Our True Nourishment Jesus declared that his sustenance was to do the will of the Father. When we prioritize God’s mission above our own comfort or needs, we discover a deeper satisfaction and purpose. Obedience to God’s call may require sacrifice, but it also brings spiritual nourishment that cannot be found elsewhere. [59:29]
3. The Harvest Is Ready—Faithfulness Is Required Jesus urged his disciples to “lift up your eyes” and see that the fields are white for harvest. The need for the gospel is urgent, and God has prepared hearts to receive it. Our role is not to measure results, but to be faithful in sowing and reaping, trusting that God brings the growth in his time and way. [1:04:17]
4. Your Testimony Matters, But Jesus’ Word Transforms The Samaritan woman’s testimony opened the door for many to believe, but it was hearing Jesus himself that brought deeper faith. Our stories of transformation are powerful tools, but we must also point people to the living word of Christ, allowing him to speak and reveal himself to others. [1:13:08]
5. God Uses Ordinary People in Extraordinary Ways The story reminds us that God delights to use those with a past, those who feel unqualified or rejected, to bring others to himself. No one is beyond the reach of grace, and no testimony is too broken to be used for God’s glory. Our willingness to go and share is what God asks; he will do the rest. [1:13:37]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[28:33] - Honoring Our Veterans
[31:26] - Introduction to John 4
[33:08] - The Global Need for the Gospel
[35:13] - The Urgency of Evangelism
[37:17] - The Great Commission Is Personal
[39:32] - Jesus’ Model of Evangelism
[41:19] - Breaking Barriers for the Gospel
[43:14] - Addressing Sin with Grace
[46:22] - What Motivated Jesus?
[49:31] - The Disciples’ Lesson: The Harvest
[53:24] - The Woman’s Response and Testimony
[59:29] - The Father’s Will as True Food
[1:02:48] - The Fields Are White for Harvest
[1:13:08] - The Power of Testimony and the Word
[1:17:35] - The Call to Go and Trust God

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: John 4 and the Samaritan Woman

Bible Reading

John 4:27-42 (ESV)

> 27 Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?”
> 28 So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people,
> 29 “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?”
> 30 They went out of the town and were coming to him.
> 31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.”
> 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.”
> 33 So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?”
> 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.
> 35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.
> 36 Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together.
> 37 For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’
> 38 I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”
> 39 Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.”
> 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days.
> 41 And many more believed because of his word.
> 42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

Observation Questions

What are some of the barriers—cultural, social, or personal—that Jesus crosses in his conversation with the Samaritan woman? ([41:19])
How does the woman respond after her encounter with Jesus, and what does she do with her experience? ([53:24])
What does Jesus say is his “food,” and how does this relate to his motivation for ministry? ([49:31])
According to the passage, what is the result of the woman’s testimony and what happens when the Samaritans meet Jesus themselves? ([50:40])

Interpretation Questions

Why might Jesus have chosen to reveal his identity as the Messiah so clearly to this particular woman, given her background and social standing? ([45:30])
What does it mean that Jesus’ “food” is to do the will of the Father? How does this shape the way his followers should view their own priorities? ([59:29])
The disciples are told to “lift up your eyes and look on the fields.” What is Jesus trying to get them (and us) to see about the world around them? ([01:02:48])
The Samaritans first believe because of the woman’s testimony, but then believe more deeply after hearing Jesus. What does this say about the role of personal testimony versus the direct word of Christ? ([01:13:08])

Application Questions

Jesus intentionally sought out someone who was marginalized and crossed social boundaries to reach her. Are there people in your life or community that you tend to overlook or avoid? What would it look like to reach out to them with the love of Christ? ([41:19])
The woman left her water jar and ran to tell others about Jesus, even those who had rejected her. Is there something you might need to “leave behind” in order to share your faith more freely? What holds you back from sharing your story? ([53:24])
Jesus says his nourishment comes from doing the Father’s will. When have you experienced a sense of purpose or satisfaction from obeying God, even when it required sacrifice? ([59:29])
Jesus tells his disciples that the fields are “white for harvest.” Where do you see spiritual need or openness around you right now? How can you be more attentive to opportunities God is placing in your path? ([01:04:17])
The woman’s testimony was simple and honest, yet God used it to bring many to faith. What is your story of encountering Jesus? How could you share it in a way that invites curiosity rather than pressure? ([01:13:08])
The sermon reminded us that God uses ordinary people, even those with a difficult past, to do extraordinary things. Do you ever feel unqualified to share your faith? How does this story encourage you? ([01:13:37])
We are not called to evangelize in our own strength, but to trust God to provide the opportunities and bring the growth. What would it look like for you to step out in faith this week, trusting God to use your obedience? ([01:17:35])

Sermon Clips

45s

#BornFromAbove

“When we talk about being born again, we're talking about what Jesus said to Nicodemus in John 3, that to enter the kingdom, you must be born from above. And to be born from above, you must look to the Son who has been lifted up. And as you look to the Son who has been lifted up on the cross, you acknowledge that he died in your place for your sins. And in his death, he was buried and resurrected three days later to overcome and give us victory over our sin. That to be born from above is a God-ordained, spiritually energized process.”

38s

#LivingWaterWitness

“The woman came for physical water, but left with living water that only Jesus could provide. She left and went to the town that had rejected and ridiculed her. I mean, she came just so that she, at that time, just so that she didn't have to be around other people. Well, she hears that she has met the Messiah, and what does she do? She goes to the town that has rejected her and said, I think I found him. I think I know who we've been waiting for. She left to tell others.”

46s

#ChildlikeFaith

“There's a certain childlike response, right? I found him. And you don't even, with any pretense, look around and say, who's going to think I'm crazy when I tell them that I found him? You just go, and you're like, you know what? I found the man that we've all been looking for. The one who has come to lay down his life to pay for my sins and to set me free. That's what she's doing here. She's not even worrying about what people are going to think about her. Because what she received in Jesus is what her soul has been longing for. And she wants to invite others to find it too.”

42s

#FieldsAreWhite

“Jesus is saying the fields are white. The problem is that there are not enough people to bring in the harvest. They're white. They're ready. But no one is going. I think often we look around at our culture and say there is no way that the fields are ripe for the harvest. It sure looks like that if I go out there, there's going to be more trouble than good. But we need to remember the words of Jesus that the fields are ready. We just need to go and we need to do our part.”

24s

#GodCausesGrowth

“But we always need to remember that God is the one that causes the growth. 1 Corinthians 3, 6, Paul says, I planted, Apollos watered, God caused the growth. And even the great apostle Paul never looked at himself as the one who introduced people to Jesus. It was God's work. We're just a part, we're an instrument, we're a tool in God's hands.”

38s

#WordAndWitness

“Your testimony matters. Please understand that your testimony does matter in sharing life, the true life of Jesus with people. But the word of Jesus matters much more. Share your story, but also read scripture with them. Let God's word stand for itself. Let Jesus speak. When people believe in what Jesus has said, their eyes will fully be opened.”

44s

#SustainedByFaith

“Go with care. Go and invite others to see that there is one who knows everything about us and yet he has paid the ultimate cost of everything that he knows about us by laying down his life for our sins. Invite others to see just how awesome the Lord is. And as you go, know that the father will sustain you. God is not going to tell you to do something and call you to do something and to leave you hanging in that call. God will nourish you and sustain you for the task that he has. Trust him to do it.”

Ask a question about this sermon

North Annville Bible Church This sermon · AI assistant

What motivates effective evangelism according to the message?

How does Jesus model intentional outreach to others?

What role does personal testimony play in sharing the gospel?