The First Evangelist
OPENING PRAYER:
Spirit of God, give me the same boldness and joy that filled the Samaritan woman when she encountered Jesus. Help me see that my story, messy as it is, can become a testimony that draws others to the Messiah.
"Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 'Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?'... Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony."
Notice what the woman left behind: her water jar. She came to the well for water, but she encountered something, Someone, so much greater that she forgot why she came. The physical need that drove her there became irrelevant in light of the spiritual transformation she experienced. And she didn't keep it to herself. She ran back to the very community she'd been avoiding. John 4:28-29, 39 (NIV)
REFLECT:
Here's what makes this moment so remarkable: the Samaritan woman is the first person ever recorded in scripture that Jesus reveals Himself to as the Messiah. Not to the religious leaders. Not to His disciples. Not even to His own family. To a Samaritan woman with a scandalous past. And what does she do with this revelation? She becomes the first evangelist, running back to tell everyone the good news.
Pastor Carter’s message showed us her transformation beautifully, from hiding in shame to sharing with boldness. She went back to the town where everyone knew her story, where people had rejected her, where she'd been coming to the well alone to avoid their judgment. And she told them, "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did." She didn't hide her past. She didn't wait until she had her life together. She didn't think, "I need to know more theology first" or "I'm too broken to be used by God." She simply shared what Jesus had done for her. And the result? Many Samaritans believed because of her testimony. A whole community came to faith because of someone everyone else thought was too broken to be used by God. In his message, Todd shared Wayne's story as a modern example, someone who struggled with drugs, trouble with the law, broken relationships. But when Wayne encountered Jesus at Pathway, he didn't keep it to himself. He shared with his daughter, who got baptized with him. He shared with his extended family. He shared with people on his softball team, and he baptized a mom and daughter he'd coached. Many people might not have chosen Wayne, he didn't look like he had the right spiritual credentials. But in God's kingdom, it doesn't work that way.
I WILL STATEMENT:
I will stop disqualifying myself and start engaging in God's mission.
Write out your testimony in three simple sentences: (1) What my life was like before Jesus, (2) How I encountered Jesus, (3) What He's done in my life since. Don't make it complicated or overly spiritual, just honest. Then pray and ask God to bring one person to mind this week who needs to hear it. Commit to sharing your story with them, even if it feels uncomfortable.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Jesus, thank You for not waiting until I was perfect to use me. Thank You that my messy story can point others to Your transforming grace. Give me courage to share what You've done in my life, trusting that You can use even me to draw others to You.
PRAYER REQUEST:
Share your prayer request and pray for others.