Lisa Sheffler, author
This week we’ve learned some things from Paul, Peter and Jesus about how we can have meaningful, spiritual conversations in the hopes of proclaiming the good news and introducing people to Jesus. We’ve talked about the tone of the conversations, the importance of connecting spiritual truth with everyday life, asking people to check their wells for water, and about keeping the focus on who Jesus is. Today, think about what you can apply.
Reflect
Read through the passages we’ve covered one more time.
- Summarize what you’ve learned about having meaningful, spiritual conversations from the passage we’ve looked at?
- What has been the most helpful or encouraging thing you’ve discovered this week?
Connect
The image of the Spirit as a spring of life-giving water is a powerful one. In Isaiah 55 the Lord promises to make “an everlasting covenant” with all who come to him.[1] He calls out:
“Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
2 Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and you will delight in the richest of fare. (Isaiah 55:1–2)
That everlasting covenant is made possible by Jesus the Messiah. All of God’s promises are “yes” and “amen” in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20). The spiritual hunger and thirst that we have are satisfied only in him.
Once we’ve found him, we should tell others. If you had found a life-giving spring in the desert, you’d share the news, wouldn’t you? That’s what the Samaritan woman does. The story of her encounter with Christ ends this way:
39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41 And because of his words many more became believers.
42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” (John 4:39–42)
At this point, the Samaritan woman becomes a good example of evangelism for us to follow. She just tells people what happened when she met Jesus. Isn’t that what you and I are called to do?
We are like this woman. Jesus has revealed to us who he really is and we should excitedly bring other people out to see him. We should share our experiences with Jesus and invite others to come and see him for themselves. As they experience him through his Spirit, his Word and his body, we should pray that lots and lots of people come to know him as their Savior.
Who can you invite to come and meet Jesus?
[1] Carson, John, 220.
Respond
We all have people in our lives who we’d like to see trust in Jesus. We can start by praying for them. Who will you pray for today? Based on what we studied this week, take some time now to think about some practical ways you might help them find and follow Christ.
The first step might just be to get to know them better. If they are an acquaintance, co-worker or neighbor that you know little about, invite them to coffee or lunch and simply find out more about them. We are inviting people into a relationship with Jesus. It will often start through a relationship with us.
Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance in how to open up a meaningful, spiritual conversation with people — not because the church is asking you to, or because you’ve added them to your spiritual to-do list — but because you love Jesus and love that person. Ask questions that might take the conversation a little deeper. Pray and listen attentively.