Sermon nuggets Tues March 4, 2008
Theme- Witnessing
Verses John 4:1-8 The Pharisees heard that Jesus was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John, although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples.
3 When the Lord learned of this, he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. Now he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph.
6 Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?"
8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)
Causal Contacts
Causal Contacts happen in the daily life experiences. They are not necessarily planned contacts, except by God. They include causal conversations in common places that might be divine appointment to bring someone to faith.
Earl Palmer tells of attended a concert at Milpitas Jr. High School. The orchestra was playing Beethoven’s 9th symphony. It wasn’t really very good, but they tried. He commented that you can’t judge Beethoven by the Milpitas Jr. High School band.
Would people rather hear the London Symphonic Orchestra play Beethoven instead of Milpitas Jr. High School band? The quality would be better, but it is the relationships that draw them to the Jr. High Concert. Then the thought hit Palmer- if it were not for the Milpitas Jr. High School Concert Orchestra many would never have heard Beethoven at all; many in the band would not develop an increased interest in music. Even if it were badly played it was better than not at all.
He used that analogy to discuss sharing our faith. Many will not listen to preachers and teachers but they know you and will listen to you. The plan of Jesus has always been to let your light shine in the world I which you live. Most do not live in churches.
The unchurched do not come to church. People stay away from churches in droves. They stay away from ministers like we have leprosy. People need friends who believe in Christ and meet Christians in everyday activities, just as Jesus met this woman on the road to get water. He got into a conversation on spiritual things. This casual contact became the place for sharing truth even with a stranger.
Don’t think too lightly of your causal contacts. God wants to use them.
Pastor Dale.
