"The Power of Sharing Your Story"

And he must needs go through Samaria. Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw. Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly. The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he. And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her? The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.

John 4:39 KJV 1900

And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.

Jesus needed to go through Samaria.

He had an appointment with a woman who had withdrawn herself.

She said, “come see a man that told me all I have ever done, but He still made Himself available to me...

The Call to Share Your Testimony

After Jesus transforms our lives, He wants us to tell others about the hope we have experienced.

He is able to minister to people as we testify to them about what God has done in our lives.

Mark 16:15–16 KJV 1900

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Mark 16:20 KJV 1900

And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

What did Jesus instruct His followers to do? (verse 15) ____________________________________________________________

What happens to those who believe the gospel when it is hared with them? ____________________________________________________________

What are some other reasons why it is important that Christians tells others about Jesus? ____________________________________________________________

Testimony in court. It is called upon to try to bring the truth to light.

The Value of Your Story

Everyone has a story.

Skeptics may resist religious teaching, but no one can deny the value of your personal experience.

Sharing your story may be the key to reaching someone with the gospel.

Mark 5:19–20 KJV 1900

Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

What did Jesus instruct the delivered man to do? (verse 15) ____________________________________________________________

Why do you think sharing our story makes a difference in others lives? ____________________________________________________________

What are some ways you can share your story with other people? ____________________________________________________________

Sharing does not have to be scary or difficult. We don’t have to stand up in our shopping cart in the middle of the grocery store and start preaching the gospel. It is simply being intentional with sharing the goodness of God with those God places in our lives.

Sobering thought is how many instances did I have this opportunity?

The Hope from His Story

While sharing our story can be a bridge between what God has done in our lives and what He can wants to do in theirs, it’s important to remember that we must also share the story of Jesus.

The gospel. The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Romans 1:15–16 KJV 1900

So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Why was Paul not ashamed to share the gospel? (verse 16) ____________________________________________________________

Why might some people be hesitant to share the gospel? ____________________________________________________________

What are some ways we can overcome any hesitations about sharing the gospel? ____________________________________________________________

We must keep it in the forefronts of our minds that we are all born lost and it takes the gospel to save.

My testimony is a tool that God can use, but I can’t save anyone, only Jesus can.

The Power to be a Witnesses

The Bible promises that we will receive special power to be witnesses about God when we receive the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:8 KJV 1900

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

1 Peter 3:15 KJV 1900

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

What did Jesus say we would receive after the Holy Spirit comes upon us and what will we do with it? (Acts 1:8) ____________________________________________________________

In what way should we explain the hope we have? (1 Peter 3:15) ____________________________________________________________

How can we prepare to witness to others? ____________________________________________________________

Closing

A lot of times we want to give the answer without a question being asked. Our witness should bring people to the right questions that they must ask for themselves. Who is Jesus? (Ethiopian eunuch and Phillip Acts 2; What must I do to be saved? Acts 2:37)

We are called to be witnesses. Not the judge, jury, or an attorney. We do our best to bring truth to the light. With measure you measure out, the same will be measured back to you.