Review of John 4

This weekend Pastor Jul taught us from the book of John 4 and we studied the conversation Jesus had with the woman at the well.

Pastor Jul taught us that believing in Jesus means that we need to open about our “past” with God and stop trying to hide the things we are ashamed of.  Believing in Jesus means that we need to move from being isolated to being in community with other believers. 

Like the woman at the well, believing in Jesus means we too can accept the “living water” Jesus extends and He can become what sustains us.  When we choose to live like that it will change our lives...the way we think, plan and what choices we make.  

Aligning our lives under the authority of Jesus means making dramatic life changes...

*What life changes are you being challenged to make?  How does your “belief” show in your life?  

*Right now, God is inviting you into a relationship with Him...will you answer?

Reading Challenge-John 4

This weekend Pastor Jul will be teaching from John 4.  This chapter has the famous story of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well.  One of the most curious things about their interaction is how the woman’s heritage, gender or social standing was not an obstacle for Jesus.  He looked past all the things that society looks at and saw a woman who was hurting and needed Him.  He saw a woman who was scared, uncertain, ashamed and hiding.  Jesus did not shy away from her or look the other way or try to avoid her, rather he intentionally sought her out and took time to talk to her.  He saw her as valuable even if she didn’t see herself that way.  

There is a song by Tenth Avenue North called “You Are More” that reminds me of this story; the message that Jesus had for the woman at the well and what he wants all of us to hear.  The chorus says, 

“You are more than the choices that you’ve made,

You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,

You are more than the problems you create,

You’ve been remade.”

Jesus message to the woman at the well and to us is that He is the living water we need...he sees past our mistakes and sees beauty and value.  He loves us and he as made us new.

Read John 4 this week before you come to church if you can.  Ask God to help you understand this chapter and what He wants to teach you.  Ask Him to prepare your heart for worship.  Ask Him to fill you with the truth that you’ve been remade.

Watch the video and hear the song.  Click here.

Review of John 3

The study of the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus brought us to the question:  What is holding you back?   

Whatever it is, now is the time to stop letting it keep you from living the life God wants for you.  

Pray over what was on your paper and remember that you can turn it over to God and let it remain shredded.  


You can walk away and not let it hinder your Christian walk any longer.  

A life of freedom, of new birth, of broken chains...is waiting for you if you would just believe.  

Challenge:  Reread John 3 and ask God what He desires for you.

Reading Challenge - John 3

I believe in God.  It’s a simple statement that most of us with agree with...however, what does it really mean? 

The dictionary says that to “believe in” means:  to be convinced of the existence of, be sure of the existence of.  to have faith in, pin one's faith on, trust in, have every confidence in, cling to, set (great) store by, value, be convinced by, be persuaded by...

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned. 

The Bible says that if we believe in Jesus, then we are not condemned...we are saved, we are loved, we have hope, we have eternal life. 

What does it mean to believe in Jesus?  How is your life different because you believe in Jesus?  Do you believe? 

Take some time this week to read John 3...read Jesus’s words and ask yourself...do I believe?

Written by Christine Bierma

Christine is a member of New Life Church and is on currently on staff as the Interim Creative Arts Coordinator.  She has been married for almost 17 years to her husband Doug and is mom to four children.