INTRODUCTION

1. The New Testament is filled with examples of evangelism that we should imitate.

2. One of the best examples is that of our Lord teaching the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4:1-42.

    

LEARNING TO TEACH THE GOSPEL FROM THE MASTER TEACHER

1. Any place can be opportune for teaching the gospel.

   1. Jesus taught a woman by a well in Samaria (John 4:1-6).

      1. The well was called Jacob's well, and it was a public place to draw water.  It was in the city of Sychar in Samaria, which was not a place where Jews would seek to linger long.

      2. This city was not Jesus' destination, but rather it was merely a stopping place as He went to Galilee.

   2. We likewise can teach in any place we happen to be.

      1. Gospel teaching does not have to be confined to church buildings and houses.  It can be done wherever an opportunity arises.

      2. We should not be timid about teaching the gospel in public places.  Don't be ashamed to speak of Jesus anywhere.

2. Likewise, any time can be opportune for teaching the gospel.

   1. Jesus taught this woman at this time because the opportunity presented itself.

      1. This was at the end of a long day of travel for Jesus (John 4:6).  He was tired from His journey from Judea.

      2. Rather than considering Himself to be too tired to speak to this woman, Jesus seized the opportunity to teach her.

   2. Similarly, we should teach others about Christ whenever the opportunity arises.

      1. We must not wait until we think the time is ideal for teaching.  If we limit ourselves to teaching only when the church assembles or when we can set up a home Bible study, then we will miss the majority of our teaching opportunities.

      2. Instead, let us use each opportunity whenever it arises. These opportunities may come while we are working, travelling, shopping, or doing almost anything else.  Even if these opportunities come when we are busy or tired, we must not miss them.

3. Any person can be a candidate for teaching the gospel.

   1. The Jewish culture did not condone Jesus teaching this Samaritan woman, but He did so anyway.

      1. The Samaritans were an ethnic and religious blend of the Israelites and various pagan peoples. They had arisen after the time of Israel's captivity when Assyria deported all but the poorest of the Israelites and brought in other peoples (2Ki. 17:24-41).

      2. The Samaritan woman was surprised that Jesus would speak to her because He was a Jew.  The Jews had no dealings with Samaritans (John 4:9).

      3. However, Jesus did not allow the Jews' disdain for Samaritans prevent Him from teaching this woman.

   2. Like Jesus, we should be willing to teach any person who needs the message of salvation according to the will of God.

      1. There should be no ethnic, cultural, or economic barriers that prevent us from teaching persons who need salvation through Christ.  Remember Paul's statement in Romans 1:16:

         For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

      2. Many times, those who are most receptive to the gospel are those who seem least likely (1Cor. 1:26-29).  Remember that Jesus went to the sinners who were rejected by Jewish leaders (Luke 5:30-32).  Therefore, don't eliminate anyone from teaching unless they eliminate themselves (Matt. 10:14).

4. Teaching the gospel can be done in the course of ordinary conversation.

   1. The Lord transformed an exchange about water into a discussion of eternal life.

      1. The Lord first engaged this woman by asking her to draw water for Him to drink (John 4:7-8). After this, He said, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water" (John 4:10).

      2. With this, Jesus had changed the context of the conversation from the temporal need of thirst to eternal life.

   2. We can also turn our casual conversations with others toward the Lord and His word.

      1. Like Jesus, we can find opportunities in our discussions with others to speak of spiritual things.  These opportunities are abundant if we are careful to look for them.

      2. This is where many of us struggle with teaching, for we do not know where to begin or how to introduce the subject of Christ.  Let us learn from Christ's example and move naturally from the temporal to the spiritual.

5. When the gospel is taught correctly, it appeals to the needs of the hearers.

   1. The Samaritan woman wanted the living water that Jesus offered.

      1. Consider the description Jesus gave of this water in John 4:13-14:

         ¹³"Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; ¹⁴but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."

      2. The woman instantly wanted this water although she did not fully understand Jesus' meaning (John 4:15).  Jesus made His offer appealing.

   2. When we teach the gospel to others, we must should attempt to make them want what we have.

      1. Nothing is more necessary to any soul than the salvation offered by the gospel.  Not everyone is happy to hear the message, but everyone needs to hear it.

      2. As teachers of this desperately needed message, we should make the message appealing.  As saved persons ourselves, we should share David's sentiment from Psalm 51:12-14:

         ¹²Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.  ¹³Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will be converted to You.  ¹⁴Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation; then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.

6. A teacher of the gospel does not have to be confrontational, but he should not avoid difficult truths.

   1. Jesus spoke sober truth to the Samaritan woman on two issues.

      1. The first issue was about her husband.  Jesus exposed the truth that she had married five husbands and that the man she had then was not her husband (John 4:16-18).

      2. The woman introduced the other issue, which was about the correct place of worship.  Jesus showed her that she (and all people) would have to change to worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:19-24).  The place of worship would no longer be important.  She would have to give up her Samaritan traditions of worship.

   2. We must also be willing to speak the truth to others even when it is difficult.

      1. The first message preached by John the baptist and Jesus was, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matt. 3:2; 4:17).  Repentance has always been a part of gospel teaching, and we cannot eliminate this message just because it is hard to accept.

      2. We must be honest about sin and the necessity for changing to comply with God's will.  There is no benefit in teaching others only part of what they must know to be saved.

7. The foremost truth of the gospel is the person of Jesus Christ.

   1. Jesus spoke directly to the woman concerning who He was.

      1. The woman introduced the topic of Christ, and this was likely because she suspected that Jesus was He (John 4:25).  She had already perceived that He was a prophet (John 4:19).

      2. Jesus said plainly, "I who speak to you am He" (John 4:26).

   2. Likewise, we must speak directly to others by declaring that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

      1. We cannot teach others the gospel message of salvation without teaching that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.  It is this truth that must be believed and confessed for anyone to be saved (Matt. 16:16-18; John 8:24).

      2. It is not enough to simply be a good example or to teach the moral lessons of God's word. We must preach Christ in order to bring people to salvation.

          

CONCLUSION

1. The Samaritan woman believed in Jesus, and she led many people from her city to believe in Him as well (John 4:28-30; 39-42).

2. Taking these lessons from Jesus, may we believe in Him like the Samaritan woman, and may we lead others to the Lord just as she did.