SERIES: Straight to the Heart
Week #2: Gospel Restoration
John 4:1-42
MESSAGE PREVIEW:
This Sunday, we are continuing our teaching series, Straight to the Heart. At Bay Area Church, we
saturate the 4B area with the gospel by restoring people, families, and churches. This is
what drives us. There are five important things we see in Jesus that are foundational to who we
are as a church and the culture we want to create as a church on mission.
Last week we discussed Kingdom Partnerships. This week, Pastor Brian will share with us about
“Gospel Restoration.”
IMPORTANT DEFINITONS
A. Gospel – “good news.”
- 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
B. Restoration – “taking what is broken and making it new.” (In this case, for eternity.) - Revelation 21:5-6
C. Gospel Restoration – “sharing the good news that has the power to take what is broken
and make it new.”
THREE QUESTIONS
A. What is Jesus willing to do to share this life saving, restoring, Good News?
- He takes a risky route. (4:3-5)
- He crosses cultural, political, and religious lines. (4:6-9)
- He meets the woman at the time of her need. (6th hour). (4:6)
- He gently exposes her deepest need. (4:10-18)
- He lifts the woman’s eyes above the current politic to the Kingdom. (4:19-24)
- He reveals himself to her as the Messiah. (4:25)
- He dies on a cross for our sins.
John 19:28-30 ESV “After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the
Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour
wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine,
he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”
B. What are we willing to do to share this life saving, restoring, Good News?
- Will we take a risky route?
- Will we cross cultural, political, religious lines?
- Will we meet people at their time of need?
- Will we humbly expose a person’s greatest need?
- Will we point people to a greater Kingdom? (ambassadors for Christ)
- Will we reveal the true Messiah to people?
- Will we take up our cross, deny ourselves, and follow him?
C. What are the obstacles?
- True gospel restoration hasn’t occurred in my life.
- I’m afraid.
- I can’t talk with them. (relational, cultural, political, religious obstacles)
- I don’t know how. (tell your story)
ONE MORE LOOK AT THE SAMARITAN WOMAN (John 4:23-30, 39-42)
A. John 4:39-42 ESV “Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the
woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to
him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 41 And many more
believed because of his word. 42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what
you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is
indeed the Savior of the world.”
OUR RESPONSE
A. Gospel restoration is “straight to the heart” for Jesus and consequently for us.
B. Have you responded to Jesus’s invitation to forgive your sins and make you new for
eternity? He will completely restore you forever.
ICEBREAKER QUESTIONS
The value of Gospel Restoration is one that is at the heart of Jesus and our church. An important
part of living out this value and calling is sharing the good news of Jesus with others. As you begin
your group time, take a few minutes to draw the group back to their own gospel restoration
experience. Have some members share their answers to the following questions.
**Note: Not everyone in your group may be a follower of Jesus. Don’t assume everyone has a
salvation story to share in this exercise. Be sensitive to this and prayerful that through the sharing
of these stories those who have not will awaken to the good news of Jesus.
Q: When did you first hear about the good news of Jesus?
Q: If you are a follower of Jesus, when did you make the decision to accept His forgiveness,
be made new, and follow Him?
Pray as you move into the remainder of the discussion.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Ask and discuss the following questions.
Q: After listening to the message this week, how would you define “gospel restoration?”
Q: What is Jesus willing to do to share the good news of salvation and restoration with the
Samaritan woman?
Q: Which of these stand out to you the most? Were there risks involved in what Jesus did?
If so, what were they? Why was Jesus willing to take the risk?
Q: Read John 4:39-42. What was another result of gospel restoration coming to the life of
the Samaritan woman? What do her actions teach and encourage us to do?
Q: What are some of the obstacles people face when it comes to sharing the good news of
Jesus?
Q: What is the biggest obstacle for you when it comes to sharing the good news of
Jesus? Why is this challenging? What steps can you take to overcome this obstacle?
Q: What stood out most to you from the video story we watched in the service? How did this
encourage and challenge you?
Q: Describe a time in your life when you share the gospel with someone. What happened?
Q: What is your personal “take-away” from this week’s message? What is one specific thing
the Lord spoke to you this week?
Q: What is one specific “action step” you are going to take this week to apply what Jesus
has taught you today?
WRAP-UP
I once heard a pastor say, “found people, find people.” While Jesus is the one who ultimately finds
and saves, the heart of this statement is right. He uses us, His people, to do His work of seeking
and sharing. The natural response for those who have been saved, who have been found by
Jesus, is to go and find others. These were the orders Jesus left with the original disciples and us
as well.
“ And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go
therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I
am with you always, to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:18-20 ESV
As you wrap up your meeting for this week, take a few minutes to have your group think about and
answer the following question:
Q: Who are the people in your family, neighborhood, school, workplace, community that
need to know the message of gospel restoration found in Jesus?
Have group members share the first names of those who come to mind with the group. Close by
praying for these people by name and for your group members to have the courage and
opportunity to share the good news of Jesus with them this next week.
SCRIPTURES FROM THIS WEEK’S MESSAGE:
John 4:1-42, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Revelation 21:5-6, John 19:28-30
UPCOMING MESSAGES:
1/10/21 Gospel Transformation John 4:1-42
1/17/21 Hands-on-Service John 13:14-16
1/24/21 Relentless Love John 3:16, Romans 5:8
1/31/21 Spirit and Truth Empowerment John 4:23-24