God’s Mission: Jesus’ Modeling

God’s Mission: Sermon Series by Han Chung - Guest Speaker from Forest Community Church

John 4:1-43

Last week, “what is the purpose of my life?”  Usually pondered during college age, but we can inquire throughout our lives.  Especially when reaching post-middle age.  The greater you ponder, the greater blessings you’ll encounter.  We find our purpose by looking upwards in faith to connect with God and engage in His mission.  Other religions see how their deity makes them happy, even in Christianity.  But the truth in Christianity differs in the through line that God is the main character and our purpose revolves around Him.  
“For those who hunger and thirst in righteousness will be filled/satisfied.”

God’s Mission:  We become engaged in our purpose as we look outward in faith following Jesus’ model response of: 

1. Going in sacrificial obedience  2. Instructing in patient humility  3. Inviting in joyful sharing
John 3:16-17 - Goal:  eternal life with Him.  His presence with us, not just presents from Him.  
Beneficiaries:  the world in rebellion, deserving condemnation.  Motivation:  Agape (God-the-Fatherly) love.  Method: sacrificial giving and sending.  Model Response: Jesus.  Going in sacrificial obedience, instructing in patient humility, inviting in joyful sharing.  
He gives His best, His only Son.  Like when Christ was young, He did it during His ministry, and He does it now, Christ is teaching and instructing us thoroughly and continuously.  He’s inviting us to share in the labor of His kingdom forever.  

Jesus’s trek through Samaria.  The shortest route but road less traveled when others would go around.  Jesus going in sacrificial obedience:  allows God to direct His steps.  In the midst of conflicts, confusion.  In spite of personal discomfort and suffering.  Interrupting routine and schedule.  Out of comfort zone.  Choosing God’s mission over self-interest.  Seek to have your impulses coincide with God’s desires.  

Jesus asking for a drink from the Samaritan woman.  He steers the conversation Godward:  vulnerably and humbly, befitting God’s presence.  When we become aware of God’s presence with us always, we can’t help but humble ourselves and be aware of how God’s image is reflected by us.  Patiently and persistently, benefitting God’s image.  Gently offering, not forcefully demanding.  Appealing to the freedom of choice.  Promoting a thirst for the internal, not pandering to the temporal/physical.  When asking about her husband, Jesus steeps His words in grace:  names sin, not to condemn, but to heal.  Accepts the sinner, without justifying the sin.  Affirms confession, not burdening with perfection.  He reveals transcendent truth: God is the True Father.  God must be worshipped in Spirit and in truth.  God is seeking true worshippers.  The Messiah is coming.  Jesus reveals Himself:  promised Messiah.  Present, incarnate Son.  Word of God.  God.  Disciples return and Jesus shares the Eternal.  Transformed, unified vision.  Partners in God’s mission.  Stakeholders in eternal rewards.  Rejoicing together.  As the woman returns to share the good news, she is: Following Jesus’ model:  allowing God to direct the steps.  Out of her comfort zone.  

Steering the conversation Godward and steeping it in grace.  Vulnerably, humbly.  In confession, not condemnation.  Prompting spiritual thirst.  Pointing to Jesus.  Sharing the Eternal together.  

What is your “Samaritan-womanness?”

May it be your platform for testimony of Jesus.  

What does your conversations reveal about your experience of Jesus?  

May it be your motivation to seek to know Jesus more intimately.  

Are you accumulating in the temporal or sharing in the Eternal?  

May you turn your eyes to the harvest of Jesus.

Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited.  Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, tạking on the likeness of humanity.  And when he had come as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death – even to death on a cross.  For this reason, God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth – and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord; to the glory of God the Father.

(Philippians 2:5-11)