The Open Bible Podcast

Initial Thoughts

Jesus was traveling with his disciples
He left a place he was teaching and headed to a new place.
He was tired, he needed food.
He sent his disciples into town for food.
He has an interaction with a woman that was uncommon for a man to do in this day and time.
In this conversation we see the following..
BIG IDEA: You have gospel opportunities in normal everyday interactions.
Often times we live our busy lives and get lost in the business instead of focusing on our mission, sharing the gospel.
One major piece in this mission is developing relationships.
In order to share and speak into someones life, you must have a relationship with them.
Jesus knew that being relational would give him many opportunities for giving the live changing message of the gospel.
We should do the same.
We do have gospel opportunities everyday, but it takes us being pro active in our relationships in order to capitalize on those opportunities.
Jesus did this in this passage…
Jesus was willing to be uncomfortable - vs. 1-6
He was tired
He was hungry
He was waiting for someone to bring him dinner
He was in a strange country
This woman was different than he was
She looked different
Talked differently
Was a different nationality
It was a very uncomfortable situation, yet he used the opportunity to begin a conversation with this woman.
Do you allow your comfort to prevent you from having gospel conversations?
Do you put your personal comfort above the mission?
It can be uncomfortable to share the gospel.
It can sometimes be inconvenient.
It can put you in awkward positions.
But when you have enough love and respect for someone, you will be uncomfortable and seize the gospel opportunity.
Jesus cared about her soul, more than her citizenship. - vs. 7-9
At this time, Jesus was talking to a woman who was a samaritan.
He knew that normally these two people groups did not interact, yet he cared about her soul enough to engage in this gospel opportunity.
Do we allow cultural differences to keep us from sharing the gospel?
In our American society, we subconsciously segregate certain people groups over another.
We care deeply about people who can do something for us, but struggle to care for the soul of someone who can do nothing for us.
We buy into a lie that says there are certain races that are better than another, or a certain life style that should be elevated over another.
The fact of the matter is that in order to capitalize on gospel opportunities we need to care about peoples souls, more than their citizenship, lifestyle, class, or standard of living.
The Bible tells us there we are one in Jesus Christ (Acts 17:26) - And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

The Relational Ministry of Jesus

Introduction:

Jesus had a very relational ministry.
“I came not to be ministered unto, but to minister…” - Matthew 20:28
Relationships are the core of our mission.
Without proper relationships we will struggle to see the mission go forward.
We will look at some of the most pivotal relationships in Jesus’ life and apply principles that he showed us to our lives today.

Jesus and Mary

Proposition: In order for you to have growing relationships that will help the mission go forward, there needs to be two characteristics present: Respect and Love.
Jesus Respected Mary

Luke 2:41 - 52
Vs. 48-49 - And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. 49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?
Jesus was doing exactly what he was supposed to be doing.
He was questioned, and his mother was worried.
He could have very easily responded “Don’t you know what I’m doing it important?” Or, “Who are you to tell me what to do?” I’m Jesus!
No He had great respect for His mother and simply stated a calm, respectful questions to her when she was frantic.
Even though her view of the situation was different then Jesus, his response brought Mary to place of understanding.
In our society, we have lost respect for one another/authority.
We have vilified each other.
We see differing opinions, likes, dislikes, genders, and ethnicities, as a challenge and as a negative thing.
Instead of respecting the differences God has created us with, we have in fact created barriers in our minds for difference.
Every relationship you have will either be nurtured or diminished based upon the respect you have for the other party.
This is true in families, job situations, church, social media. EVERY Relationship.
Jesus Loved Mary

John 19:25-26

He was hanging on a cross, beaten and in deep pain.
When someone comes to the end of their life, the ones closest to them often come to mind, and most people have a plan to take care of the ones the love most dear.
Jesus was no different.
Even in his death, how horrific it was, he was loving his mother.
He made sure John knew to take care of her, to look after her, and to call her mother.
Love is shown in this passage in a very deep and intimate way.
Our relationships can flourish if love is at the center of them.
Jesus wants us to “Love one another as I have loved you…”
Often times we have a skewed view of what love is.
We believe love is happiness, fulfillment, or even joy.
But at is simplest meaning, love is a choice/action.
You must choose to love someone.
You must choose to put their needs above your own.
You must choose to put their desires above yours.
You must choose to put their well being above yours.
You must choose to help someone that cannot help you.
When you love someone, their is never a thought of “what can I get out of this”, there is only “how can I help?”…..
1 Corinthians 13 - Love is patient, kind, envies not, is not puffed up, seekers not her own, is long suffering, thinks no evil, rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in truth. Bears, believes and hopes all things.
Our love for others can cause of to have flourishing relationships.

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