Grace Covenant Church of Vista
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    • Sermons 2019 (Click for Teasers) >
      • THINK BEFORE YOU FIGHT Ephesians 6:17 Pastor Dennis Bone 2-17-19 >
        • February 17, 2019 Notes
      • FAITH: GOD’S SHIELD AROUND US Ephesians 6:16 >
        • February 10, 2019 Notes
      • THESE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR FIGHTING Ephesians 6:15 >
        • February 3, 2019 Notes
      • DRESS FOR SUCCESS Ephesians 6:13-19 >
        • January 27, 2019 Notes
      • The Mystery of our Religion 1 Timothy 3:14-16
      • ARE YOU READY TO RUMBLE? Ephesians 6:10-12 >
        • January 13, 2019 Notes
      • THE WAR AGAINST THE TAPESTRY OF GRACE Selected Verses >
        • January 6, 2019 Notes
    • Sermons 2018 (Click for Teasers) >
      • THE TAPESTRY OF GRACE: POST ADVENT Titus 2:11-14 >
        • December 30, 2018 Notes
      • Christmas Eve Message 12/24/2018
      • THE TAPESTRY OF GRACE: ANGEL’S PEACE Selected Verses >
        • December 23, 2018 Notes
      • THE TAPESTRY OF GRACE: SHEPHERDS’ JOY Luke 2:8-17 >
        • December 16, 2018 Notes
      • THE TAPESTRY OF GRACE: BETHLEHEM’S FAITH Selected Verses >
        • December 9, 2018 Notes
      • THE TAPESTRY OF GRACE: PROPHECY’S HOPE Selected Verses >
        • December 2, 2018 Notes
      • A Proper Perspective on Thanksgiving Eph 5:19,20; 1 Thess 5:18
      • THE PATH TO MATURITY AND GLORY 2 Peter 3:14-18 >
        • November 18, 2018 Notes
      • GOD’S PERSPECTIVE ON JUDGMENT 2 Peter 3:8-13 Pastor Dennis Bone 11-11-18 >
        • November 11, 2018 Notes
      • PROMISES, PROMISES 2 Peter 3:1-8 >
        • November 4, 2018 Notes
      • The Images of False Teachers 2 Peter 2:10-22 >
        • October 28, 2018 Notes
      • SPIRITUAL TERRORISM 2 Peter 2:1-10 >
        • October 21, 2018 Notes
      • REMEMBER, REMEMBER, REMEMBER! 2 Peter 1:12-21 >
        • October 14, 2018 Notes
      • THE FRUIT OF ELECTION 2 Peter 1:5-11
      • THE POWER OF FAITH 2 Peter 1:3-9 >
        • September 30, 2018 Notes
      • OUR PRECIOUS FAITH 2 PETER 1:1, 2 >
        • September 16, 2018 Notes
      • The Staying Power of God's Grace 1 Peter 5:12-14 >
        • September 2, 2018 Notes
      • Do Not Feed the Lion 1 Peter 5:8-11 >
        • August 26, 2018 Notes
      • Humility Breeds Accountability 1 Peter 5:5-9 >
        • August 19, 2018 Notes
      • Accountability Partners 1 Peter 5:1-7 >
        • August 12, 2018 Notes
      • THE BEGINNING AND END OF JUDGEMENT 1 Peter 4:12-19 >
        • August 5, 2018 Notes
      • WHAT ARE WE SUFFERING FOR? 1 Peter 4:12-19
      • Live With The End In Mind 1 Peter 4:7-11 >
        • July 22, 2018 Notes
      • Living In the Light of the Gospel 1 Peter 4:1-6 >
        • July 15, 2018 Notes
      • The Victory of Christ 1 Peter 3:18-22 >
        • July 8, 2018 Notes
      • Sharing Our Hope In Christ 1 Peter 3:13-17 >
        • July 1, 2018 Notes
      • The Motive For Christ-like Character 1 Peter 3:10-12 >
        • June 24, 2018 Notes
      • Christ-Like Character on Display 1 Peter 3:8-12 >
        • June 17, 2018 Notes
      • The Beautiful Principle of Submission 1 Peter 3:1-7 >
        • June 10, 2018 Notes
      • The Cost of Christ-Like Service 1 Peter 2:18-25 >
        • June 3, 2018 Notes
      • Submission in Service to God 1 Peter 2:13-17 >
        • May 27, 2018 Notes
      • Our Identity 1 Peter 2:9-12 >
        • May 20, 2018 Notes
      • God's Building Project 1 Peter 2:1-8 >
        • May 13, 2018 Notes
      • Trials & Troubles: friend or foe James 1:1-4
      • Living In Holy Fear 1 Peter 1:17-25 >
        • April 22, 2018 Notes
      • Hope: Promised, Practiced and Perfected 1 Peter 1:10-16 >
        • April 15, 2018 Notes
      • Living In The Hope Of The Resurrection 1 Peter 1:3-9 >
        • April 8, 2018 Notes
      • There is No Plan B 1 Corinthians 15:17-28 >
        • April 1, 2018 Notes
      • The Procession of the King Psalm 24:1-10 >
        • March 25, 2018 Notes
      • Confronting Little "gods" Acts 17:16-34 >
        • March 18, 2018 Notes
      • As for Me, I will call upon the Lord. Principal scripture Psalm 55:22
      • Turned Of or Turned On Acts 17:1-15 >
        • March 4, 2018 Notes
      • Concessions Without Compromise Acts 15:19-35 >
        • February 25, 2018 Notes
      • The Dilemma of Grace Acts 15:1-18 >
        • February 18, 2018 Notes
      • The Model of God's Church at Work Acts 14:21-28 >
        • February 11, 2018 Notes
      • Election Is For Gentiles Too! Acts 13:38-52 >
        • February 4, 2018 Notes
      • The Spirit-Led Church Acts 13:1-12 >
        • January 28, 2018 Notes
      • What God's Church Should Look Like Acts 11:19-30 >
        • January 21, 2018 Notes
      • God Will Carry Us Through 2018 and Beyond Isaiah 46
      • Victory in Christ Psalm 98:1-9 >
        • January 7, 2018 Notes
    • Sermons 2017 (Click for Teasers) >
      • Yes! It's All Good!!! Psalm 73
      • What Love Is This? Psalm 89:1-4; 19-37 >
        • December 24, 2017 Notes
      • Advent: The Light of Joy Psalm 126:1-6 >
        • December 17, 2017 Notes
      • Christmas Story Psalm 85 and Matt. 1:18-25
      • Advent: The Light of Hope Psalm 80:1-7 >
        • December 3, 2027 Notes
      • Thanksgiving: By Faith Alone Selected Scripture Verses >
        • November 26, 2017 Notes
      • To God Be the Glory Alone Selected Scripture Verses >
        • November 19, 2017 Notes
      • Christ Alone 1 Timothy 2:5-6 >
        • November 12, 2017 Notes
      • Justification: The Way God Forgives the Guilty Romans 3:21-26 >
        • November 5, 2017 Notes
      • Sola Scriptura - the rallying cry Selected Scripture Verses
      • Confronting Hypocrisy in the Church Galatians 2:1-16 >
        • October 22, 2017 Notes
      • Grace Trumps Race Acts 10:1-23 >
        • October 15, 2017 Notes
      • God's Amazing Transition Plan Acts 9:10-31 >
        • October 8, 2017 Notes
      • God's Strategic Conversion Acts 9:1-9 >
        • October 1, 2017 Notes
      • The Process of Evangelism Acts 8:26-40 >
        • September 24, 2017 Notes
      • Philip: The First Evangelist Acts 8:1-25 >
        • September 17, 2017 Notes
      • Stephen: The First Dead Martyr Acts 7:1-60 >
        • September 10, 2017 Notes
      • Stephen: God's Servant Leader Acts 6:8-7:53 >
        • September 3, 2017 Notes
      • Pride the Greatest Sin and Humility the Greatest Healer Selected Scripture Verses
      • Wednesday Meeting, No Pie
      • The Model for Servant Leadership Acts 6:1-7 >
        • August 13, 2017 Notes
      • Man Proposes But God Disposes Proverbs 16:1-9 >
        • August 6, 2017 Notes
      • Truth or Consequences Acts 4:32-5:11 >
        • July 30, 2017 Notes
      • The Witness of Prayer Acts 4:23-37 >
        • July 23, 2017 Notes
      • The Irrationality of Unbelief Acts 4:1-14 >
        • July 16, 2017 Notes
      • The Healing Power of Jesus Acts 3:1-11 >
        • July 9, 2017 Notes
      • June 18, 2017 Notes
      • The Marks of Christ's Church Acts 2:42-47 >
        • July 2, 2017 Notes
      • No Other Option Acts 2:34-41 >
        • June 25, 2017 Notes
      • Jesus: The Resurrected and Exalted King Acts 2:24-33
      • The Message of Pentecost Acts 2:14-24 >
        • June 11, 2017 Notes
      • What A Feast Acts 2:1-13 >
        • June 4, 2017 Notes
      • The Work and Words of the Spirit John 16:5-15 >
        • May 28, 2017 Notes
      • Our Love/Hate Relationship John 15:18-27 >
        • May 21, 2017 Notes
      • Rooted In Christ's Love John 15,:9-17 >
        • May 14, 2017 Notes
      • The Purpose Driven Spirit John 15:1-8 >
        • May 7, 2017 Notes
      • The Spirit of Promise John 14:23-31 >
        • April 30, 2017 Notes
      • The Spirit of Truth John 14:15-24 >
        • April 23, 2017 Notes
      • Song That the Angels Can't Sing 1 Peter 1:3,4:10-12 >
        • April 16, 2017 Notes
      • Jesus' March to the Cross John 12:12-19 >
        • April 9, 2017 Notes
      • THE IMPACT OF WORSHIPPING JESUS JOHN 12:1-11 >
        • April 2, 2017 Notes
      • The Reactions to Jesus John 11:45-57 >
        • March 26, 2017 Notes
      • The Compassionate Power of Jesus John 11:28-44 >
        • March 19, 2017 Notes
      • What kind of Retaliation is Best??? Matthew 5:28-42
      • The Focus of Faith John 11:17-27 >
        • March 5, 2017 Notes
      • The Hope of God's Glory John 11:1-16 >
        • February 26, 2017 Notes
      • Soli Deo Gloria: The Glory of God Alone >
        • February 19, 2017 Notes
      • Solus Christos: Through Christ Alone Selected Scripture Verses >
        • February 12, 2017 Notes
      • Sola Gratia: By Grace Alone Selected Scripture Verses >
        • February 5, 2017 Notes
      • Sola Fidi: By Faith Alone Selected Scripture Verses >
        • January 29, 2017 Notes
      • Sola Scriptura: Why It Matters Selected Scripture Verses >
        • January 22, 2017 Notes
      • Doing What is Good Titus 3:8-15 >
        • January 15, 2017 Notes
      • The Quest for Wisdom Proverbs 4:5-9 >
        • January 8, 2017 Notes
      • REDEEM YOUR TIME Ephesians 5:15-21 >
        • January 1, 2017 Notes
    • Sermons 2016 (Click for Teasers) >
      • THE GLORY OF THE INCARNATION Galatians 4:4-7
      • THE ANGEL’S SONG OF PEACE Luke 2:8-14
      • Good News of Great Joy Luke 2:10 >
        • December 11, 2016 Notes
      • Do We Have Joseph's Faith?
      • A Panoramic View of Hope Romans 15:4-6;13 >
        • November 27, 2016 Notes
      • Who You Say We Are 1 John 3:1-3 >
        • November 20, 2016 Notes
      • Living Water John 4:1-42
      • Spiritual Oxygen in a Political Cesspool Titus 3:1-8 >
        • November 6, 2016 Notes
      • The Fruit of Justifying Faith Romans 5:1-11 >
        • October 30, 2016 Notes
      • Waiting for the Son Titus 2:11-15 >
        • October 23, 2016 Notes
      • Applying Sound Doctrine: Discipleship Titus 2:1-10 >
        • October 16, 2016 Notes
      • The Beauty of the Church Titus 2:1-10 >
        • October 9, 2016 Notes
      • Zero Tolerance: The Way of Sanctification Titus 1:9-2:1 >
        • October 2, 2016 Notes
      • BE FOR TRUTH AND AGAINST FALSEHOOD TITUS 1:5-16 >
        • September 25, 2016 Notes
      • The Way of Faith Titus 1:1-4 >
        • September 18, 2016 Notes
      • September 11, 2016 Notes
      • Remember What is Always Important 2 Timothy 4:9-22
      • Finishing Well 2 Timothy 4:5-8 >
        • September 4, 2016 Notes
      • THE PREACHING OF GOD’S WORD 2 Timothy 4:1-5 >
        • August 28, 2016 Notes
      • The Work of God's Word 2 Timothy 3:14-17 >
        • August 21, 2016 Notes
      • THE LOVE OF GOD’S WORD 2 Timothy 3:10-17 >
        • August 14, 2016 Notes
      • How long must the faithful live by sight? Habakkuk 2:4
      • RIVAL ATTRACTIONS 2 Timothy 3:6-17
      • Confronting Reality 2 Timothy 3:1-17 >
        • July 24, 2016 Notes
      • The Useful Christian 2 Timothy 2:20-26 >
        • July 17, 2016 Notes
      • Should I Stay or Should I Go Selected Scripture Verses
      • Resurrection Perspective 2 Timothy 2:10-19 >
        • July 3, 2015 Notes
      • Our Strong Stand for the Gospel 2 Timothy 2:1-10 >
        • June 26, 2016 Notes
      • Our Confidence in the Gospel 2 Timothy 1:13-18 >
        • June 19, 2016 Notes
      • Our Courage From the Gospel 2 Timothy 1:8-12 >
        • June 12, 2016 Notes
      • Use What God Gives You 2 Timothy 1:1-7 >
        • June 2, 2016 Notes
      • The Way of Godliness 1 Timothy 6:1-10 >
        • May 8, 2016 Notes
      • Be Good Stewards 1 Timothy 6:17-21 >
        • The Courage of Our Confession 1 Timothy 6:11-16 >
          • May 22, 2016 Notes
        • May 29, 2016 Notes
      • The Fight of Faith 1 Timothy 6:6-11 >
        • May 15, 2016 Notes
      • The Accountability to and of Elders 1 Timothy 5:17-25 >
        • May 1, 2016 Notes
      • Principles of Mercy Ministry - Part. 2 1 Timothy 5:1-8 >
        • April 24, 2016 Notes
      • Principles of Mercy Ministry 1 Timothy 5:1-8 >
        • Know Your Mission; Keep the Faith 1 Timothy 1:18-20 >
          • January 31, 2016 Notes
        • April 17, 2016 Notes
      • Spiritual Diligence 1 Timothy 4:9-16 >
        • April 10, 2016 Notes
      • THE EXERCISE OF TRUTH 1 Timothy 4:1-8 >
        • April 3, 2016, Notes
      • The Glory of the Cross Selected Scripture Verses >
        • March 27, 2016 Notes
      • The Triumphant Entry
      • The Conduct and Confession of the Church 1 Timothy 3:14-16 >
        • March 13, 2016 Notes
      • Qualifications for Leaders in God's Church 1 Timothy 3:1-13 >
        • March 6, 2016 Notes
      • Qualifications for Leaders in God's Church 1 Timothy 3:1-7 >
        • February 28, 2016 Notes
      • The Principle of Authority and Submissions 1 Timothy 2:11-15 >
        • February 21, 2016 Notes
      • The Worship Service: Regulative or Relative? 1 Timothy 2:7-15 >
        • February 14, 2016 Notes
      • The Worship of Prayer 1 Timothy 2:1-8 >
        • February 7, 2016 Notes
      • Know Yourself 1 Timothy 1:8-17 >
        • January 24, 2016 Notes
      • Contend For the Faith 1 Timothy 1:3-11 >
        • January 17, 2016 Notes
      • SPIRITUAL LEGACY 1 Timothy 1:1-2 >
        • January 10, 2016 Notes
      • God's Church: Old Truths for a New Year Selected Scripture Verses >
        • Audio - God's Church: Old Truths for a New Year
        • January 3, 2016 Notes
    • Sermons 2015 (Click for Teasers) >
      • For Christmas God wants…you! Selected Scripture Verses
      • PROMISES KEPT: LOVE 1 Corinthians 13:13
      • PROMISES KEPT: JOY Matthew 1:21 >
        • December 13, 2015 Notes
      • PROMISES KEPT: FAITH Romans 10:13-17 >
        • December 6, 2015 Notes
      • PROMISES KEPT: HOPE Selected Scripture Verses >
        • November 29, 2015 Notes
      • Change: Proactive or Reactive? Selected Scripture Verses >
        • November 22, 2015 Notes
      • REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS! Psalm 33 >
        • November 15, 2015 Notes
      • THE JOY OF FORGIVENESS Psalm 32 >
        • November 8, 2015 Notes
      • THE “C’S” OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE 2 Cor. 5:17 >
        • November 1, 2015 Notes
      • SOLA FIDE: BY FAITH ALONE Romans 1:16-17 >
        • October 25, 2015 Notes
      • OUR GOD REIGNS Psalm 24 >
        • October 18, 2015 Notes
      • THE GLORY OF GOD REVEALED Psalm 19 >
        • October 11, 2015 Notes
      • A LIFE OF FAITHFULNESS Psalm 16 >
        • October 4, 2015 Notes
      • RIGHTEOUS CHARACTER: A LIFE OF INTEGRITY Psalm 15 >
        • September 27, 2015 Notes
      • PERSUASIVE SANCTIFICATION 2 Timothy 2:20-26 >
        • September 20, 2015 Notes
      • WHAT CAN THE RIGHTEOUS DO? Psalm 11 >
        • September 13, 2015 Notes
      • A PRAYER FOR DIRECTION Psalm 5 >
        • September 6, 2015 Notes
      • THE RIGHTEOUS ONE: LIVING IN CHRIST Psalm 1 >
        • August 30, 2015 Notes
      • GOD’S FOREIGN POLICY Psalm 2 >
        • August 23, 2015 Notes
      • I BELIEVE IN LIFE EVERLASTING Selected Scripture Verses >
        • August 16, 2015 Notes
      • I BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY Selected Scripture Verses >
        • August 9, 2015 Notes
      • I BELIEVE IN THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS Selected Scripture Verses >
        • August 2, 2015 Notes
      • I BELIEVE IN THE COMMUNION OF THE SAINTS Selected Scripture Verses >
        • July 26, 2015 Notes
      • THE COMMUNION OF THE SAINTS Selected Scripture Verses >
        • July 19, 2015 Notes
      • Does God watch the 5 o’clock news? Habakkuk 1:1-11
      • Still Trusting Selected Scripture Verses
      • I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH Selected Scripture Verses >
        • June 28, 2915 Notes
      • I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT Selected Scripture Verses >
        • June 21, 2015 Notes
      • I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST: HE WILL COME TO JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD Selected Scripture Verses >
        • June 14, 2015 Notes
      • I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST: ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN AND SITS AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD Selected Scripture Verses >
        • June 7, 2015 Notes
      • I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST: HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD Selected Scripture Verses >
        • May 31, 2015 Notes
      • I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST: FIGHTING FOR OUR FREEDOM Selected Scripture Verses >
        • May 24, 2015 Notes
      • I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST: SUFFERED UNDER PONTIUS PILATE; CRUCIFIED, DIED AND WAS BURIED Selected Scripture Verses >
        • May 17, 2015 Notes
      • I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST: CONCEIVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT; BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY Selected Scripture Verses >
        • May 10, 2015 Notes
      • I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST: GOD’S SON AND OUR LORD Romans 1:1-6 >
        • May 3, 2015 Notes
      • I BELIEVE IN GOD: THE MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH Selected Scripture Verses >
        • April 26, 2015 Notes
      • I BELIEVE IN GOD: THE FATHER ALMIGHTY Selected Scripture Verses >
        • April 19. 2015 Notes
      • WE BELIEVE AND WE KNOW: THE APOSTLES CREED Selected Scripture Verses >
        • April 12, 2015 Notes
      • THE PUPROSE AND GLORY OF THE RESURRECTION Hebrews 13:20-21 >
        • April 5, 2015 Notes
      • THE ANGER OF PALM SUNDAY Matthew 21:1-13 >
        • March 29, 2015 Notes
      • THE BOOK OF HEBREWS REVISITED >
        • March 22, 2015 Notes
      • THE SACRIFICE OF PRAISE Hebrews 13:15-19 >
        • March 8, 2015 Notes
      • OUR UNCHANGEABLE SAVIOR Hebrews 13:7-14 >
        • March 1, 2015 Notes
      • THE PRACTICE OF TRUE WORSHIP Hebrews 13:1-6 >
        • February 22, 2015 Notes
      • THE WAY OF TRUE WORSHIP Hebrews 12:22-29 >
        • February 15, 2015 Notes
      • THE TALE OF TWO MOUNTAINS Hebrews 12:18-24 >
        • February 8, 2015 Notes
      • OUR RESPONSIBILITY IN THE RACE Hebrews 12:12-17 >
        • February 1, 2015 Notes
      • THE JOURNEY OF FAITH HEBREWS 12:1-11 >
        • January 25, 2015 Notes
      • Tolerance or is it Intolerance: the word(s) for our age
      • THE DISCIPLINE OF FAITH Hebrews 11:39-12:3 >
        • January 11, 2015 Notes
      • THE DIVINE CONTENTMENT OF GODLY ACTION Phil 4:11-14 >
        • January 4, 2015 Notes
    • Sermons 2014 (Click for Teasers) >
      • DESIGNED FOR IMPACT: GOD’S GOSPEL Romans 1:1-6; 16-17 >
        • December 28, 2014 Notes
      • DESIGNED FOR IMPACT: CHRIST Selected Scripture Verses
      • DESIGNED FOR IMPACT: ANGELS Selected Scripture Verses >
        • December 21, 2014 Notes
      • DESIGNED FOR IMPACT: SHEPHERDS Luke 2:8-20 >
        • December 14, 2014 Notes
      • DESIGNED FOR IMPACT: BETHLEHEM Selected Verses >
        • December 7, 2014 Notes
      • DESIGNED FOR IMPACT: PROPHECY Luke 2:25-35 >
        • November 30, 2014 Notes
      • FAITH TAKES A VISION Hebrews 11:32-39 >
        • November 23, 2014 Notes
      • THE CHOICES OF FAITH - Hebrews 11:17-31 >
        • November 16, 2014 Notes
      • THE UNCERTAIN CERTAINTY OF FAITH Hebrews 11:8-19 >
        • November 9, 2014 Notes
      • FAITH THAT PLEASES GOD Hebrews 11:1-7 >
        • November 2, 2014 Notes
      • DON’T STOP BELIEVING Hebrews 10:32-39 >
        • October 26, 2014 Notes
      • APPROACHING JUDGMENT Hebrews 10:25-31 >
        • October 19, 2014 Notes
      • “HOW TO” LIVE HOLY Hebrews 10:19-25 >
        • October 12, 2014 Notes
      • THE NEED FOR FORGIVENESS Hebrews 10:11-18 >
        • October 5, 2014 Notes
      • THE BODY OF CHRIST Hebrews 10:1-10 >
        • September 28, 2014 Notes
      • NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS Hebrews 9:15-28 >
        • September 21, 2014 Notes
      • THE REAL THING Hebrews 9:1-14 >
        • September 14, 2014 Notes
      • GOD’S COMMITMENT TO SAVE SINNERS Hebrews 8:1-13 >
        • September 7, 2014 Notes
      • Me and My Pain Selected Scripture Verses
      • ACCESS TO GOD Hebrews 7:20-8:6 >
        • August 24, 2014 Notes
      • THE PERFECT PRIEST MAKES US PERFECT Hebrews 7;11-22 >
        • August 17, 2014 Notes
      • THE NEW PRIESTHOOD Hebrews 7:1-11 >
        • August 10, 2014 Notes
      • THE CERTAINTY OF GOD'S PROMISE - Hebrews 6:13-20 >
        • August 3, 2014 Notes
      • DON’T STAY A BABY Hebrews 5:11-6:12 >
        • July 27, 2014 Notes
      • THE WAY TO ASSURANCE Hebrews 5:11 - 6:3 >
        • July 20, 2014 Notes
      • OUR EFFECTIVE HIGH PRIEST Hebrews 5:1-10 >
        • July 13, 2014 Notes
      • THE CONFIDENCE OF TRUE COMPASSION Hebrews 4:14-16 >
        • July 6,2014 Notes
      • OBEY GOD’S WORD Hebrews 4:12-16 >
        • June 29, 2014 Notes
      • RESTING IN CHRIST Hebrews 4:1-11 >
        • June 22, 2014 Notes
      • THE UNREST OF UNBELIEF Hebrews 3:7-19 >
        • June 15, 2014 Notes
      • OUR FAITHFUL AND PERFECT SERVANT Hebrews 3:1-6 >
        • June 8, 2014 Notes
      • JESUS STANDS FOR US AND WITH US Hebrews 2:14-18 >
        • June 1, 2014 Notes
      • THE PERFECT PERFECTS THE IMPERFECT Hebrews 2;10-18 >
        • May 25, 2014 Notes
      • THE DESTINY OF REDEMPTION - HEBREWS 2:5-9 >
        • May 18, 2014 Notes
      • LISTEN TO THE SON - Hebrews 1:10-2:4 >
        • May 11, 2014 Notes
      • JESUS: BEGOTTEN, NOT CREATED - Hebrews 1:1-9 >
        • May 4, 2014 Notes
      • THE SUPERIORITY OF CHRIST - Hebrews 1:1-4
      • HE IS RISEN - Matthew 28:1-20
      • Jesus Washes the Disciples's Feet - John 13:1-15
      • THE PURSUIT OF GREATNESS - Matthew 20:17-28
      • THE EQUALITY OF GOD’S GRACE - Matthew 20:1-15
      • Childlike Humility - Matthew 18:1-14
      • Job : A Man for our Times and all Times - Selected Verses from Job
      • A Hard but Happy Chain of Events - Romans 5:3-5
      • The Divine Confession - Matthew 17:1-13
      • The Reason for Discipleship - Matthew 16:13-28
      • The Blessed Confession - Matthew 16:13-20
      • The Food of Faith - John 6:22-29
      • Our Divine Focus - Matthew 14:22-33
      • Kingdom Patience - Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
      • A Sure Comfort - Psalm 91
      • Purpose Driven Parables - Matthew 13:10-17
      • Relevant Resolutions -- Philippians 3:12-14
    • Sermons 2013 (Click for Teasers) >
      • Our Savior Speaks At Advent - Hebrews 10:5-10
      • The Praise of Advent - Luke Chapter 2
      • The Peace of Advent - Micah 5:2-5
      • The Proclamation of Advent - Isaiah 12:1-6
      • The Preparation for Advent - Malachi 3:1-4
      • The Promise of Advent - Jeremiah 33:14 – 16
      • Jesus: The Servant Who Saves - Matthew 12:15-21
      • Kingdom Authority - Matthew 8:23-27
      • Jesus: Lord of the Sabbath - Matthew 12:1-14
      • Resting in the Truth - Matthew 11:28-30
      • Rest for the Repentant - Matthew 11:20-30
      • Standing Upon Grace Romans 5:1-2
      • Prospecting For Sinners - Matthew 9:1-13
      • It’s easier to Covet than be Content - Selected Scripture Verses
      • Moved by Compassion - Matthew 9:35-38
      • Feasting Not Fasting - Matthew 9:14-17
      • Testimony to God's Grace - 1 Timothy 1:12-17
      • The Case for Following Jesus - Mathew 8:14-22
      • Two Foundations - Matthew 7:21-29
      • The Danger of Deception - Matthew 7:15-23
      • Jesus' Call to Enter the Kingdom - Mathew 7:13-14
      • Influence or Influenced? - Matthew 5:13-16
      • The Golden Rule - Matthew 7:12
      • Persistent Prayer - Matthew 7:7-12
      • Right and Wrong Judgmens - Matthew 7:1-6
      • Freedom From Worry - Matthew 6:25-34
      • Choices of the Heart - Matthew 6:19-24
      • Biblical Fasting - Matthew 6:16-18
      • The Responsibility of Forgiveness - Matthew 6:12,14,15
      • The Priorities of Prayer - Matthew 6:9-13
      • The Priorities of Prayer - Matthew 6:9-13
      • The Content of Prayer - Matthew 6:9-13
      • The Approach to Prayer - Matthew 6:5-8
      • Bad Actors - Matthew 6:1-4
      • The Power and Shame of Divine Love - Matthew 5:38-48
      • Speak Truth - Matthew 5:33-37
      • Murdering Marriage - Matthew 5:27-32
      • The Indictment and Restitution of Anger - Matthew 5:21-26
      • Affirming God's Standards - - Matthew 5:17-20
      • The Happyness Quotient - Matthew 5:3-12
      • When Glory Meets Our Suffering - Isaiah 53:10-12
      • The Conundrum of Palm Sunday - Matthew 5:10-12
      • The Call and Challenge of Peacemaking - Matthew 5:9-10
      • Matter of the Heart - Matthew 5:8
      • The Way of Mercy - Matthew 5:7
      • The Pursuit of the Kingdom - Matthew 5:6
      • The Choice is Ours - Philippians 4:1-9
      • Be Meek, not Weak - Matthew 5:5
      • Kingdom Esteem - Matthew 5:3-5
      • A Sermon For the Ages - Matthew 5:1 - 7:29
      • Experiencing God's Kingdom - Matthew 4:12-25
      • You Said Yes, I Said No - Matthew 4:1-11
      • Salvation Through Sorrow - Matthew 2:13-16
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Living Water          John 4:1-42

Guest Pastor Brad Jones

11/13/2016
 
INTRODUCTION

Before we dive into this passage, I want to help set the scene so that we can better understand this story.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between the Jews and Samaritans – There was a lot of history, bad history between these two people groups. This was not a little rivalry like Canada vs the USA or San Diego vs L.A. They were once one people. The 12 tribes of Israel. But hundreds of years before Jesus met the woman at the well, the Northern 10 tribes broke away from the Davidic kingdom and formed their own nation with its capital in Samaria (the Kingdom was sometimes called “Samaria” hence the eventual name: Samaritans). So the people were divided politically. Now, the Lord’s temple was in Jerusalem which was in that southern Kingdom of Judah. So the northerners stopped coming to the temple to worship, their religion became corrupted and they fell into idolatry. So the people were divided from each other by politics and religion. Later, God sent the Assyrian empire judge the Northern Kingdom by destroying their cities and exiling most of the survivors throughout the world. The Assyrians also brought exiles from other nations and settled them where the Northern Kingdom once was. And so the surviving Israelites intermarried with those foreigners and their descendants came to be called Samaritans. The Samaritan religion was so corrupted that the Samaritans refused to acknowledge any books of the Bible except an edited version of the Pentateuch (the first 5 books of the Bible) and they refused to acknowledge the temple in Jerusalem. Instead they built their own temple on Mount Gerazim, because that was a prominent mountain in the Pentateuch. You can imagine how the Jews felt about that. In fact, towards the end of the second century B.C., just a little over a hundred years before Jesus met this Samaritan woman at the well, the Jews attacked and destroyed the temple on Mount Gerazim. So let’s summarize: the Jews and Samaritans had centuries of animosity and war—they had long memories—and they were divided by racial prejudice, religion, and politics.
 
SETTING: Jacob’s Well – The Jewish-Samaritan animosity is the background, the setting is Jacob’s Well. I think it’s pretty neat that this well is STILL there today. You can go visit it of you want. Today it is enclosed by an Eastern Orthodox church, which is actually the 5th church to be built over the well. And we know a few things about this well. It was dug by Jacob 1600 years before Christ. It is a very deep well. Its depth must have varied over the millennia, but it is over 100 feet deep. The well is unique because it is fed by a spring. And that explains all this talk of “living water” which meant moving or flowing water as opposed to stagnant water. It may partly explain the woman’s apparent misunderstanding of Jesus’ offer of “living water”.
 
THEME: Jesus’ universal mission of evangelism – We’ve briefly covered the background and the setting for the story. Now before we look at the details, I want us to think about the theme of this story, the main point! This passage is about Jesus’ mission of harvesting, what we usually call evangelism. In this passage Jesus teaches us evangelism by example. Jesus also shows us that His mission is universal—the harvest is not just for some but for every kind of people. And Jesus gives us the privilege, the joy, of joining Him in this divine work of evangelism!
 
Let’s now join Jesus at the well to learn from our Saviour:
 
FIRST LESSON: JESUS SAW PEOPLE NOT PREJUDICE
One of the keys to Jesus’ earthly ministry of evangelism was how He saw other people. This encounter at the well was a surprise to everyone involved except Jesus, because Jesus saw things differently than everyone else. Remember the prejudice and animosity that the Jews and Samaritans had for eachother. John reminds us in verse 9,
            “For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.”
When the disciples returned from buying food they were shocked to see Jesus speaking with a Samaritan woman. The woman herself was surprised that Jesus spoke to her,
The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?" (Joh 4:9 ESV)

Like the disciples, I think she was surprised on two accounts: Jesus was a Jew speaking to a Samaritan, and He was a man speaking to a woman. She was expected more than one kind of prejudice. But quite the opposite, Jesus didn’t just speak to her, He asked to drink from her water jar, something that would have repulsed most Jews who considered Samaritans to be perpetually unclean.
 
So we see that Jesus was not filled with the prejudices of either the Jews or the Samaritans. Just as Jesus would sit down to eat with tax collectors, and prostitutes. Jesus was willing to share a drink with her from her jar.
 
Notice how patient Jesus was with this somewhat difficult woman. She basically laughed at Jesus when He offered the living water. In verse 12 she tried to get the upper hand on Jesus by “namedropping” the patriarch Jacob:
            12 Are you greater than our father Jacob? (Joh 4:12 ESV)
The answer, she was thinking, was “no!” But Jesus overlooked the slight and calmly continued explaining the “living water” that He was offering. When Jesus asked her to bring her husband (v.16) she tells Jesus a half-truth, or more accurately something closer to a fifth-truth:
17 The woman answered him, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You are right in saying, 'I have no husband'; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true." (Joh 4:17-18 ESV)

Jesus didn’t pounce on her, He didn’t humiliate her. Jesus very generously affirmed the superficial truth in what she had said, and revealed to her that He knew the whole truth about her even before He asked the question.
            There are two ways to understand what Jesus said about her current living arrangements: either she was living with a man who was not her husband, or even worse, she was living with a husband who was not hers! She had already gone through 5 marriages. It is exceedingly unlikely all her husbands died. More likely, they divorced her, they found something objectionable or deficient about her. I think it’s safe to assume the men she married were not upright men AND she was probably not a faithful wife. This woman was clearly living a very sinful life. That would have been a big deal in that society where marriage and sexuality were held in higher regard.
            That probably explains why she was drawing water alone, at the sixth hour (which means noon, 6 hours form sunrise). Women wouldn’t usually go to the well alone because that was a dangerous thing to do. And women wouldn’t usually go at the hottest time of the day! I think John tells us the time of day because it reveals that she was an outcast in her own village. A notorious sinner. She was used to being ignored, ostracized, cast away, looked at with contempt.
But Jesus who knew ALL about her ALL ALONG and was still willing to speak with her, share a drink from her jar, and offer her the greatest gift--eternal life!
Because Jesus saw people DIFFERENTLY than we sometimes do. We often see good/bad people, those who are in and those who are out. Jesus saw that without Him ALL people are outcasts from GOD’s presence because of sin. The little divisions humans make between groups, the petty prejudices that humans feel toward others, those divisions are meaningless compared to reality of the human condition in God’s eyes
10 as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." (Rom 3:10-12 ESV)

In reality, we are all those people. But Jesus doesn’t despise the “other”, He came to rescue the lost! When Jesus looked at that Samaritan woman what He saw was a person in need, one of God’s creatures who was trapped in a pattern of sinful self-destruction. He had compassion rather than contempt.
 
APPLICATION: Let’s apply this lesson to our own lives and evangelism: Brothers and sisters, Jesus was teaching His disciples how to identify the harvest. So He took His disciples to some of the most despised people Jews could think of, and then Jesus found an outcast among the outcasts, and Jesus said: “Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.”---“Are you really going to stand their puzzled by the fact that I’m talking to yes—a woman, yes—a Samaritan! Look at the beautiful harvest! Can’t you see her? Can’t you see them?
 
Christians, we are in danger of sabotaging our usefulness for the Kingdom harvest if we look with prejudice instead of seeing the person. Christians, are you writing off people who are part of THAT kind of community, OR who commit THOSE sins, or who are who adhere to THAT religion?
 
The first step to joining Jesus in His Divine work of Evangelism is to see people as God sees them: without prejudice, without contempt, but as sinners in need of living water.
 
THAT BRINGS US TO THE SECOND LESSON: JESUS SPOKE TRUTH NOT TRIPE 
I wonder if there is anyone here doesn’t know what tripe is? Maybe everyone knows this and I was the only one out of the loop. But I learned the hard way. I was down in California visiting Westminster Seminary and some folks at the seminary took Kristin and I out to a Mexican restaurant for dinner. Now if you know what tripe is you will see the irony immediately: I was feeling really sick, sick to my stomach. So when we got to the restaurant I thought, I’ll just order something light and simple, like soup…and there on the menu was “Tripe soup”. Unfortunately, it was only after I ordered that our guests explained what I had ordered. It turns out that Tripe is made from the ‘edible’ parts of the stomach or intestines of pig or other animals…I didn’t eat much of my soup.
 
But in common language, “tripe” is slang for writing or speech that is worthless, false, nonsense or rubbish.
 
Why do I say that Jesus spoke truth not tripe? Because tripe is a really good description of what many people today are speaking. We live in a time when people consciously speak and promote rubbish, falsehood, lies. Other societies have valued believing what is true over believing whatever you prefer. But our society says it’s fine to believe whatever you like! Imagine if any of today’s religious, political, or popular thinkers had met that woman at the well: they too might have been kind and non-prejudicial toward the Samaritan woman. But they would tell her that she had nothing to be ashamed of! Who cares about adultery, enjoy your life, and all those differences in religion between Jews and Samaritans, about who is God and how to worship him rightly—don’t worry about it. To each her own! To some that might sound compassionate and loving…but actually it’s garbage, it’s ideological tripe, it’s irrational and it is NOT loving.
 
Jesus genuinely loved her and so He spoke hard truths to her. It’s no accident that Jesus exposed her sin! That awkward statement in verse 16,
            “Jesus said to her, ‘Go, call your husband, and come here’”
It might seem like that comment came out of nowhere, but those word were spoken with the same compassion that offered the living water! Those words were sharp—yes--and they surely stung, but they were as controlled and necessary as a surgeon’s scalpel! She had shown some interest in the living water, but Jesus knew she wouldn’t receive it unless she recognized her sin for what it was. Jesus needed to expose her sin to show her why she needed living and cleansing water.
 
And when she perhaps tried to evade the uncomfortable conversation about her sinful life by bringing up the centuries of religious disagreement between Jews and Samaritans, again Jesus did not hesitate to speak hard truth and set the record straight (v.22):
You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. (Joh 4:22 ESV)

That was controversial to say in Samaria. That is controversial to say today: that there is some sort of exclusive way to God. That even the Samaritan faith which involved a sincere devotion to pieces of the genuine religion, even that was not good enough. Jesus told her that she and her people were wrong, and that they did NOT know God, because she needed to know that her religion would not save her.
 
Now before we all go out to speak hard truths to everyone, notice Jesus SPOKE HARD TRUTHS out of a compassion and with a purpose. 
Jesus told her the truth, about Sin, False Religion, yes; but He was gentle and He invited her to look beyond argument about God and religion to knowing God and having a true religion. Jesus wasn’t content to win an argument and lose the person. Jesus spoke hard truths as necessary, with the aim of sharing the happy truths, the Good News: about Salvation, and about Himself!
 
Look at VERSE 25-26
25 The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things." 26 Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am he." (Joh 4:25-26 ESV)

What Jesus did there is really surprising. Jesus carefully avoided telling people He was the Messiah. But to this stubborn, sinful, Samaritan woman He plainly revealed His identity. I don’t know ANYWHERE else in the Gospels where Jesus was this open.
 
Jesus didn’t just preach AT her, He opened up to her, there was gentleness, there was conversation, relationship, not just condemnation!
 
APPLICATION: Again, let’s apply Jesus’ example to our own lives and evangelism. Jesus spoke hard truths. Do we have the courage to speak Truth? Hard truths? Offensive Truths? That salvation is in Jesus alone? That people are living lives of sin leading to death? AND can we speak that truth while maintaining genuine compassion and building relationships? AND I have to ask, If we are prepared to speak hard truths, are we first willing to hear that truth for ourselves?
 
THIRD LESSON: JESUS SHARED ETERNAL LIFE, NOT EMPTY PROMISES.
The Samaritan woman came to the well looking for water. Water maintains physical life. But it’s obvious that she was looking for more than that. Like all people, what she really wanted was to have life—not survival—LIFE with all that means! Happiness, purpose, identity, relationship—that’s LIFE, it’s not just a biological thing, it’s not just a heartbeat. We can see in her lifestyle the story of a woman seeking those things.
 
Think of her 5 failed marriages and her present live in situation. Before we simply condemn her sexual sin, let’s try compassion on. Why was she doing that? Not because she LOVED misery, abuse, heartache! She gave into to sin because she was seeking happiness, purpose, relationships, identity—LIFE. She was seeking GOOD things, and so she believed the LIE that she could get those things through SIN. SIN promises happiness and so much more. The trouble is, the satisfaction doesn’t last.
 
God’s description of this sinful self-destruction in Jeremiah 2:13 is very appropriate to this passage,
Jeremiah 2:13  for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.

Isn’t that the sin of all people: we look for life and satisfaction EVERYWHERE except in God!         
People look to houses, bank accounts, holidays, promotions, awards, kids, love, pleasure …but apart from God even the good things are broken cisterns because they were never meant to provide what can only come from God! They don’t work, they don’t last…and it insults and angers God that we turn from HIM to seek life in these temporary things.
 
Instead of what she came for, Jesus offered her eternal life, which He called “living water”. 
Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (Joh 4:13-14 ESV)

The imagery is rich and clear. Water is the source of life. The difference between a lush garden and dusty desert is water. Jesus doesn’t just offer water, or life, He offers LIVING water, fresh water from a never ending source. Dependable like the spring in well of Jacob which is still flowing today! When Jesus says “living water” he means LIFE that is everlasting, that is sweet not stale, and that is derived from the SOURCE of LIFE, the Living God Himself! This means forgiveness and reconciliation with God, it means resurrection from the dead, it means an eternal relationship with Him!
 
LESSON FOUR: JESUS SHARED THE ABUNDANT HARVEST
Jesus is not only giving us an example of HOW to do evangelism, but He was encouraging His disciples to evangelize by letting them see the joy of the harvest!
 
Look at verse 28,
28 So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, 29 "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?" (Joh 4:28-29 ESV)

The whole reason she came to the well was to draw water, and yet John tells us that she didn’t even take the jar with her when she left! Why? Because she had already drunk the living water. She believed in Jesus. She found satisfaction in Him. The Holy Spirit had filled her with faith, her priorities were changing.
 
A commentator once said:
“she first caught sight of a thirsty man, then a jew, then a rabbi, afterwards a prophet, last of all the Messiah. She tried to get the better of the thirsty man, she showed her dislike of the jew, she heckled the rabbi, she was swept off her feet by the prophet, and she adored the Christ (Findlay, p.61)

She had come to know and love Jesus! So she SHARED the Good news about Jesus with her village like a woman might share the good news of her engagement! AND amazingly, Many Samaritans came to faith, they believed Jesus’ words and they were changed so that a Samaritan village would invite a Jewish teacher to stay with them!
 
In response to all this Jesus told his disciples,
Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. 36 Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. 37 For here the saying holds true, 'One sows and another reaps.' 38 I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor." (Joh 4:35-38 ESV)

Jesus was telling His disciples, He is telling us that NOW is the time of the Harvest! Many believed and labored to preserve the faith before Christ. But now that Jesus has come, and the Holy Spirit is poured out on the nations, the Gospel is not something that perseveres but something that produces a crop! The Old Testament prophets spoke of our time:
3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. 4 They shall spring up among the grass like willows by flowing streams. 5 This one will say, 'I am the LORD's,' another will call on the name of Jacob, and another will write on his hand, 'The LORD's,' and name himself by the name of Israel." (Isa 44:3-5 ESV)

Or consider the prophecy in Amos 9:13,
13 "Behold, the days are coming," declares the LORD, "when the plowman shall overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes him who sows the seed; the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it. (Amo 9:13 ESV)

The image is of such fruitfulness and abundance: before the harvesters are finished the plowman already as the next crop in the ground; before the sower of seed is finished planting the vines have already produced, the grapes have been harvested and treaded into wine—sweet wine. Don’t underestimate the Harvest of evangelism.
 
CONCLUSION
To share the good news, we must see people in need, we must speak truth, and we must lead them to the Living Water! You know how good this living water is! You have come to adore the Christ, for His tenderness, His wisdom, His compassion, His generosity! You can boldly invite others to come to Jesus because YOU know that Jesus is gentle and compassionate to sinners.
And John 4 is an encouragement of WHAT to expect when we join Jesus in His Work: fields that are ripe for harvest!
“"Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?" (Joh 4:29 ESV)


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