Share Your Story
Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?”
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Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” They came out of the town and made their way toward him.
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Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers.
They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”
-John 4:6-7; 28-30; 39-42
Presbyterians are not famous for evangelism. It is a word that sometimes scares us. “Evangelical” has been politicized in ways that divide our nation. Evangelism is simply telling our story of faith. The Greek word, “evangel” means “messenger”. Angels are called “evangellion” in the Greek New Testament – messengers.
Our lives are formed in story. We all have a story to tell. When families get together, they recount the stories of childhood, family events, places and people who are gone now. It’s how we know our lives. Telling stories is how we know we have been here, where we came from, and it shapes where we are going.
Just like the woman who met Jesus at the well, we have our own encounter with Jesus. This hated Samaritan woman was the first missionary to tell her community about Jesus. She didn’t have to make it complicated. She simply told them, “He told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” (John 4:29) They all came out to meet Jesus and then came to faith on their own because of that encounter with Jesus. When we tell our story of meeting Jesus, we are introducing someone to our savior. When we tell someone how we experienced God’s presence or peace in a difficult season of life, we introduce them to the blessing of the great Comforter, the Holy Spirit.
This fall, we will practice sharing our stories of faith. Occasionally we will hear from the Elders and Deacons in worship. We might even practice sharing a “God sighting” with our neighbors in church. God has given you a wonderful story to tell! Please join us in worship this fall as we share our own inspiring stories of faith.
Loving God, you offer us your whole self, and ask us to trust and obey.
We confess that sometimes it is hard to trust and hard to walk your path. When we ignore your call and follow our own way instead, forgive us. Lord Jesus, you offer us not just healing, but wholeness.
We confess that we’re often not interested in that inner work, only in just enough to continue on our way without facing those things that keep us from you. When we allow fear to rule, rather than standing up with courage, forgive us. Holy Spirit, you bring new life into every place.
We confess that sometimes we like things just the way they are, and the newness is scary.
When we insist on seeing before believing, forgive us.
Holy God, fill us again with your grace, your hope, your peace, and help us to be your faithful people in the world. We pray in the name of the One who disrupts the world with love, Jesus the Christ. Amen.
