That's on page 1066 in the Red Church Bible.
It's John chapter 4, and Yvonne's going to read it for us,
and then Johnny's going to come up.
Thanks so much.
Morning, everyone.
So it's John chapter 4, and it's page 1066.
So, now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard
that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John,
although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized but his disciples.
So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee.
Now he had to go through Samaria.
So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar,
near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph.
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?
His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.
The Samaritan woman said to him,
You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman.
How can you ask me for a drink?
For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.
Jesus answered her,
If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink,
you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.
Sir, the woman said,
You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep.
Where can you get this living water?
Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself,
as did also his sons and his livestock?
Jesus answered,
Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again,
but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.
Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.
The woman said to him,
Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.
He told her,
Go call your husband and come back.
I have no husband, she replied.
Jesus said to her,
You are right when you say you have no husband.
The fact is, you have had five husbands,
and the man you now have is not your husband.
What you just said is quite true.
Sir, the woman said,
I can see that you are a prophet.
Our ancestors worshipped on this mountain,
but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.
Woman, Jesus replied,
Believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father,
neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.
You Samaritans worship what you do not know.
We worship what we do know,
for salvation is from the Jews.
Yet a time is coming,
and has now come,
when the true worshippers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth.
For they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks.
God is spirit,
and his worshippers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.
The woman said,
I know that the Messiah called Christ is coming.
When he comes,
he will explain everything to us.
Then Jesus declared,
I, the one speaking to you,
I am he.
Thanks so much,
Avin,
and thank you,
Sam,
for leading,
and let me add to his welcome,
and say it's good to see you all here this morning.
Please keep your Bibles open there in John chapter 4.
We've been looking through the Gospel of John,
an account of the life,
death,
resurrection of Jesus,
and the people who he met.
Today we're going to meet the woman at the well.
Let's pray and ask for God's help as we look at his word together.
Let's do that now.
Father God,
we all come today with different needs,
things we desire,
things we want to change,
things we want.
But we ask that you would show us Jesus,
and how he fills us,
and satisfies us.
May what we hear today,
truly quench our thirst.
Amen.
So,
what's your drink?
Advertisers go a long way,
don't they,
to convince you
that you need to drink.
Each brand has their enticing tagline.
Red Bull
gives you wings.
LucasAid
fuels and hydrates.
Heineken
refreshes the parts
others can't reach.
Coke
always the real thing.
We've all got our
favourite drinks that we turn to,
to quench our thirst.
thirst.
But there's a deeper kind of thirst
that we all have,
isn't there?
A thirst for happiness,
a longing for the good life.
We all thirst for that better job,
the next holiday,
the new iPhone 16,
or whatever tech thing you're wanting.
feeling.
Or perhaps your desire is simply
that you long to be loved
and accepted.
And in an effort to quench our thirst,
we turn to all sorts of things,
to people,
to other things,
hoping and wishing
that it will give me that feeling inside
of being once and for all
satisfied.
Well,
in our text,
John chapter 4,
Jesus offers a drink.
And it's a once and for all drink
that promises to satisfy us deeply
and eternally.
A drink that will forever quench
our thirst.
Did you see it there in verse 14?
Jesus said,
whoever drinks the water I give them
will never thirst.
Isn't that incredible?
How can we today
experience this drink?
Well,
let's follow Jesus
as we encounter
his meeting with this woman
at the well.
first of all,
Jesus offers
living water.
Jesus was travelling
north.
Look at verse 3.
Jesus had left Judea,
which was in the south,
and he was travelling
back towards Galilee
in the north.
Verse 4.
Now he had to go through
Samaria,
at which point we should all go,
oh,
gasp,
horror.
going through Samaria?
Well,
that's like a proud corkman
crossing the border
into Kerry.
Or someone literally
going from Israel
and walking through Gaza
today.
It's a no-go area.
You just don't do
that sort of thing.
Why?
Well,
look at the end of verse 9.
It says,
for Jews,
do not associate
with Samaritans.
To the Jews,
Samaritans were
racial half-breeds,
religious heretics,
unclean,
people you avoid
at all costs.
But Jesus isn't bound
by racial
or religious bigotry.
Jesus is God
come in person,
coming to give life
in all its fullness
to all people,
whatever our background
or our culture
or wherever we are from.
You see,
Jesus is on a mission
and so he intentionally
crosses cultural
and social barriers
to offer
living water.
And so after
a long walk
and feeling thirsty,
Jesus sits down
by a well.
Verse 7.
When a Samaritan woman
came to draw water,
Jesus said to her,
would you give me
a drink?
Well,
look at the middle
of verse 9.
She answers,
how can you ask me
for a drink?
Don't you realise
I'm a Samaritan,
you a Jew?
We shouldn't be here.
We shouldn't even be talking.
Verse 10.
But Jesus answered her,
if you knew
the gift of God
and who it is
that asks you
for a drink,
well,
you would have asked him
and he would have
given you
living water.
What is this
living water?
Well,
two things
to help us understand.
First,
it's spiritually
quenching.
When Jesus
offers this
living water,
the woman
is clearly
confused.
Verse 11.
She says,
well,
you haven't got
any cup with you
and,
well,
this well
that Jacob,
our ancestor
that he dug,
it's been here
for centuries.
What are you going to do?
Are you going to build
and dig down
your own well?
But Jesus
wasn't talking
about physical
water.
He was talking
about a drink,
the drink
of spiritual
life
that you receive.
Look at verse 13.
Jesus answered,
everyone who
drinks this
water will be
thirsty again,
but whoever
drinks the water
I give them
will never
thirst.
A couple of years ago,
Kirsty and I
went to Sardinia
and
very hot,
about 30 degrees
plus
and we decided
to do a very clever
thing and go
for a walk.
And as we were
walking along,
well,
it got hotter
and hotter.
There was no breeze.
We had a bit of water
with us
and you would
take a sup of water
and within 30 seconds
you were gasping
for more water.
The problem is,
10 minutes later,
we're all wanting
a drink
of something.
Where Jesus
is offering
a drink
that will quench
our inner thirst
for good.
Not a physical
drink that he offers,
but new
spiritual life.
A life
that will
truly
satisfy.
A life
made possible
only
by God's
spirit
within us.
So it is a
spiritually
quenching
drink.
And second,
it's eternally
satisfying.
Look at the rest
of verse 14.
Jesus says,
Indeed,
the water I give
will become
in them
a spring
of water.
Like a bubbling
fountain
welling up
to eternal life.
He's saying,
here's living
water that
will give you
eternal life
with God
in his eternal
kingdom to come.
A kingdom
where there will be
no more sadness
and no more
brokenness.
But more than that,
he's saying to us,
it's not just
an eternal life
to come.
But guess what?
New life
you can experience
now,
today.
Do you see
what it said
in verse 14?
The water I give
will become
in them
a spring
of living water.
This is something
to experience
now.
Bubbling up
inside of you.
A life
that doesn't
meet
your felt
need,
but will
meet your
deepest
need.
It will
satisfy you
internally,
not just
momentary
happiness,
but eternal
lasting
joy.
You see,
Jesus
is offering
himself.
Did you see
what it says
in verse 10?
Jesus said
to her,
if you
knew the
gift of
God,
what's the
gift of
God?
Well,
he would
have given
living
water.
You see,
God had
made a
promise
centuries
before
through the
prophet Isaiah
that he
was going
to bring
a gift
for the
world,
for all
people.
Well,
let's find out
about that
gift.
If you go
back to
Isaiah
chapter 55
in your
Bible,
Isaiah
55,
this is the
prophet Isaiah
speaking centuries
before.
And here's
what he
says.
Verse 1,
Come all
you who
are thirsty.
Come to
the waters
and you
who have
no money.
Come
buy and
eat.
Really?
Yes.
Come
buy wine
and milk
without money
and without
cost.
Why spend
money on
what is
not bread
and your
labour on
what does
not satisfy.
Listen,
listen to
me and
eat what
is good
and you
will delight
in the
richest
affair.
Give
ear and
come to
me.
Listen
that you
may
live.
What an
amazing
invitation.
Let's go
back to
John
chapter 4.
You see
Jesus
arrives on
the scene
and he
fulfills
God's
offer
of life.
He's
saying it's
a free
gift.
It's for
all people.
Jesus is
saying come
to me.
Drink
of me.
Have
me in
your life
and you
will never
ever
thirst
again.
Now let's
be clear
this is
not the
offer of
a
trouble
free
life.
No it's
saying that
in the
chaos and
brokenness
of life
in the
midst of
our
inner
turmoil
of
struggles
and
suffering
Jesus
is
offering
living
water
that
will
calm
your
soul
and
give
you
peace.
Jesus
alone
will
meet
your
deepest
need
and
longing.
He
will
quench
you
spiritually
and
satisfy
you
eternally.
So
Jesus
offers
living
water.
Well
that's
good.
But
here's
a
better
thing.
Jesus
welcomes
thirsty
people.
He
welcomes
thirsty
people.
The
woman at
the
well
that we
meet
is
more
thirsty
in
more
ways
than
one.
Look
at
verse
15.
The
woman
said
to
him
to
Jesus
after
he's
been
offering
this
lasting
living
water.
I
think
sarcastically
sir
give
this
water
so
that
I
won't
get
thirsty
and
have
to
keep
coming
here
to
draw
water.
Don't
be
silly
this
isn't
possible
because
the
woman's
clearly
not
understanding
so
Jesus
changes
the
focus
verse
16.
He
tells
her
go
call
your
husband
back to
me.
I
have
no
husband
she
replied.
Now
why is
Jesus
all of a
sudden
interested
in her
personal
life?
Well
it's
because
Jesus
wants
to
reveal
her
heart.
He's
revealing
a thirst
that she
has
deep
down
inside
of
her.
You
see
this
woman
at
the
well
who's
come
for
water
is
spiritually
broken.
Look
at the
rest
of
verse
17.
Jesus
said to
her
you
are
right
when
you
say
you
have
no
husband.
In
fact
you
have
had
five
husbands
and
the
man
you
now
have
is
not
your
husband.
What
you
have
just
said
is
quite
true.
To
say
this
woman
had
a
spicy
life
is
an
understatement.
Five
husbands
and
a
new
partner
on
the
go.
Whatever
happened
God's
design
for
marriage
an
exclusive
lifelong
commitment.
You
see
this
woman
is
going
out
on
a
limb.
She
is
going
against
God's
design.
She
is
living
for
her
own
desires.
I
want
and
I
get.
And
if
it
takes
a
new
husband
who
offers
better
sex
well
then
that's
what
I'm
going
to
have.
Jesus
asks
these
questions
to
open
wider
heart
to
expose
her
self
centred
living.
But
that's
not
all.
She
is
also
socially
crushed.
You
see
I
don't
know
if
you
noticed
as
we
read
this
there's
actually
another
way
to
look
at
these
questions
Jesus
is
asking.
that
this
woman
is
the
one
who
has
been
sinned
against.
That
countless
men
have
kept
coming
to
her
and
telling
her
all
the
things
she
wants
to
hear.
Promising
her
the
earth.
But
in
reality
when
they
have
her
well
she's
just
used
and
abused
and
when
they're
finished
kick
her
out.
And
in
desperation
she's
gone
from
one
man
to
another
seeking
security
believing
the
lie
that
well
the
next
one
will
be
better.
But
with
every
promise
comes
more
heartbreak
and
more
loneliness.
It
seems
that
she
will
give
herself
to
anyone
body
and
all
in
the
hope
that
maybe
somebody
will
love
me.
Is
Jesus
now
a
potential
new
partner?
Is
that
how
she's
thinking?
You
see
this
woman
is
thirsty
not
just
for
water
she's
thirsty
for
happiness
for
contentment
for
peace
and
she
will
selfishly
take
whoever
she
wants
and
she'll
sacrificially
give
of
herself
to
get
what
she
wants
but
it
hasn't
quenched
her thirst
her
numerous
marriages
and her
partners
tell the
story
it's
left her
spiritually
broken
and
socially
crushed
the
fact that
she arrives
there at
12 noon
at the
hottest
point of
the day
when nobody
else would
dare
to go out
into that
kind of
heat
there she
is
alone
coming
to the
well
hoping
nobody
else
will be
there
her
search
has
only
led
to
shame
so
shameful
we
actually
don't
even
know
what
her
name
is
you
see
this
search
for
satisfaction
is
actually
a
turning
away
from
God
it's
what
the
Bible
calls
sin
look
with
me
you
can
read
it
on
screen
this
is
what
the
prophet
Jeremiah
says
when
God's
people
turn
away
he
says
my
people
have
committed
two
sins
they
have
forsaken
me
the
spring
of
living
water
and
have
dug
their
own
wells
broken
wells
that
cannot
hold
water
you
see
this
isn't
just
talking
about
people
of
the
past
or
the
woman
at
the
well
it's
talking
about
me
and
it's
talking
about
you
in
our
longing
and
looking
for
happiness
in
our
pursuit
of
pleasure
and
success
or
love
and
security
in
our
thirst
to
be
satisfied
we
forsaken
God
we
pushed
him
out
and
we
gone
digging
our
own
wells
looking
for
joy
but
it's
also
temporary
whatever
we
kind
of
grasp
it
kind
of
just
disappears
in a
puff
of
vapor
well
we
keep
selfishly
taking
what
we
want
from
people
and
things
cramming
them
into
our
life
sacrificially
giving
of
ourselves
to
others
so we
can
get
what
we
want
well
in
reality
we've
ignored
Jesus
we've
said
no
to
his
living
water
and
we've
drunk
the
stagnant
things
of
this
world
that
leave
us
utterly
parched
how
would
Jesus
respond
to
that
well
good
news
because
Jesus
welcomes
us
he welcomes
me and
he welcomes
you
you see
despite
our mess
and our
brokenness
because of
our sin
he comes
to the
woman
he makes
his way
to the
woman
to say
you are
welcome
come to
me and
I will
give you
living
water
would you
dare
to come
to Jesus
because it
will be
painful
and
hopeful
what do
you mean
by painful
well you
see when
we come
to Jesus
he reveals
our true
self
he shines
a light
into the
darkness
of our
heart
he exposes
our secret
desire
isn't that
what the
woman said
look at
verse 29
she says
to her
community
after she
met
Jesus
come
see a
man
who told
me
everything
I've
ever
done
could
this
be the
Messiah
God's
King
would
we
dare
come
before
Jesus
who
would
show
us
our
life
but
it's
also
hopeful
because
Jesus
shows us
our
heart
not
to
crush
you
not
to
break
you
but
to
forgive
you
to
welcome
all
who
are
broken
and
crushed
so
that
they
may
receive
his
salvation
now
and
for
eternity
so
how
are
you
and
I
going
to
experience
this
thirst
quenching
living
water
how
can
we
drink
and
be
fully
and
finally
satisfied
well
third
well
they've
all
come
up
together
never
mind
Jesus
seeks
true
worshippers
you
see
the
conversation
has
become
rather
embarrassing
and a
bit
too
close
and
personal
so
the
woman
changes
the
conversation
verse
19
sir
the
woman
said
I
can
see
that
you're
a
prophet
well
that
was
true
he
knew
all
about
her
life
verse
20
our
ancestors
worshipped
on this
mountain
but you
Jews
claim that
the place
where we
meet
is in
Jerusalem
let's
talk
religion
nothing
like a
little
bit
of
controversy
let's
get
off
me
and
talk
about
something
else
well
Jesus
isn't
going to
be put
off
is he
he
uses
this
change
of
subject
to
show
us
how
we
should
respond
to
the
offer
of
living
water
you
see
the
only
right
response
is
to
worship
Jesus
look
at
verse
21
look
what
Jesus
said
he
says
to
the
woman
believe
me
a
time
is
coming
when
you
will
worship
the
father
neither
on
this
mountain
nor
in
Jerusalem
in
other
words
he
said
to
her
look
it's
not
about
a
place
you
go
to
but
a
person
you
come
to
not
a
place
you
go
to
it's
not
a
site
or
a
pilgrimage
or
a
special
building
but
it's
about
a
person
Jesus
is
saying
you
must
come
to
me
and
worship
me
you
see
the
call
to
worship
Jesus
if
we
are
going
to
worship
him
means
turning
from
ourselves
and
turning
to
him
verse
23
look
at
verse
23
with
me
a
time
is
coming
and
has
now
come
when
the
true
worshipers
will
worship
the
father
in
the
spirit
and
in
the
truth
they
are
the
kind
of
worshipers
the
father
seeks
you
see
if
we're
going
to
worship
it
requires
two
things
truth
and
spirit
to
believe
the
truth
as
we
have
on
the
screen
there
will
we
trust
what
Jesus
says
about
himself
that
he
offers
living
water
will
we
act
on
his
words
will
we
believe
that
he
alone
satisfies
will
we
stop
digging
our
own
wells
and
will
we
drink
from
him
will
we
turn
from
our
self
centred
life
and
make
Jesus
the
centre
of
your
life
will
you
believe
the
truth
and
will
we
receive
the
spirit
you
see
when
we
trust
Jesus
the
spirit
of
God
comes
into
our
life
and
he
gives
us
a
whole
brand
new
way
of
living
new
desires
and
new
loves
rather
than
searching
for joy
and
happiness
in
other
things
we
now
come
to
Jesus
who
forgives
us
of
all
our
sin
past
present
and
future
restores
us
and
makes
us
new
will
you
believe
and
will
you
receive
you
see
it is
a
call
to
say
I
will
worship
Jesus
if
we're
going to
experience
living
water
we
must
worship
him
alone
in a
sense
it's
coming
to him
and bowing
down
and saying
I
submit
my
life
to
you
are
lord
of
my
life
you
are
ruler
of
my
life
no
longer
my
way
but
your
way
it's
coming
in
humble
submission
and
saying
here
I
am
Jesus
I
am
here
to
serve
you
serving
your
purposes
no
longer
my
own
you
see
this
is
how
we
can
all
experience
the
gift
of
living
water
that
once
and
for
all
drink
that
promises
to
satisfy
us
deeply
and
eternally
a
drink
that
will
forever
quench
our
thirst
come
to
Jesus
the
thirst
quencher
bow
in
adoration
honour
him
worship
him
and
know
that
bubble
of
eternal
life
now
and
forever
more
let me
put it
like
this
imagine
there
was no
water
left
in
your
taps
no
access
to
any
drink
around
you
the
only
water
is
the
river
lee
flowing
through
Cork
City
so
there
you
go
you
go
down
into
the
city
you
pick
up
an
empty
coke
can
the
tide
is
out
and
there
you
put
the
coke
can
in
and
you
bubble
up
with
all
the
silt
and
all
the
grime
and
all
the
dirt
and
you
just
go
thirsty
quenching
or what
if you
walked up
along
through
the
lee
fields
and
up
past
the
fields
and
up
past
the
dam
and
the
lake
up
into
the
hills
and
there
you
hear
a
gurgle
of
water
and
you
pull
back
the
ferns
and
the
heather
and
there
is
water
bubbling
out
and
you
put
your
hands
down
and
you
fill
your
hands
with
water
and
shh
water
that's
water
that's
water
living
water
that will
quench
your
deepest
need
why
turn
to
that
which
will
never
satisfy
follow
him
worship
him
let's
pray
lord jesus
we
we say
sorry
i'm
sorry
forgive me
for the
times i
wander
away
dig my
own
well
and look
for joy
and satisfaction
elsewhere
thank you
for reminding
us afresh
today
that in
jesus
we are
truly
satisfied
help us
that we
may worship
him alone
and know
true life
with him
forever
amen
we're going
to sing
together
and put it
up on the
screen there
as the
musicians
come up
jesus said
that if i
thirst
i should
come to
him
here's a
response to
what we
have heard
let's all
come to
jesus
and know
the life
that he
has to
give
if you're
able to
stand
let's do
so and
we'll sing
together
so um
and
he
can't
hear
Thank you.
That's on page 996 in the Red Church Bible.
Matthew chapter 26.
And we're going to read from verse 26 in a moment.
This is a meal in which we celebrate what Jesus has done for us on the cross.
As we eat the bread and as we drink the bread.
We drink the juice.
This is a meal for those who drink the Lord's death.
This is a meal for those who think they're a meal for those who think they don't need Jesus.
This is a meal for those who realize their desperate need of forgiveness and know it's only found in Jesus.
This is a meal for those who are the life that Jesus.
For the life that Jesus alone can offer.
We drink the water and the water and we drink the water and we drink the living water he offers.
We're going to eat the water and we drink the water.
We're going to read now from verse 26 of Matthew chapter 26.
While we were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying,
Take and eat. This is my body.
Just like this, bread is broken. So we remember that Jesus' body was broken for us.
And as we eat, we eat in thankfulness that our sins are no longer counted against us.
The bread will be passed around now. Please hold on to it until everyone has received, and we will partake together then.
Thank you, Nick and Trish.
Thank you.
Let's pray.
Lord Jesus, we thank you for your body broken for us.
You took the punishment that we deserved when you died on the cross.
And we eat this bread now in remembrance of you.
Amen.
Let's read again from verse 27.
Then Jesus took a cup.
When he had given thanks, he gave it to them saying, drink from it, all of you.
This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.
Jesus points us forward to that glorious day when we will feast together around his table in heaven.
And like we read this morning, at his right hand are pleasures forevermore.
We will be satisfied in him forever.
The juice which we're about to drink symbolizes Jesus' blood, which was poured out for us on the cross.
As we drink it, let us give joyful thanks to Jesus for the eternal life he has won for us.
Let's pray.
Lord Jesus, we thank you for your blood, which was poured out on the cross for us.
Though you were without sin, you took our sin, dying and rising again for us.
You are the only one who can satisfy us with life forever.
We worship you today.
Amen.
Please drink as you receive.
Thank you.
Lazarus.
So, let's go.
As we finish, let us say our church family blessing together for this week.
This is found on your new sheet on the inside page.
It's in blue writing at the bottom.
Let's say it together.
May our Lord Jesus Christ, the source of living water, fill you with the hope of eternal life and quench your deepest need so that you are satisfied in him alone.
Amen.
Thank you so much for being with us today.
We encourage you all to stay for tea and coffee after and to continue our time of fellowship.
And remember to members to come later at 7.30 for our meeting.
Thank you.
Okay.
Bye-bye.
Thank you.