September 6, 2009 - A Front Porch People:

Listening for People's Hearts (John 3 & 4)

Key Focus:

• This will focus on listening to people, serving them and looking for an opportunity to put in a good word for Jesus.
  • John 4 is a great passage to fit in here, but all of the Gospels show Jesus interacting with people to listen and respond to each of them personally, distinctively.
• But as we listen, we must also realize that we have a good things to say about Jesus on two levels:
1. Learning to share how the Lord has blessed us in our daily lives (Mark 5:1-20)
2. Learning to share our story of the Lord has done to give us hope (1 Peter 3:15).
• Message Overview -- Nicodemus & Woman at the Well
  • Illustration [Boys on Cedar Crest and the Folks next door -- unlikely neighbors - unwanted neighbors -- delicate tissues -- heart attack]
    • Sometimes God puts unlikely neighbors together on purpose, to help them both, but also to help the rest of us because they have something very very powerful to show us in their neighborliness! That's what happens in John 3 & 4 -- unlikely neighbors who show us the third secret to having A Front Porch Heart. We learn to listen to people's hearts the way Jesus did. Let's meet our neighbors, too! Clearly, the Samaritan Woman and Nic were neighbors by grace and by the story told by the Holy Spirit through the beloved disciple, John. Their houses couldn't have been farther apart, but their hearts were seeking the same home!

      Nicodemus

      • Did Jesus hear Nic's weariness of all the religious motions and meetings and messages in Nicodemus heart? vs. 1-2a
      • Did Nic come to Jesus at night because he was so busy doing religious stuff?
      • Is he there because he hoped Jesus could bring him to what really mattered and not just the motions of relgion?
      • Underneath, don't you hear the hunger for something more than business as usual religion? vs. 2b-3 Boy, I sure do. And the rest of Nic's story suggest this is true!

    Samaritan Woman

    • Don't you see the weariness in the woman's lonely trip to the well?
    • I'm sick of coming by myself and carrying this buck.
    • I don't even have one person who claims me as his own.
    • I'm stuck in a rut deeper than the well-worn path from town to the well

    And underneath both, we hear the heart yearning for the hope of God!

    • No one could do the things you do ...
    • I know when the Messiah comes ...

    And both come to faith.

    • One more slowly than the other, but they both come.
    • And both display their faith in Jesus

    But who, who in their right mind would have ever thought either was ripe for the work of God in their life?

    • Why talk Jesus to a Buddhist monk? [Aaron in Thailand with the Gospel of John]
    • Why waste time with Samaritan woman, coming at the wrong time of day to the well? [Dad & the hitchhiker]

  • Listening to people's hearts and trusting the leading of the Holy Spirit!
    • Just as my Father sent me, I am sending you!
    • [If we are the body, why aren't his hands ...]
• Specific Exercise: Putting in a good word for Jesus would need to come out of Bible class assignments and mentioned during the sermon.

• Back to School: Gaining momentum, looking for visitors, inviting friends
• Cordinated Emphasis with Adult Classes on Being the Front Porch People of God

• John 3 & 4 tniv

• Mark 5:1-20 tniv
• 1 Peter 3:15 tniv

Drama, Media, & Connecting Pieces:

• Pre-video:
• Video Piece: Video Link
  • Direction
• Scripture readings
  • Scripture Directions
    1. Ref - Thoughts about use
       

Time in the Word Focus:

• Key focus of the Time in the Word
  • Key Ideas
    • Point

Daybreak Focus: (See emphasis above! Team Working on Planning Order - Names)

Refresh Focus: (See emphasis above! Team Working on Planning Order - Names)