Seeking the Lost
Day 1: The God Who Sees You
**Reading:** Genesis 16:1-13
**Devotional:**
Like Hagar fleeing into the wilderness, we sometimes find ourselves running from pain, shame, or abuse. Yet in our most isolated moments, God meets us exactly where we are. Hagar called Him "the God who sees me"—a profound truth that echoes through the woman at the well's story. Jesus saw past her shame, her five failed marriages, her current sinful situation. He saw her heart, her thirst for something real. Today, remember that God sees every hidden hurt, every secret struggle, every lonely moment. He doesn't see you to condemn, but to comfort and restore. You are fully known and fully loved.
**Reflection:** What part of your life do you try to hide from others? Can you trust that God sees you with compassion, not condemnation?
---
## Day 2: Tearing Down Barriers
**Reading:** John 4:1-9
**Devotional:**
Jesus demolished every social barrier to reach one woman: gender barriers, ethnic prejudice, religious division, and moral judgment. He risked His reputation to offer her living water. What barriers keep you from sharing Christ's love? Perhaps it's fear of rejection, prejudice against certain lifestyles, or discomfort with people different from you. Jesus asks us to follow His example—to see people as God sees them, valuable and worthy of His love. The Muslim, the LGBTQ individual, the addict, the person whose politics offend you—God loves them exactly as He loves you. Breaking barriers isn't comfortable, but it's Kingdom work.
**Reflection:** Who has God placed in your path that you've avoided because of personal barriers? What one step can you take toward them today?
---
## Day 3: Worship in Spirit and Truth
**Reading:** John 4:19-26
**Devotional:**
The woman asked about the right place to worship, but Jesus redirected her to the right way to worship—in spirit and truth. True worship isn't confined to buildings or rituals; it flows from hearts transformed by the Holy Spirit and grounded in God's Word. We worship God through Jesus, by the Spirit, according to Scripture, which calls us to obedience and repentance. This isn't always comfortable truth. Following Christ means surrendering our will, breaking sinful patterns, and allowing God to reshape us. But this is where authentic relationship begins—not in religious performance, but in honest surrender to the God who transforms us from within.
**Reflection:** Is your worship more about external actions or internal transformation? What area of your life needs greater surrender today?
---
## Day 4: The Honest Gospel
**Reading:** John 16:33; 2 Corinthians 4:7-12
**Devotional:**
Christianity isn't a ticket to an easy life—it's an invitation to walk through life's difficulties with God beside you. Bones still break, hearts still ache, and trials still come. But we don't face them alone. When we witness to others, we must be honest: following Jesus means taking up your cross, dying to self, and walking a narrow path. Yet in this surrender, we find true life. God doesn't promise to remove us from the storm; He promises to be with us in it. People don't go to hell because of their sins—we all sin. They go because they reject relationship with Jesus, the only bridge back to God.
**Reflection:** Have you embraced the full gospel—both the comfort and the cost? How can you share this honest message with others?
---
## Day 5: Spiritual Aggression for the Lost
**Reading:** John 4:27-42
**Devotional:**
The woman at the well didn't become a theologian overnight, but she became a witness immediately. She ran to town declaring, "Come see a man who told me everything I ever did!" Her testimony brought many to Jesus. Evangelism isn't reserved for those with perfect lives or special gifts—it's for anyone who has encountered Jesus and wants others to experience Him too. Commit acts of "spiritual aggression" on behalf of the lost. Don't let anyone be excluded because of their sin or mistakes. If Jesus valued a shamed Samaritan woman enough to wait for her at noon in the scorching heat, how can we not pursue the hurting, the seeking, the lost?
**Reflection:** Who in your life needs to hear your testimony? What's stopping you from sharing how Jesus has changed you?
**Reading:** Genesis 16:1-13
**Devotional:**
Like Hagar fleeing into the wilderness, we sometimes find ourselves running from pain, shame, or abuse. Yet in our most isolated moments, God meets us exactly where we are. Hagar called Him "the God who sees me"—a profound truth that echoes through the woman at the well's story. Jesus saw past her shame, her five failed marriages, her current sinful situation. He saw her heart, her thirst for something real. Today, remember that God sees every hidden hurt, every secret struggle, every lonely moment. He doesn't see you to condemn, but to comfort and restore. You are fully known and fully loved.
**Reflection:** What part of your life do you try to hide from others? Can you trust that God sees you with compassion, not condemnation?
---
## Day 2: Tearing Down Barriers
**Reading:** John 4:1-9
**Devotional:**
Jesus demolished every social barrier to reach one woman: gender barriers, ethnic prejudice, religious division, and moral judgment. He risked His reputation to offer her living water. What barriers keep you from sharing Christ's love? Perhaps it's fear of rejection, prejudice against certain lifestyles, or discomfort with people different from you. Jesus asks us to follow His example—to see people as God sees them, valuable and worthy of His love. The Muslim, the LGBTQ individual, the addict, the person whose politics offend you—God loves them exactly as He loves you. Breaking barriers isn't comfortable, but it's Kingdom work.
**Reflection:** Who has God placed in your path that you've avoided because of personal barriers? What one step can you take toward them today?
---
## Day 3: Worship in Spirit and Truth
**Reading:** John 4:19-26
**Devotional:**
The woman asked about the right place to worship, but Jesus redirected her to the right way to worship—in spirit and truth. True worship isn't confined to buildings or rituals; it flows from hearts transformed by the Holy Spirit and grounded in God's Word. We worship God through Jesus, by the Spirit, according to Scripture, which calls us to obedience and repentance. This isn't always comfortable truth. Following Christ means surrendering our will, breaking sinful patterns, and allowing God to reshape us. But this is where authentic relationship begins—not in religious performance, but in honest surrender to the God who transforms us from within.
**Reflection:** Is your worship more about external actions or internal transformation? What area of your life needs greater surrender today?
---
## Day 4: The Honest Gospel
**Reading:** John 16:33; 2 Corinthians 4:7-12
**Devotional:**
Christianity isn't a ticket to an easy life—it's an invitation to walk through life's difficulties with God beside you. Bones still break, hearts still ache, and trials still come. But we don't face them alone. When we witness to others, we must be honest: following Jesus means taking up your cross, dying to self, and walking a narrow path. Yet in this surrender, we find true life. God doesn't promise to remove us from the storm; He promises to be with us in it. People don't go to hell because of their sins—we all sin. They go because they reject relationship with Jesus, the only bridge back to God.
**Reflection:** Have you embraced the full gospel—both the comfort and the cost? How can you share this honest message with others?
---
## Day 5: Spiritual Aggression for the Lost
**Reading:** John 4:27-42
**Devotional:**
The woman at the well didn't become a theologian overnight, but she became a witness immediately. She ran to town declaring, "Come see a man who told me everything I ever did!" Her testimony brought many to Jesus. Evangelism isn't reserved for those with perfect lives or special gifts—it's for anyone who has encountered Jesus and wants others to experience Him too. Commit acts of "spiritual aggression" on behalf of the lost. Don't let anyone be excluded because of their sin or mistakes. If Jesus valued a shamed Samaritan woman enough to wait for her at noon in the scorching heat, how can we not pursue the hurting, the seeking, the lost?
**Reflection:** Who in your life needs to hear your testimony? What's stopping you from sharing how Jesus has changed you?
Extra questions to think about...
What personal barriers or prejudices might be preventing you from sharing Christ's love with certain people in your community, and how can you begin to tear those down?
The woman at the well came to draw water at noon to avoid the judgment of others. Who in your life might be avoiding community because of shame, and how could you reach out to them with compassion?
Jesus declared himself as the Messiah first to a sinful Samaritan woman rather than to religious leaders. What does this reveal about God's priorities and who He values?
The sermon emphasizes that we worship God through the Son, by the Spirit, according to Scripture, which calls us to obedience and repentance. How does this complete definition challenge or expand your current understanding of worship?
Gary mentions that people don't go to hell because of their sins, but because of a lack of relationship with God. How does this perspective change the way you think about evangelism and sharing the gospel?
Hagar called God 'the God who sees me.' In what areas of your life do you need to remember that God truly sees you, knows your struggles, and still loves you completely?
Jesus never performed miracles for his own benefit, even when exhausted and thirsty. What does his example of self-denial teach us about serving others even when we are depleted?
The woman immediately left her water jar and ran to tell others about Jesus. What would it look like for you to drop everything and share your testimony with the same urgency and excitement?
Jesus was willing to break multiple cultural rules and traditions to reach one woman with the gospel. What religious traditions or comfort zones might God be calling you to step outside of to reach the lost?
The sermon warns against telling people that becoming a Christian makes life easy. How can you honestly share both the challenges and the hope of walking with God through life's difficulties?
The woman at the well came to draw water at noon to avoid the judgment of others. Who in your life might be avoiding community because of shame, and how could you reach out to them with compassion?
Jesus declared himself as the Messiah first to a sinful Samaritan woman rather than to religious leaders. What does this reveal about God's priorities and who He values?
The sermon emphasizes that we worship God through the Son, by the Spirit, according to Scripture, which calls us to obedience and repentance. How does this complete definition challenge or expand your current understanding of worship?
Gary mentions that people don't go to hell because of their sins, but because of a lack of relationship with God. How does this perspective change the way you think about evangelism and sharing the gospel?
Hagar called God 'the God who sees me.' In what areas of your life do you need to remember that God truly sees you, knows your struggles, and still loves you completely?
Jesus never performed miracles for his own benefit, even when exhausted and thirsty. What does his example of self-denial teach us about serving others even when we are depleted?
The woman immediately left her water jar and ran to tell others about Jesus. What would it look like for you to drop everything and share your testimony with the same urgency and excitement?
Jesus was willing to break multiple cultural rules and traditions to reach one woman with the gospel. What religious traditions or comfort zones might God be calling you to step outside of to reach the lost?
The sermon warns against telling people that becoming a Christian makes life easy. How can you honestly share both the challenges and the hope of walking with God through life's difficulties?
Digging In Deeper
# Scripture References from the Sermon
## Explicitly Mentioned References:
1. **John 4:4** - "Now he had to go through Samaria"
2. **John 4:5-6** - Sychar, Jacob's well, Jesus sitting at the well at noon
3. **John 4:7** - "Will you give me a drink?"
4. **John 4:9** - "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?"
5. **John 4:10** - "If you knew the gift of God and who it was that asked you for a drink..."
6. **John 4:11-12** - Woman's response about the deep well and Jacob
7. **John 4:13-14** - "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again..."
8. **John 4:15** - "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty..."
9. **John 4:16** - "Go call your husband and come back"
10. **John 4:17-18** - "I have no husband... you have had five husbands..."
11. **John 4:19-20** - "Sir, I can see that you are a prophet... where should we worship?"
12. **John 4:21-24** - Jesus' response about worship in spirit and truth
13. **John 4:25-26** - "I know that Messiah is coming... I, the one speaking to you—I am he"
14. **John 4:28** - Woman left her water jar
15. **John 4:29** - "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did"
16. **John 4:39** - "Many Samaritans believed because of the woman's testimony"
17. **John 4:40-42** - Samaritans urged Jesus to stay; "we know that this man really is the Savior of the world"
18. **John 1:47, 50** - Nathanael under the fig tree ("Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit")
19. **John 1:1** - "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God"
## Biblical References and Allusions:
20. **1 Kings 11-12** (implied) - The division of Solomon's kingdom into Israel (northern) and Judah (southern)
21. **2 Kings 17** (implied) - Assyrian conquest of northern kingdom and intermarriage with foreigners
22. **Genesis 16** - Story of Hagar, the slave girl who fled and encountered God
23. **Genesis 16:13** - Hagar naming God "El Roi" (The God Who Sees Me)
24. **Genesis 21** (implied) - Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar narrative
25. **Romans 3:23** (paraphrased) - "We all sin and fall short of the glory of God"
26. **John 14:6** (paraphrased) - "I am the way, the truth, and the life"
27. **John 3** (referenced) - Nicodemus and being "born again"
## Suggested Verses Aligned with Sermon Themes:
28. **Matthew 22:39** - "Love your neighbor as yourself" (directly mentioned in closing)
29. **Galatians 3:28** - Breaking down barriers between Jews, Gentiles, slaves, free, male and female
30. **1 Corinthians 9:22** - "I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some"
31. **James 1:2-4** - Facing trials with joy
32. **2 Corinthians 12:9** - God's grace sufficient in weakness
33. **Ephesians 2:8-9** - Salvation by grace through faith, not works
34. **Matthew 28:19-20** - Great Commission (evangelism theme)
35. **Luke 15:1-7** - Jesus welcoming sinners and eating with them
36. **Isaiah 55:1** - "Come, all you who are thirsty" (living water theme)
## Explicitly Mentioned References:
1. **John 4:4** - "Now he had to go through Samaria"
2. **John 4:5-6** - Sychar, Jacob's well, Jesus sitting at the well at noon
3. **John 4:7** - "Will you give me a drink?"
4. **John 4:9** - "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?"
5. **John 4:10** - "If you knew the gift of God and who it was that asked you for a drink..."
6. **John 4:11-12** - Woman's response about the deep well and Jacob
7. **John 4:13-14** - "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again..."
8. **John 4:15** - "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty..."
9. **John 4:16** - "Go call your husband and come back"
10. **John 4:17-18** - "I have no husband... you have had five husbands..."
11. **John 4:19-20** - "Sir, I can see that you are a prophet... where should we worship?"
12. **John 4:21-24** - Jesus' response about worship in spirit and truth
13. **John 4:25-26** - "I know that Messiah is coming... I, the one speaking to you—I am he"
14. **John 4:28** - Woman left her water jar
15. **John 4:29** - "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did"
16. **John 4:39** - "Many Samaritans believed because of the woman's testimony"
17. **John 4:40-42** - Samaritans urged Jesus to stay; "we know that this man really is the Savior of the world"
18. **John 1:47, 50** - Nathanael under the fig tree ("Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit")
19. **John 1:1** - "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God"
## Biblical References and Allusions:
20. **1 Kings 11-12** (implied) - The division of Solomon's kingdom into Israel (northern) and Judah (southern)
21. **2 Kings 17** (implied) - Assyrian conquest of northern kingdom and intermarriage with foreigners
22. **Genesis 16** - Story of Hagar, the slave girl who fled and encountered God
23. **Genesis 16:13** - Hagar naming God "El Roi" (The God Who Sees Me)
24. **Genesis 21** (implied) - Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar narrative
25. **Romans 3:23** (paraphrased) - "We all sin and fall short of the glory of God"
26. **John 14:6** (paraphrased) - "I am the way, the truth, and the life"
27. **John 3** (referenced) - Nicodemus and being "born again"
## Suggested Verses Aligned with Sermon Themes:
28. **Matthew 22:39** - "Love your neighbor as yourself" (directly mentioned in closing)
29. **Galatians 3:28** - Breaking down barriers between Jews, Gentiles, slaves, free, male and female
30. **1 Corinthians 9:22** - "I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some"
31. **James 1:2-4** - Facing trials with joy
32. **2 Corinthians 12:9** - God's grace sufficient in weakness
33. **Ephesians 2:8-9** - Salvation by grace through faith, not works
34. **Matthew 28:19-20** - Great Commission (evangelism theme)
35. **Luke 15:1-7** - Jesus welcoming sinners and eating with them
36. **Isaiah 55:1** - "Come, all you who are thirsty" (living water theme)