We naturally drift towards people that are like us, and then we stay there. Our human nature is to find a tribe to belong to.

We are starting a new series over the next several weeks looking at the
different markers of a growing Christ follower. The different behaviors that a maturing Christian should be doing. Most of these are drastically different than how most people live. Almost like nine meters or indicators to help gauge your spiritual maturity.

And the first one we are looking at involves fighting against this instinct to exclusively live your life in a comfort zone with people that are only like you. We live in a bubble. But God has something on the outside of that bubble.

Ephesians 2:10 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

He has something so much more exciting than your comfort zone. He has this purpose and this passion.

The first thing we are talking about is the first thing Jesus talked about when he rescued his first disciples.

Matthew 4:19 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”

In order to do this, we must be intentional. Intentional in helping others find faith.

First Marker: Intentional – Help others find faith.

Study: The longer someone is a Christian, the less S.D. friends they have
Why is it that the longer someone follows Jesus, the less time we spend with the people that need him the most? Jesus calls us to a different way. It should be the opposite. The longer we follow Jesus, the more intentional we should become in spending time with those that don’t know him.

If the Holy Spirit is in you, you should want to be better at this.

3 So Jesus left Judea and returned to Galilee.

4 He had to go through Samaria on the
way. (often Jews took the long way to avoid having to associate with Samaritans)
5 Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to
his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily
beside the well about noontime. (reminds us of his humanity) 7 Soon a Samaritan woman

came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” 8 He was alone at the
time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. [John 4:3-8]
Two reasons he shouldn’t have talked to her. One. She was a woman. She didn’t count.
Two. She was a different race. In that culture, she was the lowest on the totem pole. Just
Jesus initiating conversation with her surprised her. Rabbi’s didn’t typically do that.
9 The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She
said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a
drink?” [John 4:9]
Jesus looked beyond his own comfort zone to reach someone new because Jesus knew
that this woman needed to be reached. She came during the day because she was
rejected when she came at night. She was broken and lonely. And disconnected.
Sign of a Maturing Christ Follower: I intentionally build relationships with
those that are spiritually disconnected.
If we are truly going to live out the mission of God, we have to be intentional. We have to
fight against our tendency to live in a comfort zone in order to reach those who do not
know Jesus yet.
Is there anyone you’re intentionally building a relationship with in order to help them find
their way to Jesus?
10 Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to,
you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” 11 “But sir, you don’t have a rope or
a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living
water? 12And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us
this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?”
(100 foot well – really hard to access)

13 Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will

soon become thirsty again.

14 But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty
again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” [4:10-14]
A person’s deepest spiritual longing to know God personally will be satisfied forever
when they come to know Christ.
Sign of a Maturing Christ Follower: I intentionally take advantage of
opportunities to share my faith.

A lot of the problems we have in sharing our faith is in the way we share our faith. We
don’t share our faith because we are doing it wrong. And making it awkward. And forcing
it when we don’t need to. Pay attention what Jesus does here.
Jesus initiated. Not the spiritual conversation. Just the conversation. He makes a
connection with her first. He doesn’t jump right in to talking about God. Jesus waited. There is a lot of power in presence. In being someone that authentically
leads their life differently. People notice that.

GC Origin: Sean was their neighbor for years before they approached him about prayer
Positioning Yourself: Intentionally get involved in the lives of people different from you

John 4:39-42
15 “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I
won’t have to come here to get water.” (Then Jesus turns the convo) 16 “Go and get your
husband,” Jesus told her.

17 “I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied. Jesus

said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband – 18 for you have had five husbands, and you
aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!” 19 “Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. (Who dis is?!?)
What Jesus is saying here is if you really want to follow me and inherit eternal life, you
need to change some of the stuff in your life. He offers us salvation but it is in exchange
for transformation.
25 The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming – the one who is called Christ. When he
comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus told her, “I am the Messiah!” [25-26]
Jesus stepped up. He saw the opportunity to share his faith once it came up.

39 Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, “He
told me everything I ever did!” 40When they came out to see him, they begged him to
stay in their village. So he stayed for two days, 41 long enough for many more to hear his
message and believe.

42 Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not just
because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we
know that he is indeed the Savior of the world.”

Sign of a Maturing Christ Follower: I intentionally invite my friends to
church.
How many people believe because you told them about God?
If your answer is no one, how intentional are you being? How passionate are you about living
out the mission God has set before you? The average churchgoer never shares their faith
once. There is a severe lack of intentionality in the church. How could someone live their
whole life knowing the saving grace of Jesus and never share it with another person?
Poke Yelp Review: Once I experience the great food, I immediately want to share it
Jesus initiated a relationship. He waited because there is power in presence. And then he
stepped up when there was an opportunity. Sometimes that’s months or years down the
road. Do not force it. Let God guide this.

Application
Woman at the Well: Overlooked her whole life until Jesus came
Who around you is being overlooked right now?
Which of your friends’ only connection with a Christ follower is you?
Who are you holding back from reaching out to because they are different?
You have to fight against your comfort zones. Because on the other side is life
transformation for another person. Because some of you wouldn’t be here if your friend
didn’t push past their own bubble to be intentional with you.
Imagine how different our town would look if just the people in this room decided to
intentionally reach out to the people that everyone else overlooked. If we intentionally
built relationships with people that were different from us, opposed us, and yet we stilled
loved them. Imagine what God would do with that boldness.
If our church got this one thing right, it would change our community. You could be
the one that pushes out of your comfort zone to transform a life that no one is reaching.

Jesus starts a conversation that changes a woman who goes out and has a
conversation that changes more people. That’s what he calls us to do. Be intentional.