When we think about God's mission, sometimes we twist it into 'my mission that God is involved in.' But in the Scriptures, mission begins with God.
When we think about God's mission, sometimes we twist it into "my mission—that God is involved in."
But when mission starts with us, we've got it backwards.
In the Scriptures, mission begins with God.
The theologian David Bosch put it this way, "Mission is not primarily an activity of the church, but an attribute of God. God is a missionary God." Ed Stetzer says, "Mission is rooted in the identity of God Himself. God is on a mission, and Jesus is the embodiment of that mission. Jesus identifies Himself as being sent more than forty times in the gospel of John. Then, near the end of the gospel of John, He says, 'As the Father has sent me, I am sending you' (John 20:21). The church is sent on mission by Jesus. It's not that the church has a mission, but rather that the mission has a church. We join Jesus on His mission."
We see these principles in John 4. This is where we find the story of Jesus engaging with the Samaritan woman. I'll share six insights into God's mission—but there's far more to this story, so please share your insights with others.
**First:** this is a story about Jesus! So we are seeing God engaged in God's mission. As for everyone else? The disciples are confused. The woman is not expecting it. The members of her town are surprised.
**Second:** God's mission disrupts our cultural scripts. Look at John 4:4. It says that Jesus had to go through Samaria. By the customs of his day, no Jew ever HAD to go through Samaria. There was always a good reason to go around Samaria. Are you open to God disrupting your life in this way?
**Third:** Jesus makes a connection. At the outset, the power dynamics are stark. Man-woman, Jew-Gentile, Rabbi-social outcast, single-living with a guy after five divorces. Most of all: God in flesh meeting a sinner. How can Jesus bridge the gap? He considers another source of power. The woman has a water jug, and he's thirsty. So he asks her to help him. Do you see "going on mission" as "having all the answers"? Or are you willing to be vulnerable?
**Fourth:** the Samaritan woman is prepared for mission after her needs are satisfied by Jesus. She comes to the well to get her thirst quenched. But Jesus gives his infinite love to her. In doing so, he meets the endless needs of her soul. Is Jesus the living water of your life? Are you satisfied by him? Have you brought the deepest needs of your life to him—and found that his love is sufficient?
**Fifth:** the Samaritan woman's testimony is surprising. Her neighbors are expecting shame. But they see joy. Her testimony reverses the expectations within her culture (and in any culture!) Does your testimony defy expectations? Or is it scripted—or stale?
**Sixth:** the outcome of her mission goes beyond what anyone could ask or imagine. She had no idea what would happen when she went into her town and shared her story. But she felt compelled to go. And she found herself part of God's mission.
God was on a mission. It transformed her life. So she joined God and God's mission. And more lives were transformed.
That's what this course is all about. Transformed for God's mission.
Remember John 3:8? Jesus teaches Nicodemus, "The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don't know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
He had to travel through Samaria; so he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the property that Jacob had given his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, worn out from his journey, sat down at the well. It was about noon. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. "Give me a drink," Jesus said to her, because his disciples had gone into town to buy food. "How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?" she asked him. For Jews do not associate with Samaritans. Jesus answered, "If you knew the gift of God, and who is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would ask him, and he would give you living water." ... Then the woman left her water jar, went into town, and told the people, "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?" They left the town and made their way to him. ... Now many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of what the woman said when she testified, "He told me everything I ever did." So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. Many more believed because of what he said. And they told the woman, "We no longer believe because of what you said, since we have heard for ourselves and know that this really is the Savior of the world."
Which of the six insights about God's mission resonates most with you? Why?
Are you open to God disrupting your life to participate in his mission? What might that look like?
Is Jesus the living water of your life? Have you brought the deepest needs of your life to him?
Ask God: "Where are you already at work around me? Help me to see what you're doing."
Write down your testimony in a few sentences. Does it defy expectations, or has it become scripted and stale?
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