Good morning church family,
GIVING THANKS:
* The court session went well for Mary Preteska, so thanks to all for your prayers.
* We are thankful for the YOUNG ADULTS who are studying God’s Word, fellowshipping, encouraging one another and having FUN! Here are some photos from their day in New York City last Saturday….
* Esther Aggrey shared several photos which were taken from the school in Ghana which we sent children’s supplies to. They were very grateful! They also sent videos from the Director of the School, who specifically mentioned the Trumbull church of Christ, but we had some technical challenges in attaching them.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
* Margaret’s knee surgery has been postponed until July 19th, continued prayers. For those who volunteered to help with meals please make note of the date change.
* Joe Nuzzo shared that June 30th is the 27th anniversary of his son Joshua’s passing
(Joshua was the twin brother of his son Ryan Nuzzo).
COMING UP:
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL – July 20th
A sign up sheet has been posted in the auditorium for food & craft donations. Thanks to all who have signed up already!
Please save all cardboard paper towel rolls and put any supplies for VBS in the bin in the foyer.
Tents are also needed. Please see Derin or Kristen if you have a tent we can borrow for that day.
They still need someone to run the Bounce House.
Flyers on the back table so please invite friends and neighbors!
TOMORROW there will be a Pot Luck immediately following worship. We welcome everyone to join in this Fellowship meal. Thanks to all in advance for help with set up & clean up.
FRIDAY, JULY 12th at 6:30 the Young Adults will have a devotional, singing and cook out at our home 479 Elm Street, Monroe, CT
Friday nights in September – Flo Repecko will be teaching a series on Biblical boundaries: “What the Bible teaches about Boundaries” There will be 4 lessons total, held every Friday in September, starting September 6th – 6:30 pm for Fellowship, 7:00 pm lesson. Refreshments will be provided.
The story of the woman at the well in John 4:1-42 is one of the most poignant encounters of Jesus in the Bible. These verses tell how Jesus, traveled through Samaria on the way to Galilee, in the town of 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 the sixth hour.” vs. 4-6
The woman’s name was never revealed in scripture, but we do know she was a Samaritan, a race with whom the Jews did not associate. She had 5 husbands and the man she was with currently was not her husband. Vs 17-18
While His disciples were in town buying food, Jesus encountered this Samaritan woman coming to draw water from the well. He asked her for a drink, and their talk took off from there, culminating in her salvation as well as many from her town as well.
We know from understanding cultural and historical traditions of that time, women typically drew water in groups in the morning and it was often a social gathering. Scripture notes that this woman was drawing water alone at mid-day, which could possibly indicate that she was a social outcast because of her lifestyle.
She was comfortable talking with Jesus, and asked Him pointed questions when He asked her for a drink.
vs 7 “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.
vs. 9 “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 did not associate with the Samaritans).
vs. 10 ” Jesus answered her…
vs.11 “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 flocks and herds?“
Jesus told her not only who He was, the Son of God, the Messiah, but that He had come to offer LIVING WATER the kind that “will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life..”
Not only did Jesus have what she needed, but He knew everything about her...that she had been married five times and was not married to her current male companion.
vs. 18
Inferring that Jesus was a prophet, she then began to speak on religious matters, specifically noting that Jews believe the place they must worship is Jerusalem (v. 20).
Jesus’ answer, elaborating on this living water that only He could provide, prompted her to ask Him for it.
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 worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” vs. 21-24
Then Jesus declared what He hadn’t made public in many circles that HE IS the Messiah. vs 26
His friends returned right then and the woman ran off, leaving her water jar behind and proclaiming, “Come, see!” vs. 29
The woman appeared to be astounded at how Jesus knew such truths about her. As she told the other Samaritans, “He told me everything I ever did.” vs 39
Jesus stayed in town for two days talking with the Samaritans. Because of what Jesus shared with them, “Many more became believers” vs. 41.
She immediately ran off to tell others and her testimony lead to their salvation! vs. 39 “Many of the Samaritans from that town believed him because of the women’s testimony.”
This interaction by Jesus with the woman at the well of such low standing, gender, race, and marital status, shows Jesus’ love for all people.
God knows everything about us. He knows exactly what we need even before we ask it!
When we encounter JESUS, our eyes are opened to HIS GLORY.
We are then eager to tell others about the living water that only HE can offer!
KEEP SINGING:
Fill My Cup Lord
Like the woman at the well
I was seeking,
For things that could not satisfy,
And then I heard my Savior speaking,
“Draw from My well that never shall run dry”
I was seeking,
For things that could not satisfy,
And then I heard my Savior speaking,
“Draw from My well that never shall run dry”
Fill my cup, Lord,
I lift it up, Lord,
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul,
Bread of Heaven, feed me ’til I want no more,
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole.
I lift it up, Lord,
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul,
Bread of Heaven, feed me ’til I want no more,
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole.
There are millions in this world
Who are craving,
The pleasures, earthly things of gold,
But none can match the wondrous treasure,
That I find in Jesus Christ my Lord.
Who are craving,
The pleasures, earthly things of gold,
But none can match the wondrous treasure,
That I find in Jesus Christ my Lord.
Fill my cup, Lord
I lift it up, Lord
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul
Bread of Heaven, feed me ’til I want no more
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole
Here’s my cup, fill it up and make me whole
I lift it up, Lord
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul
Bread of Heaven, feed me ’til I want no more
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole
Here’s my cup, fill it up and make me whole
The story of the woman at the well is a rich example of love, truth, and redemption. And, best of all, not only does Jesus accept her, but He accepts all people. He wants all in His Holy kingdom — if only everyone believes and is obedient.
Those who are lost are distracted, confused, mis-guided, and blind to the wondrous treasure that only Jesus Christ can provide them. They seek earthly answers to their emptiness and wander down paths that will only lead to eternal destruction.
Jesus Christ is the ONLY ONE who can fill our soul with LIVING WATER.
Jesus Christ is the BREAD OF HEAVEN, and the only ONE who can show us the WAY John 6
God did not put us here on earth to be happy. We are here for one reason only, to prepare ourselves for life after death. It doesn’t really matter whether we live 50 years, or 100 years. Neither does it matter whether those years are carefree or filled with sorrow. The only consideration of lasting importance is where we spend eternity.
In John chapter 7:33
“Jesus said,
“I am with you for only a short time, and then I go to the one who sent me.
You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.”
vs. 37 On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “
If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.
Whoever believes in me,
as the Scripture has said,
streams of living water will flow within him.”
John 10:14 “I am the good shepherd I know my sheep and my sheep know me. Just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep. “
God provides everything we need and more!
May we let JESUS fill our cups to overflowing.
May we lead others to learn about the living water that only JESUS can provide for the thirsty soul.
May our cups spill over so we can bless others, for this life is not about us!
In His Holy Name,
Bruce & Paula