Effective Evangelism (Lessons From John 4)

The story of Jesus' meeting with the Samaritan woman in John 4 is one of the greatest gospel stories in the Bible. It reveals how much God loves us and the lengths He would go to in order to bring us close to Him. Moreover, as someone who loves to share my Christian faith with nonbelievers, this story teaches me a great deal about evangelizing – lessons I have applied over the years and that have proven true, and I would like to share with you. So, here are some lessons for evangelism from John 4.

1. Be Led by the Spirit. John 4:1-7

Even though we have all been called to evangelize and to preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15), evangelism is far more effective when we are led by the Spirit. John 4:1-3 tells us that Jesus, because of some of the trouble He was having with the Pharisees, decided to leave Judea and go to Galilee. But verse 4 adds, "And He had to go through Samaria." If one read this verse and consulted a map of Israel at the time, one might assume that Jesus made a geographical or logistical decision, since Samaria was right between Judea and Galilee. However, viewed through a historical-cultural lens, one would realize that as a Jew, Jesus should not have been going through Samaria. The Jews wanted no dealings with the Samaritans; they considered them unclean and "less-than" (v. 9). So, the typical Jewish man, rather than travel through Samaria to reach Galilee as the map would suggest, would instead cross the Jordan River, travel north toward Galilee, bypassing Samaria, and then cross the Jordan again to enter Galilee from the east. They would go to those lengths to avoid Samaria rather than risk becoming unclean by any association with its people. So, when John writes that Jesus had to go through Samaria, he was not saying Jesus had no other geographical option; rather, he was saying Jesus was led by the Spirit to go through Samaria, because God had positioned a woman there to receive the gospel that day.

God is intentional about everyone, including those who are spiritually lost. If we pay attention to His Spirit, we will know who He has placed in our path or positioned somewhere to receive salvation. The apostles in the book of Acts were constantly seeking God on their journeys (Acts 13:4), which made their work effective and the spread of the gospel successful in their day, despite all the opposition they faced.

2. Employ Creativity as Directed by the Lord. John 4:7-15

Since every person is different, what interests them will differ, and since every situation is unique, the kinds of conversations you have with people will vary. Even so, you can use those conversations to introduce the gospel. Jesus was tired from His journey. Twelve o'clock in the afternoon in the desert is hot. He was thirsty and needed to rest, so He stopped at the well the Spirit had led Him to. Now, this was a well, and people were expected to come to draw water, but not at noon. Women did not come to draw water at that hour. Yet on this day, a woman came. (For why the Samaritan woman was there at that time, read my article on Factory Rejects.) Jesus asked her for water, but rather than simply comply, she began to question Him. Instead of taking offence, Jesus turned the moment into an opportunity for evangelism, using the circumstance of physical water to tell her about the Living Water her soul so desperately needed. He was creative, and He did not let the opportunity pass.

I have come to realize that you can turn almost any conversation into a conversation about the gospel of Christ. When you begin speaking with someone God is leading you to share the gospel with, take note of what interests that person and gradually channel the conversation toward a presentation of the gospel. It is beautiful to see how God can transform an ordinary exchange into a powerful tool for drawing someone closer to Him.

3. We Sometimes Need the Gifts of the Spirit in Operation. John 4:16-19

First Corinthians 12 lists nine gifts that the Spirit bestows upon the Church for the work of God, and some of these gifts are especially useful in evangelism. In this passage, Jesus uses the gift of the word of knowledge to reveal to the woman a sensitive matter from her past – something she was not proud of and that a stranger meeting her for the first time would not have known. Jesus did not use this knowledge to shame her. Rather, He revealed it to show her that God knew everything about her life and her past, and that even so, He loved her still.

We should understand that this was a remarkable moment. A Jewish man would not naturally be friendly with a Samaritan; Jewish men did not have casual conversations with a woman in private, without her husband or another person present. This woman was not only a Samaritan, but she was also a woman with multiple failed marriages, still living in an adulterous relationship. And Jesus was not merely a Jewish man; He was a Jewish Rabbi. Under normal circumstances, their interaction would have been entirely unthinkable. Yet she was the one God chose for salvation that day. Through the Spirit, Jesus communicated to her: Woman, God loves you despite your past, and He does not want to leave you this way. In fact, did you know that this Samaritan woman was the very first person to whom Jesus revealed Himself as the Messiah? (vv. 25-26) Of all the people God could have chosen, it was this woman – a societal reject, a self-condemned failure, a lonely soul whom no one wanted to be seen with. Through the gift of knowledge in operation, God drew this woman closer to the salvation He had prepared for her.

4. Know the God You Are Presenting. John 4:20-24

I would have said “know the Scriptures,” but as we learn later in this chapter, you do not necessarily need an extensive knowledge of Scripture to evangelize. What you do need is to know the God you are presenting to people. There are many gods people hear of today, and when you preach to them, they may question you to discern which God you are speaking of. This woman had some knowledge of Israelite history, and she struggled with the differences in worship between her people and the Jews, who believed their God was the one true God. Jesus did not get drawn into deep political or religious debate with her. He simply presented the true God, the One who is worshipped not through rituals or checklists, but in Spirit and in truth. Not every path leads to God, and not every religion leads to the Father. Jesus is the only way (John 14:6), and when evangelizing, you must be clear on this point.

5. The Natural Response to Salvation Is Evangelism. John 4:27-30

Having heard of God's love for her and encountered the Messiah, who told her everything she had ever done, this woman, filled with joy, ran into the city—the very city where she had been labelled and rejected—to tell everyone, "I have seen the Christ." Many people who encountered Jesus during His earthly ministry went and told everyone, even when He sometimes asked them to keep it quiet. As I mentioned earlier, you do not need extensive knowledge of Scripture to share your faith. Yes, knowing Scripture helps you answer questions and disciple a new convert, but it is not a prerequisite for evangelism. Evangelism is the act of sharing the good news. It is sharing your testimony about how you came to encounter the love of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

Some people say, "I just don't know what to say" or "I don't know how to start." It is not as difficult as it seems. God did not command us to share the gospel to put pressure on us; He simply wants us to tell our story. Someone asks how your weekend was? Tell them it was wonderful, that you went to church and had a great time learning about the love of God. Someone asks why you are always smiling. Tell them it is because you know that no matter what you are going through, God has you covered. I call these conversation-starters because people will often ask follow-up questions, and that is your opportunity to be creative.

This woman only went into the city to tell people what had happened to her. They did not ask her for Torah references to verify her story. They simply followed her.

6. Evangelism and Soul-Winning Are Deeply Satisfying. John 4:31-38

Recall that at the start of this chapter, Jesus was tired. His disciples had gone to find food, and Jesus had asked the woman for water. He was hungry and thirsty, yet after thirty verses of conversation, He had received neither food nor drink. She never gave Him the water He had asked for. But Jesus was full. He was joyful. He had given this woman something she could never have given Him in return. There is a deep satisfaction that comes from winning a soul to Christ. When His disciples brought food to Him, Jesus essentially said, "You know what? I'm not hungry." There is so much joy when we see people come to the Lord; no wonder there is rejoicing in heaven as well (Luke 15:7).

Two Sundays ago, my daughter and one of my converts were baptized. I cannot put into words the joy I felt that day. The blessing of evangelism is not only for the one who is saved; it is also for you, the one God used to share the gospel with them.

7. Don't Stop at Evangelism, Disciple Them. John 4:39-42

As I mentioned, you do not need extensive knowledge of the Bible to share your faith. However, you do need either to know who or where to direct new converts so they can grow in their faith, or to invest in growing your own knowledge of the Word so that you can disciple them yourself.

After sharing her testimony, the Samaritan woman led the people back to Jesus. They came and asked Him to stay longer so they could hear more from Him. Jesus stayed with them for two more days and taught them. Whatever He shared and did among them during those two days solidified their faith. They came back to the woman and said, "We believed because of what you told us – that's what brought us here; but now, having heard Him for ourselves, we are certain that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world." (v. 42). Did you catch that? The first group (aside from the woman herself) to whom God revealed Jesus as the Messiah were the Samaritans, the rejected group of Israel, the very ones whom Jewish people would avoid at all costs.

Indeed, "He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." John 1:11-12

Nourish Your Spirit