BIBLE STUDY 8PM, 13 OCT 2021
TOPIC: PERSONAL EVANGELISM
Text: John 4:43 - 54

INTRODUCTION

1. Challenges of evangelism

a. Not everyone will receive Jesus

b. Many struggle with unbelief

c. Our part is to do our best to encourage genuine faith in Jesus

d. The response is not ours to determine

2. Rejection of Jesus in Nazareth

a. Nazareth was the hometown of Jesus – He grew up there

b. Jesus being rejected in Nazareth noted in the Gospel of John (John 4:44)

c. This was recorded in more details in the Gospel of Mark (Mark 6:1 – 6)

3. Receiving Jesus

a. In Samaria (John 4:39 – 42)

b. In Galilee (John 4:45)

THE STORY OF A NOBLE MAN IN CANA OF GALILEE

1. Coming to Cana of Galilee again (John 4:46)

a. The last time Jesus was at Cana of Galilee was for a wedding (John 2)

b. He turned water into wine

c. He has returned there from Judea

2. A nobleman with a son who was critically ill (John 4:46 – 47)

a. He heard that Jesus was in Cana of Galilee

b. He went to implore Jesus to come to Capernaum to heal his son


3. The response of Jesus

“Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.” John 4:48

a. Who was this word spoken to?

i. To the noble man

ii. To those who were around “You people”

b. What did Jesus mean?

i. A candid assessment of a common problem

ii. A faith that depends on signs and wonders

iii. A gentle word of admonition

iv. The Samaritans came to faith without seeing signs and wonders!

4. The response of the noble man

“Sir, come down before my child dies!” John 4:49

a. His mind was just on his son and his desperate need to be healed!

i. Jesus must come!

ii. Otherwise, his son will die!

b. He was not thinking about what Jesus said to him

5. The word of Jesus to the Noble man

“Go your way; your son lives” John 4:50

a. Jesus was NOT going to Capernaum with him

b. He was to go back to his son

c. He must believe that what Jesus said to him would be enough “Your son lives”!

6. The response of faith (John 4:50)

a. The nobleman could have turned away disappointed with Jesus

b. He could have even been angry with Jesus for not granting his desperate request

c. But he chose to believe in the “word” that Jesus spoke to him

7. The faith of the noble man (John 4:51 – 53)

a. On his way back to his son his servant brought news that his son lives!

b. He inquired about the time that the fever left his son

c. He was told that the fever left yesterday at the seventh hour

d. He knew that it was the same time that Jesus said “Your son lives”

e. His faith is now a firm one!
“He himself believed” John 4:53

f. His whole household also came to faith too!
“And his whole household” John 4:53

i. He must have shared his faith with his household!

ii. He must have shared about what the Lord Jesus said to him!

VITAL LESSONS

1. Signs and wonders

a. We believe that God can perform signs and wonders

b. But we do not demand for them

2. Genuine faith

a. Genuine faith does not need to depend on seeing signs and wonder

b. It is possible to build a strong and firm faith without signs and wonders

3. The word of the Lord

a. It can create genuine faith

b. It can cultivate a firm and solid faith!