Newburg Christian Church

11-02-2008 Sermon

Catalytic Conversations

John 4:7-14, 21-29

Have you ever read or heard something and thought to yourself, “what a great idea, I wish I’d thought of that.” It happens to me from time to time especially when I run across a good idea that can help grow the kingdom of God. Well, it happened this week. I was online and landed on a website called “transformedlives.com.” This is the web address of Rancho Bernado Community Presbyterian Church in San Diego, CA. I wanted to read about the church because of something I read about its pastor, Bruce Humphrey.

Now from time to time I have asked you on Sunday mornings, at board meetings, at Bible studies, and at other meetings to tell me Newburg’s purpose. I’ll say, “What’s our purpose?” Then some of you nervously begin to put the words together or pull out one of our bookmarks or bulletins where you know it’s printed. Pastor Humphrey’s church has a purpose too, “We believe encounters with Jesus transform lives.” I really like that, but that’s not what got my attention. According to the book I was reading, at every meeting of the church he asks this question, “Tell me about one life that has been changed this week because of our ministry.”

Do you hear the power behind that request? He’s not asking people to repeat the purpose of the church; he’s asking them to tell him where they have seen a life changed because the church is living out its purpose. At that church the priority is changed lives. This is a mainline church that gets it. They know the bottom line of the Good News is that Jesus changes lives. It’s who they are and what they do.

This past week it happened during while our Dare to Care food distribution center was open. A young man came in needing food. He told us he had been laid off from his job that morning. His eyes told us how upset he was, that he didn’t know how he was going to provide for his family. After hearing his story Tiffany Looney spoke up. She told him of a job he could do for two-weeks to help him until he found new work. She called someone, and put them on the line with this young man. A few minutes later he had a temporary job paying $15 an hour. He left with a new attitude, he left with hope in his eyes instead of tears, and he left a changed man because someone listened, someone saw the opportunity to help, and took action. He was given new hope through the ministries of this church.

Jesus certainly changed the life of the woman he encountered at the well on a hot dry day in the town of Sychar in Samaria. His disciples were off doing other things when a Samaritan woman came to the well at noon to draw water. Jesus begins with some small talk by asking her to give him a drink of the water she was drawing. It was a very innocent request that broke down invisible barriers society and culture had placed between them. Men and women who were not married did not speak to each other in public and Jews did not interact with Samaritans. Once these barriers were breached the conversation really began.

When they eventually finished talking the woman ran through the town telling people she believed “this man” was the Messiah. She was so excited as she left the well that she forgot her water jug, which was her original purpose for coming to the well. But now she had a new purpose…Jesus had changed her life. This woman had been living life away from others, now she was intentionally seeking to find people. She wanted to tell everyone about “this man.”

Let me ask you, what did Jesus actually do for her? He did some pretty amazing things throughout the gospels. He healed the sick, restored the lame, gave sight to the blind, and raised the dead. But what did he do for this woman? All he did was talk with her. He had a conversation that reached across cultural barriers. By doing this simple thing the woman’s life was transformed.

This is the power of a simple conversation. There were no healings, no miracles, and no supernatural events. It was the power of conversation. It was the power of a conversation I had with my pastor Jim Sutherlin that began my transformation from a newsroom manager to a pastor. It was the power of conversation that brought many of you here for the first time and has kept you here. It is the power of conversation that can open doors into people’s lives that need to hear the Good News of Jesus. It is the power of conversation that gives you the opportunity to introduce new people to a real church family.

Conversations can be catalysts that help people take the first steps toward transformation. Catalytic conversations move people from a life without faith to a life fulfilled by Jesus. Catalytic conversations are not filled with theology and law; they are simple conversations that say you care. They are conversations where the key element is the time you take to listen.

In the book we’re reading together as a church, “Unbinding Your Heart,” Martha Grace Reese talks about some of her research on what brings people to church and what makes them stay. What do you think brings people to church the first time? Great sermons, advertising, a beautiful building? Nope. It’s you. Almost 60-percent of people who join a church came because someone invited them. 60-percent! People come to church because someone asks them to come.

And what makes them come back? What makes them want to come again? Surely it’s my preaching. Maybe it’s Martha’s music. Or maybe it’s the great childrens ministry we’re building. No. It’s none of that. It’s you. The number one reason people say they come back to a church the second and third times is because they received a warm welcome from the people. People in the church paid attention to them and worked to remember their names and the names of their children. The other things were important, but the main thing was you. Visitors and new people can tell if a congregation really cares about them.

Do you think this was the miraculous thing Jesus did for the woman at the well? Just conversation? Just caring? Yes, God’s power can make genuine conversation transform into a life-changing experience. It may not happen at the moment you talk with someone, but it could well be the starting point of someone’s walk with Jesus.

People have come to Newburg because they were invited to come. Yes, some of you grew up in this church, but a large number of you were invited to come by someone who was already here. This morning you were given a Newburg business card…at the top it reads, “You are always welcome at Newburg Christian Church.” You know people who need Jesus and this church in their lives. You know someone who needs a changed life.

Now we could run a big ad in the newspaper and maybe attract a few visitors, but that wouldn’t be nearly as effective as you giving that card to someone. Give it to someone and invite them to church. Give it to someone and invite them to the Harmonics concert on the 23rd. When you’ve had a conversation with someone, just give it to them. This little card and a little conversation is your ticket to changing someone’s life.

After Jesus talked with the Samaritan woman he preached to his disciples. He said, “Look around you! People are so ready for the gospel! All you have to do is bring it to them!” Look around your own life. Who are you going to invite to church next Sunday? Who are you going to invite to the concert? Who will you invite to church this Christmas?

This week, talk to someone you’ve never talked to before. Or, talk to someone you know well, but this time talk about your faith. You may start a conversation that will change someone’s life.

(Adapted from Dawn Darwin Weaks)

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