Our Gospel Mission starts this evening with special singers, the Knights Gospel Choir, and evangelist Mr. Noel Shields whose subject is, “Come and See a Man”. Everyone is welcome, please bring your friends and family, invite others as … “now is the accepted time, behold, now is the day of salvation.”
Date: SUN 7:00 PM 1st June 2025
Preacher: Mr. Noel Shields
Bible Reference: John 4:29-30
Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.
Summary of the Sermon (John 4:24-30)
The sermon, delivered with a focus on the Gospel of John, chapter 4, centers on the encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well, emphasizing a call to salvation through faith in Christ. The preacher begins by expressing gratitude for the opportunity to preach at the start of a gospel mission, highlighting the joy of salvation and the privilege of sharing God’s Word. The sermon draws from John 4:24-30, particularly verse 29, where the Samaritan woman, after meeting Jesus, declares, “Come, see a man who told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?” The message is structured around three main points: the call that was made, the Christ who was mentioned, and the conversion of the multitude.
1. The Call That Was Made
The preacher underscores the simplicity and urgency of the woman’s invitation: “Come, see a man.” This call is described as accessible to all, requiring no complex theology or knowledge, as it was clear even to the most ignorant in Samaria. The sermon connects this invitation to other biblical calls to come to Jesus, such as Matthew 11:28 (“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”) and Isaiah 1:18 (“Come now, and let us reason together”). The preacher emphasizes that this is not a call to a church, creed, or religious practice but a personal invitation to come to Jesus Christ, repent, and trust in Him for salvation. The urgency is highlighted by the hope that someone might be saved on the first night of the mission, drawing from the preacher’s experience of witnessing a conversion on the first day of a previous mission.
The call is also described as special because it points to an extraordinary man—Jesus Christ, the greatest man who ever lived. The sermon highlights His prominence, noting that despite having no formal education, never writing a book, or raising an army, Jesus’ influence dominates history. His birth marks the world’s chronology, His message is proclaimed globally, and millions have lived and died for Him. The preacher presents Jesus as the divine, loving, and holy Son of God, distinct from all others, including figures like Muhammad, whom the sermon contrasts as unholy and unequal to Christ.
2. The Christ Who Was Mentioned
The sermon focuses on the Samaritan woman’s confession about Jesus’ perception and person. Jesus’ omniscience is evident when He reveals her past, saying in John 4:18, “Thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband.” This revelation stuns the woman, leading her to proclaim that Jesus “told me all things that ever I did.” The preacher uses this to emphasize that Jesus knows everyone’s sins, referencing Psalm 69:5 (“O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee”) and Job 10:14 (“If I sin, then thou markest me”). No sin can be hidden from Christ, whether denied, forgotten, or concealed from others.
The woman also confesses Jesus as the promised Messiah, saying, “Is not this the Christ?” This acknowledgment of His divine identity is central to the sermon’s message. The preacher contrasts her faith with the disbelief of the religious Jews in Jesus’ time (e.g., Mark 14:61) and highlights her joy in discovering the Messiah, akin to Andrew’s declaration in John 1:41, “We have found the Messias.” The sermon urges the congregation to personally encounter Jesus as their Savior, emphasizing that He knows their hearts and sins and offers salvation to all who come to Him.
3. The Conversion of the Multitude
The sermon concludes by examining the impact of the woman’s testimony, as described in John 4:30: “Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.” Her invitation leads to a mass response, marked by three elements:
- Separation: The people of Samaria “came out of the city,” symbolizing a break from their sinful lifestyles. The preacher stresses that salvation requires repentance—a turning away from sin, as Jesus warned in Luke 13:5, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” This separation is personal and decisive, incompatible with clinging to sinful habits or self-righteousness.
- Faith: Many Samaritans believed in Jesus (John 4:39, 41), first through the woman’s testimony and then through His own words. The sermon cites the Philippian jailer’s question in Acts 16:30, “What must I do to be saved?” and the response, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Salvation is by faith alone, not works, church attendance, or personal merit, which the preacher contrasts with common misconceptions that add human effort to Christ’s finished work.
- Profession: The Samaritans publicly declared their faith, saying in John 4:42, “Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.” This profession reflects a personal conviction that Jesus is the Savior, not just for a few but for the world. The preacher encourages the congregation to make this confession, trusting Christ and experiencing His transformative love and mercy.
Closing Exhortation
The sermon closes with a heartfelt appeal to come to Jesus, echoing the woman’s invitation. The preacher emphasizes Jesus’ love and mercy, noting that He accepted the sinful Samaritan woman despite her past. The congregation is urged to repent, trust Christ, and seek salvation, with the assurance that forgiveness and eternal life are freely available. The preacher invites anyone needing guidance to speak with him or others after the service but stresses the importance of talking to God directly. The sermon ends with a prayer that the message will lead someone to see Christ by faith, be saved, and share their testimony, just as the Samaritan woman did.
Key Themes
- Salvation through Christ alone: The sermon repeatedly stresses that salvation is through faith in Jesus, not religion, works, or self-righteousness.
- Personal encounter with Jesus: The preacher highlights Jesus’ personal dealings with individuals, as seen in His interactions with Nicodemus (John 3), the impotent man (John 5), the blind man (John 9), and the woman caught in adultery (John 8).
- Urgency of repentance and faith: The call to repent and believe is urgent, with warnings of perishing in sin if one does not respond.
- Christ’s omniscience and love: Jesus knows all sins yet offers love and forgiveness to those who come to Him.
- Transformative power of the Gospel: The Samaritan woman’s changed life and testimony illustrate the life-changing impact of meeting Jesus.
The sermon is delivered with passion and a clear evangelistic focus, aiming to convict the congregation of their need for salvation and inspire them to respond to the simple yet profound call: “Come, see a man.”
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