Sermons

I ONCE WAS LOST: OPEN TO CHANGE
John 4:1-42
Pastor Calvary deJong
June 29, 2025

Introduction: Mercy That Opens the Heart

Have you ever been caught in the act—only to be met with mercy instead of punishment? In Les Misérables, Jean Valjean is a hardened criminal who, upon his release from prison, steals silver from a bishop who had welcomed him in. When caught and brought back by the police, the bishop does something shocking—he gives him more silver and insists it was a gift. He then tells Valjean to live an honest, good life. That act of mercy becomes the turning point in Valjean’s story. Sometimes, the thing that opens a person to transformation is not judgment—it’s grace. Not being exposed, but being seen and still loved.

Today, we’re continuing our series I Once Was Lost, based on the five spiritual thresholds people often cross on their way to Jesus. We’ve talked about trust. We’ve talked about curiosity. But today, we reach what Everts and Schaupp call the most difficult threshold of all: becoming open to change.

A Conversation That Changes Everything
1) Change Begins with Being Seen – and Still Loved (John 4:1–9)

Jesus is travelling through Samaria. He’s tired, thirsty, and sits down at Jacob’s well. That’s when a Samaritan woman shows up. She comes at noon, in the heat of the day, when no one else would, which tells us something. She’s avoiding people. She’s used to being talked about rather than being talked to. But Jesus speaks to her: “Will you give me a drink?” In one sentence, He breaks every social barrier: man speaking to woman, Jew speaking to Samaritan, clean speaking to unclean. She’s surprised. “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” But that’s how transformation begins. With someone unexpected seeing you—and choosing to stay in the conversation. Grace that doesn’t flinch.

2) Jesus Doesn’t Flinch From the Real Story (John 4:10–18)

Jesus replies: “If you knew who was asking you, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” She doesn’t quite get it, so he takes it deeper. He describes a kind of water that quenches the soul. Then He says, “Go, call your husband.” She answers, “I have no husband.” Jesus gently responds, “You’re right. You’ve had five, and the man you’re with now isn’t your husband.” He names her story. Not to shame her—but to show her He already knows, and He hasn’t turned away.

Many Western readers have assumed this woman was immoral because she had been married so many times and was living with another man. But the New Testament scholar Craig Keener suggests something more nuanced: perhaps she had been rejected or widowed, again and again. Divorce wasn’t a power women held. Maybe her story was more about grief than guilt. Either way, Jesus isn’t condemning her. He’s saying: I see you. And I have something better for you than just surviving another day.

3) Transformation Starts When We Let Jesus Rewrite the Story (John 4:19–26)

She tries to change the subject. “Sir, I can see you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim Jerusalem is the place to worship.” It’s a theological red hearing—but Jesus meets her there too. “A time is coming—and has now come—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth.” Then she says something remarkable. “I know that Messiah is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” And Jesus replies: “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”

This is the first time in John’s Gospel that Jesus openly reveals His identity as the Messiah. And He reveals it to a Samaritan woman with a complicated past. Why? Because openness to change is not about your track record. It’s about your readiness to be real with God.

4) Change Isn’t Just Personal – It’s Missional (John 4:27–42)

The disciples return, puzzled to see Jesus talking with her. But she doesn’t wait for their approval. She leaves her water jar—her original reason for coming—and runs back to her village. “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” She’s not a theologian. She hasn’t been to Bible college or seminary. But she’s met Jesus. And that’s enough. The townspeople come, and many believe. Her story becomes a spark that lights a fire of transformation in her whole community. It started with one honest conversation. And it turned into a movement.

Application: Do Our Lives Make Room for Change?

In today’s world, change is often seen as weakness. Admitting we don’t have it all together feels risky. But in the kingdom of God, openness to change is the gateway to growth. Let me ask you a few questions: have you opened yourself up to Jesus—not just to explore Him, but to let Him change you? Where is the Spirit inviting you to stop avoiding and start surrendering? Who around you might be waiting for someone to say, “Come and see”? Where am I resisting the kind of change Jesus is inviting me to embrace? And, how can our church become a place where people feel safe to be honest—and open to change?

Personal Story: The Slide

I think of taking our four-year-old son Simon to the swimming pool. He was nervous about the big slide. It looked fun—but scary. “You can do it,” I told him. But that wasn’t enough. But he wasn’t ready to go down the big slide until I plopped him on my lap and said, “Let’s do it together.” That’s what Jesus does with us. He doesn’t just point to the change we need. He says, “Let’s walk through it together.”

Gospel Invitation: Come, Be Known—and Changed

Jesus already knows your story. Every chapter. And He doesn’t shy away from the messy parts. He isn’t shocked or turned off. He offers you living water. Not shame, but a new beginning. If you’re ready to move from curiosity to transformation, say yes to Him. He’s already waiting for you at the well.

Prayer

Lord Jesus,
You see our whole story and still, you offer us grace.
You give living water to those who are thirsty, and invite us to be changed.

As we go, make us like the woman at the well—honest, open, and ready to share.
Let our lives invite others to come and see the One who knows us and loves us still.

Go with us now, by Your Spirit,
and make us wells of living water
in a dry and weary world.

Amen.

I ONCE WAS LOST: SOMEONE YOU CAN TRUST
Mark 4:26–29; Matthew 9:9–13
Pastor Calvary deJong
June 15, 2025

Introduction: A Date to Remember

Recently, while attending the Christian Medical and Dental Association (CMDA) national conference, I sat at a table with a group of doctors and medical students from across the country, and a missionary doctor who had served in Africa. Over dinner, one of our student-leaders from Saskatchewan leaned over and showed everyone at the table a necklace she had custom-made just for her. It had a date engraved on it—2019—the year she became a Christian. “That’s the day everything changed,” she said. She hadn’t grown up in church. No memories of Sunday School or family devotions. Her journey to Jesus was different. Full of questions, but deeply transformative, as she had come to the place as a young adult where she had decided that yes, she was ready to follow Jesus.

As I listened, I couldn’t help but reflect on my own story. I haven’t always been a Christian. But I came to faith as a young boy through the influence of my parents. I remember being just four or five years old, knowing I had done something wrong—breaking a toy I was supposed to share with my sister—and realizing I needed forgiveness not just for the wrong I had done, but because I had lied about it too! That’s when Jesus became real to me. And I know I’m not alone. Many in our congregation share a similar story: raised in a Christian home, deciding to follow Jesus as a child or teen. Each one of those stories is something to celebrate. But it’s not universal. Increasingly, the people around us—our neighbours—are starting from a very different place, not being raised in the Christian faith. So, how does someone go from skepticism to faith? What does the journey to faith in Jesus look like for someone coming from a different starting point?

1. The Kingdom of God Grows in Mysterious Ways - Mark 4:26–29

In one of His parables, Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to a farmer scattering seed: “Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows—though he does not know how.” That’s the point—he does not know how. The farmer plants, but the growth happens mysteriously. Quietly. Gradually. Often beyond our understanding. That’s how God works in the hearts of people.

Coming to faith is a spiritual journey, not a mechanical formula. Just as seeds need time, soil, and seasons to grow, so do people. The book I Once Was Lost: What Postmodern Skeptics Taught Us about Their Path To Jesus by Don Everts and Doug Schaupp describes five thresholds people often pass through as they move toward Christ. The very first threshold? Moving from distrust to trust. And that can take time. Not everyone is ready to believe immediately. And that’s okay. Our role is not to force growth, but to be present and patient, while sowing seeds of faith—trusting that God is already at work.

2. Jesus Practiced Trust-Building Through Relationship and Presence - Matthew 9:9–13

When Jesus called Matthew, a tax collector, He didn’t just say, “Follow me,” and move on. He went to Matthew’s house. He shared a meal with him, and with a room full of people, religious leaders avoided. The Pharisees were shocked: “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Jesus answered with His why: “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” Jesus didn’t lead with pressure. He led with presence. He didn’t wait for people to clean up before coming close. He sat with them. He listened. He loved. And through that presence, trust was built, and lives were changed.

3. Application: Becoming Someone Others Can Trust

You may not think of yourself as an evangelist. But you can be someone who reflects Jesus in a way that builds trust. That’s where faith journeys often begin. Here are three ways anyone can practice presence and become trustworthy witnesses:

• Pray – Ask God to soften your heart toward people who are far from Him. Pray for those in your life—your family, friends, and neighbours. Pray for people who don’t yet know they’re lost.

• Practice Openness – Be curious. Ask questions. Listen deeply. When someone shares a bad experience with faith, don’t argue—listen. You may be the first Christian who helps them feel safe.

• Practice Hospitality – Create space for connection. It could be sharing a drink at the garden, inviting someone for a walk, or offering a simple meal. These small acts of kindness can become sacred ground.

A few weeks ago, at my boys’ judo class, I started chatting with one of the other parents. Eventually, she asked me what I do for work. I told her I’m a pastor at First Mennonite Church. She smiled and said, “Oh, I go to that church.” I was caught off guard—she’s not in our directory, and I’ve never seen her at a Sunday service. But then she explained that when her kids were younger, she started to bring them to the City Park Toy Library, hosted right here in our building. She might not be ready for a worship service, but from her perspective, this is her church. Why? Because we opened our doors to serve our community beyond the four walls—and to plant seeds of trust, even before faith has fully formed.

Reflection & Questions

• Who are the people in your life who don’t know Jesus yet and need someone they can trust?
• Where might God be inviting you to slow down, listen, and be present?
• How can we, as a church, continue to be a community that practices hospitality and builds relationships with the community outside our church building?

Gospel Invitation: From Presence to Transformation

Jesus didn’t wait for us to get everything right. He came close. He broke bread. He died for us. And He rose to give us new life. Our calling is to reflect that kind of love—to place our trust in Jesus and be transformed by Him, so that we can become trustworthy people in a world that is often suspicious of faith. For many, the journey to Jesus begins with a single relationship with a Christian who is living a life worthy of the calling they have received—with someone they can trust.

Prayer of Response

Lord Jesus,
Thank You for coming near to us when we were far away.
Make us people of patience, compassion, and courage.
Help us plant seeds of trust.
And may our presence in others’ lives point them toward You.
Amen.