A New Normal – Coming Back Message

What will our new normal look like? No one knows. But like he did with the Samaritan woman, Jesus invites us to walk with him into the unknown… together. Series: A New Normal, Speaker: Pastor Don Dodge, Scripture: John 3:16-17, John 4:3-30, John 4:39-40, Psalm 139:23-24, John 4:7-8, John 4:10, John 4:26, Genesis 50:20, Video: https://www.facebook.com/avalonchurch/videos/203695394087777/, Sermon page: https://podcast.avalonchurch.org/sermons/a-new-normal-coming-back-message/, Sermon Notes: 2020-06-14_a-new-normal_sermon-notes.pdf, Discussion Questions: 2020-06-14_a-new-normal_discussion-questions.pdf, Notes: INTRO Welcome back, Avalon Church Family! …At least some of the Avalon Church-family! For those of you who are still at home, …We miss you! …We love you! And we can’t wait for you to join us soon. Like every crisis before us, God knew the Coronavirus pandemic was going to happen. Crisis is part of living in a fallen world. Me/We And I heard someone say a few weeks ago, “Never, ever waste a crisis.” Because more than any other time in our lives, It is in times of crisis, …That we are more open to a change in our perspective, …And more open to allow God to change us. That’s been true to my experience. And through this COVID crisis, It seems the Church has realized …Buildings are not a necessity, But they are a huge blessing. COVID has opened our eyes …To our being defined as a family and community, Not a Sunday service that we attend. It has helped us appreciate the importance of being a community …That GOES TOGETHER …To love and serve and meet needs in Jesus name, Sharing the life and hope and dignity Jesus offers. …A family that GROWS TOGETHER, Strengthening each other’s faith, And caring for one another. COVID has reminded us, …That when we keep our light in the building, no one can see it. So once again, A crisis offers us a new beginning. Our lives have changed. The way we work, and shop, and go to school has changed. And the way we worship has changed. The future is unknown. But it will be different… better. Because one thing we do know, We can’t do this alone. We need God. And when we recognize our need for God, It’s the beginning of something brand new. God I want to tell you a story that many of you are familiar with. It’s in the Gospel of John, chapter 4. It’s a long story, so I have to skip some of the details. But I think it will help bring some perspective to where we are today. Because John wrote his Gospel, His version of Jesus’ story, With you in mind. Jesus was the Jewish Messiah And John wanted to make sure you knew Jesus came for Everyone! And today’s story comes right after some of the most recognized words in the whole Bible, 16 For God so loved the WORLD that he gave his one and only Son, that WHOEVER believes in him shall not perish but have eternal LIFE. –Jn 3:16-17 (NIV) Today’s story is about the “Whoever.” Those willing to be open to something new. Willing to be humble, and admit they don’t know everything. Today’s story is about accepting God’s offer of life Through Jesus, … God becoming a man. Samaritan Woman The story begins… So Jesus left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. Now he had to go through Samaria. –Jn 4:3-4 (NIV) Jesus and his disciples were around Jerusalem in the south And were walking home to the north. There were 2 ways to go. …The quick way was straight through a region known as Samaria. The long way avoided Samaria and went up the Jordan River. Very few Jewish people went the short way, Because Jews despised Samaritans. They considered them half-breeds. Half Jewish, Half Gentile. Diluting the Jewish faith with that of other religions. Over the centuries, the Jewish people oppressed the Samaritans, …Robbed them of dignity, …and even burned down their temple. Hostility always boiled just below the surface. Guess which route Jesus chose to travel? Yep! Right through Samaria. John tells us 5 [Jesus] came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. –Jn 4:5-6 (NIV) Jacob was the grandson of Abraham, The famous Abraham… the Father of the Jews. …and also, the Father o...