06. Too New, The Samaritan Woman Reached Her Town
Who Are You Preventing From Leading? · Part 06
John 4:28-30, 39-42
She had only just encountered Jesus.
She had not completed a discipleship course.
She had no theological degree, ministry title, or years of experience.
She still had unanswered questions and an unfinished story.
Yet she left her water pot, returned to her city, and said:
“Come, see a man who told me everything that I did. Can this be the Christ?” John 4:29 WEB
She did not try to explain everything about Jesus. She simply told others what she had experienced and invited them to meet Him for themselves.
And they came.
The people of her town initially believed because of her testimony. After encountering Jesus personally, they declared:
“Now we believe, not because of your speaking; for we have heard for ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.” John 4:42 WEB
One new believer helped open an entire community to Jesus.
When Preparation Becomes a Barrier
We often assume new believers must wait before they can be useful.
They need more knowledge.
They need to overcome their past.
They need to learn the right language.
They need to prove themselves.
Preparation is valuable, but Jesus did not tell the Samaritan woman to remain silent until she understood everything.
Her testimony was already enough to begin.
“Come and see” may be one of the most powerful invitations a new believer can offer.
New Believers Have Relationships We May Never Reach
When people first encounter Jesus, they are usually still closely connected to those who do not know Him.
They have family members, friends, neighbors, and coworkers who know their story. These relationships are not obstacles to discipleship. They are opportunities for multiplication.
But the longer new believers remain surrounded only by Christians, the more those natural relationships may weaken.
That is why we must help people share Jesus immediately.
Not because they know everything, but because they know Someone.
Discipleship Should Produce Witnesses
Our responsibility is not to silence new believers until we consider them qualified. It is to help them tell their story simply and faithfully:
- What was my life like before encountering Jesus?
- How did I encounter Him?
- What is He changing in me?
- Who can I invite to discover Him with me?
The Samaritan woman did not wait until she became an expert.
She shared what she knew.
She invited others.
Jesus did the transforming.
The Challenge
Are we training new believers to obey Jesus, or teaching them to depend upon experienced Christians to do everything for them?
Are we protecting them from mistakes, or preventing their witness from multiplying?
Do not underestimate what Jesus can do through someone who has only recently met Him.
A new believer may not know everything about Jesus.
But they may already know enough to bring an entire town to Him.
Do not tell them they are too new. Help them share immediately.
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