During the weekend message, we were reminded that God is looking for followers who are desperate for Him. He is not impressed by the things that the rest of the world deems impressive. Instead, He is looking for those who are desperate to follow Him and who follow Him with their entire hearts, willing to leave everything to follow Him. After all, He is so worthy of our worship.
What things keep people from fully following Christ?
1. Read John 4:1-14. What is surprising about the woman Jesus chose to have a conversation with in this passage of Scripture?
John 4:1-14
Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John 2 (though Jesus himself didn’t baptize them—his disciples did). 3 So he left Judea and returned to Galilee. 4 He had to go through Samaria on the way. 5 Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. 7 Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” 8 He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. 9 The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?” 10 Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” 11 “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? 12 And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?” 13 Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. 14 But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
2. Read John 4:19-24. What does Jesus reveal about worship to the Samaritan woman in this passage of Scripture?
John 4:19-24
19 “Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. 20 So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?” 21 Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. 23 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. 24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”
3. Read Revelation 5:1-7. Why did John, the author of Revelation, weep over the vision that God gave Him in this passage of Scripture?
Revelation 5:1-7
Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: “Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it. 4 Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it. 5 But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.” 6 Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the sevenfold Spirit of God that is sent out into every part of the earth. 7 He stepped forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne.
4. Read Revelation 5:8-14. Why is Jesus declared to be worthy in this passage of Scripture?
Revelation 5:8-14
8 And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. 9 And they sang a new song with these words: “You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 And you have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God. And they will reign on the earth.” 11 Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. 12 And they sang in a mighty chorus: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered— to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.” 13 And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang: “Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.” 14 And the four living beings said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the Lamb.
1. Based on the Scripture we read today, what is God concerned about when it comes to our worship?
2. Is there anything holding you back from fully worshiping Christ in your life today?
3. What is the proper response to Christ’s holiness and worthiness?
Christ alone is holy and worthy of our worship, and there is a lost and dying world in need of His hope today. Who do you know who needs to know the hope of Christ? Share that person with your group. When everyone has shared pray for every person who was mentioned by name. Pray that they would come to have a growing and thriving relationship with Him. As opportunities arise, look for opportunities throughout your week to share your faith with them!
Throughout our study today, we have discovered Christ's holiness and worthiness in all our worship. There is no One greater than Him. Let’s take a few moments to turn to Scripture to dive deeper and discover three (among many) reasons why Jesus is worthy of all the honor and praise we can give Him.
From the moment that sin entered the world, humanity had a sin problem, which resulted in death and eternal separation from God. We were lost and without hope. Praise God that He did not leave us there. You see, at just the right time, He sent Jesus to literally lay down His life for us and die on the cross so that we could be rescued from sin.
1. Read 1 Peter 2:24-25.
1 Peter 2:24-25
24 He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. 25 Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.
2. Describe Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf based on this passage of Scripture.
3. What is the impact of Jesus' sacrifice according to this passage of Scripture?
4. How does this passage of Scripture speak to Jesus’ holiness and worthiness?
When Jesus died on the cross, He sacrificed His life once and for all to rescue humanity. His blood that He shed on the cross when He died satisfied the payment owed to a holy God that our sin demanded. After all, Hebrews 9:22 teaches us, “Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.”
1. Read 1 Peter 1:18-21.
1 Peter 1:18-21
18 For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. 19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. 20 God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sake. 21 Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory.
2. How does Peter describe Jesus’ blood that He sacrificed in this passage of Scripture?
3. What is the result of His shedding of blood on the cross, based on this passage of Scripture?
When Jesus died, it seemed that all hope was lost. It appeared that His ministry and mission had died, too. Jesus, however, did not stay dead. He rose from the grave three days later, proving His power over both sin and death. His resurrection changed everything.
1. Read 1 Corinthians 15:14-23.
1 Corinthians 15:14-23
14 And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. 15 And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. 16 And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. 18 In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! 19 And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world. 20 But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. 21 So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. 22 Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. 23 But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back.
2. What is the significance of Jesus' resurrection, according to this passage of Scripture?
3. What is the result of placing our faith in Jesus in light of His death and resurrection?
The good news of Jesus and what He has done must be shared. One of the ways we can share our faith is to share our two-minute stories of what Christ has done for us. These stories include what our lives were like before Christ, how we came to know Christ, and the difference Christ has made in our lives. Divide into groups of two or three and practice sharing your two-minute stories. The more you practice telling your stories of what Christ has done in your life, the more comfortable you will become sharing them. As you go throughout your week, look for opportunities to share your stories with someone who does not know Christ.
©2025 Sagebrush Church
