Preaching John 4

The narrative of Jesus and the Samaritan woman in John 4 is rich in symbol and import. Walter J. Burghardt and Katharyn Waldron have written an enlightening guide to this passage at Pulpit.org. They begin by reviewing the significance of water---and particularly wells---in the Old Testament, and tie these images into "living water" in John 4 and 7. "Receiving this living water is not a passive experience," they note:

We do not get this living water by osmosis. Just as we must drink literal water to survive, we need also risk changing our lives by taking the initiative to be open to the Holy Spirit. The initiative to drink the living water is a grace in itself. But just as we can refuse literal water, we also have the choice not to accept the Holy Spirit.

Burghardt and Waldron offer preachers "four suggestions as starting points for preaching sermons that go beyond the obvious." It's good stuff.

Update: Here's another brief study of John 4 at To the Word.