Get Your Own Bible-God's Word, Free!
Want to learn more about this source? Come to any worship service at Good Shepherd and pick up a free Bible, your own copy of God's Word!

Why is Good Shepherd giving out water bottles?
We want to show you the love of Christ through something tangible and needed, like water. We’re praying that God is at work in your life, and are excited for you to find out more about being “thirsty” (in a spiritual sense). Please check out the questions and answers below. If you have any other questions, thoughts, or prayer requests please email them to . We are looking forward to hearing from you!

Also, to find out more about the Water of Life, check out John 4:13-14 for the reason that water is important to the Christian faith!

What is the Bible (this "source")?
The Bible continues to be the best-selling book of all time. Throughout the ages, the Bible has provided inspiration, comfort, and guidance to those who have read it. But is the Bible merely an inspirational book? It is this, but so much more!

The word "Bible" is from a Greek word that means "book." What is this book? That question has a two-part answer.

First, the Bible is actually a collection of books – 66 of them to be exact – from the first book, Genesis, to the last, Revelation. These books cover thousands of years and were written in Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek. There are many different kinds of writing in the Bible: historical narrative, prophecy, poetry, speeches, letters, and so on. From a human perspective, there is no question that the Bible is a masterpiece of literature.

Second, the much more important answer to the question, "What is the Bible?" is this: The Bible is the Word of God. The Bible is the collection of the thoughts – even the very words – that God gave to the authors of the Biblical books. The Bible is a gift God has given to His church. It is not a collection of ancient fables and myths. The Bible is the sure and certain means that God the Holy Spirit uses to communicate God’s Word to us today.

Why is the Bible so important?
Someone may say, "The Bible is important to me because it tells me what to do" and another person might say, "The old stories remind me of my childhood" or "The Bible is a guidebook for daily living." These answers all have a grain of truth, but they miss the real reason why the Bible is so important: It is the sure and certain source for knowing who Jesus Christ is and what He has done for us.


Who Is Jesus?
The most influential person in history.

Jesus was fully human.
He experienced the full scope of the human condition:

• Temptation: He was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. Mark 1:13
• Learning: After three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Luke 2:46
• Sadness: Jesus wept. John 11:35
• Thirst: Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” John 19:28

Jesus is fully God.
Jesus said:

• “I am the bread of life.” John 6:35
• “I am the light of the world.” John 8:12
• “I am the way and the truth and the life.” John 14:6

He preformed many miracles:

• He walked on water and stopped storms.
• He raised the dead and healed the sick.
• He caused the blind to see and the deaf to hear.

Jesus IS love.

• For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

Jesus loves us regardless of what we do or have done. In every broken home or broken heart Jesus loves us, so much that He gave His own life for us! He loves us despite our hurtful words or actions, or anything we have or could do! These things are called sin - and in the Bible we find that the result of sin is death. However:

Jesus loves us so much He gave His life to save us - for all eternity!

• “He suffered, died, and was buried.” Apostles Creed

Because Jesus is God - He rose again!

• The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.” Matthew 28:5-6

Through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection - we are forgiven! It doesn’t matter what we’ve done or what we haven’t done - Jesus loves us no matter what, and because of His perfect life and Him giving of Himself for us, we are forgiven and FREE of all our sins!

Why is this important to me?
Life is tough. Pain, sorrow, and suffering affect everyone. Certain times in life can seem hopeless - even for Christians. We all struggle- and we will all die. So - what difference does Jesus make for me?

Jesus understands what we’re going through. He lived a human life, and He hears us when we ask for help. Through His death on the cross, Jesus took the punishment that we all deserve. He died, so you can be forgiven!

Because Jesus died for you, you can know with certainty that you are at peace with God - because your sins are forgiven! Through your relationship with God, He will guide you through the feelings of guilt, shame, grief, loss, and anything else.

Because of what Jesus did for you - your past is forgiven and forgotten, your present can be lived to the fullest, and your future in heaven is guaranteed!

That’s why Jesus is important!


How does water fit into this picture?
In this part of the Bible, Jesus is talking to a Samaritan woman (the Samaritans were hated by the Jews, and they rarely ever talked to each other). Jesus asked this woman (who was an outcast of her town), for a drink of water. Jesus, knowing her needs, pain, and anguish said to her, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

The unidentified woman at the well could have been anyone – man or woman or child, trying many ways to satisfy a human (and sinful) nature. Her name is not important here; her need is! She was a sinner because of her lifestyle. She felt inferior to Jesus and was an outcast in her community. She felt worthless, like someone who was unable to fulfill his or her calling, but Jesus didn’t label or indict her. He simply honored her as another human being and asked her for water. This Bible passage reminds us again of just how much Jesus loves everyone. As they talked, He let her know He was God in the flesh.

Jesus used the term "living water" which to the woman meant fresh running water. But Jesus took a physical concept and elevated it to a spiritual place. Although thirst is physical, there is also a thirst that is spiritual.

The prophet Isaiah knew of this thirst when he said, "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters...". (Isaiah 55:1) The psalmist, David, also knew of thirst when he wrote, "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go out and meet with God?" (Psalm 42:1-2).

In Jesus our thirst can be conquered! Thanks be to God for the many thirsty souls who have been satisfied by the "Living Water."




Portions reprinted from "What About...the Bible" with permission of the Office of the President, The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod.