Daniel Partner

“God’s Search for Sinners

Tax collectors and sinners gathered to hear Jesus. Pharisees and other religious people grumbled: “Jesus welcomes sinners and even eats with them.”
So Jesus told them this story: “Suppose you have a hundred sheep and lose one. Don’t you leave the ninety-nine to search for the lost sheep? When you find it you return with joy. You say to your friends, ‘Rejoice with me! I’ve found my lost sheep.’ So listen to me. There’s great joy in heaven when one sinner turns away from sin. Much more than ninety-nine lawkeepers like you.”
― Daniel Partner, 365 Read-Aloud Bedtime Bible Stories

“The Woman at Jacob’s Well

Jesus traveled from Judea to Samaria. About noontime, Jesus rested by Jacob’s well, and His followers went to buy food.
A woman came to the well to draw water. “Give me a drink,” Jesus said.
“You’re a Jew,” she said. “I’m a Samaritan. Jews don’t share with Samaritans.”
“You don’t know who’s asking you for a drink. If you did, you’d ask me for a drink. Then I’d give you living water.”
“You don’t have a bucket, sir. How will you get that living water?”
“Whoever drinks water from this well,” Jesus said, “will get thirsty again. But when I give you water the well is inside of you. It bubbles up to give you eternal life.”
“Sir,” the woman said, “please give me this water. Then I’ll never thirst again. I won’t have to come to this well.”
“Go get your husband, and come back.”

The Samaritan woman said, “I see you’re a prophet. Tell me, which is right, to worship at this mountain or at Jerusalem?”
“Believe me,” Jesus answered. “The time has come when you won’t worship the Father in either place. The real worshipers worship the Father in spirit and in truth. God is seeking people who will worship him this way. You see, God is Spirit. So the people who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Then the woman said, “I know Christ is coming. When he does he’ll teach us everything.”
“I’m speaking to you. I’m Christ.”
Just then Jesus’ followers came back with the food. They were surprised that Jesus was talking with this Samaritan woman. She left her water jug at the well and hurried back to town. “Come and see a man who told me everything I’ve ever done! Could he be Christ?”
Many people in that town believed in Jesus because of the woman. Jesus stayed there two days. Many more believed because they heard his words.”
― Daniel Partner, 365 Read-Aloud Bedtime Bible Stories