John 4:1-38
“…Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’ …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?’” John 4:6-9 (p. 811)
- We Empower The Vulnerable.
Series Memory Verse: “You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.” Luke 6:36 (p. 786)
- Identify and engage.
“Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. 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.’ ‘Please, sir,’ the woman said, ‘give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.’” John 4:13-15 (p. 812)
“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’” Matthew 25:40 (p. 756)
- Share and include.
“The woman said, ‘I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.’ Then Jesus told her, ‘I am the Messiah!’” John 4:25-26 (p. 812)
“And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ.” Philemon 1:6 (p. 919)
- Mobilize and encourage.
“The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, ‘Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?’ So the people came streaming from the village to see him.” John 4:28-30 (p. 812)
“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.” Hebrews 10:24 (p. 926)
My Next Step This Week:
_____ I will identify someone in my sphere of influence and take conscious actions to make them feel known, noticed, and loved.
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION
One Thing: We Empower The Vulnerable.
Key Verse: “You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.” Luke 6:36
Bible References: John 4:1-38
CONVERSATION STARTER
// Have you ever struck up a conversation with a stranger or helped one? What were the circumstances and outcome of the conversion?
// How does it feel to get to know someone new? Is it difficult to help someone you don’t know?
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
If you remember from the parable of the Good Samaritan at the start of this series, Jews and Samaritans hated each other. Because of their hatred for one another, Jews would travel from Judea to Galilee, the Jews typically took one of two routes: Go west and merge with the King’s Highway along the Mediterranean Sea or head east out of Jerusalem, catch the Jordan River and head north to the Sea of Galilee. Both routes allowed the traveler to bypass Samaria.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
// Read John 4:6-9 (p.811-2). This passage sets the scene for the interaction between Jesus and the woman.
- Why is it important that Jesus speaks to this woman?
- Are you surprised at the reaction of the woman? Why?
// John 4:13-15 (p.812).
- Why do you think the woman focused on the fact she would not have to come and get water from the well again?
- What does Jesus mean when He talks about living water?
// Read Luke 19:10 (p.801).
- What does this verse teach us about Jesus’ mission?
- How does this apply to us as followers of Jesus?
// Read John 4:25-26 (p.812) Jesus declares Himself to be the Messiah.
- Why do you think Jesus made this declaration to the woman?
- How did this show her dignity?
// Read John 4:28-30 (p.812). We see the result of Jesus showing compassion to the woman, she immediately tells
others and they come to find out who this Messiah is she is talking about.
- When you became a follower of Jesus did you want to tell others about Jesus?
- In your experience, how has Jesus with others felt? Has it been difficult?
NEXT STEP
___ I will identify someone in my sphere of influence and take conscious actions to make them feel known, noticed, and loved.
DIGGING DEEPER
Spending time with someone who is on their own or is in difficult circumstances can be a comfort to them. In the New Testament, there a several stories of people whom Jesus has compassion for and healed. Read the following passages and see what they all have in common. Remember that the law forbade touching someone who was ill.
Matthew 8:1-4 (p738), Mark 5:35-48 (p765), Mark 7:31-37 (p768), Luke 13:10-16 (p 796), John 9:6-7 (p818)