Light & Life – The Woman at the Well – January 21, 2024
Welcome, Introduction, and Opening Prayer
In this new year, we are exploring the life and ministry of Jesus according to the Gospel of John. This Gospel has been called the “Spiritual Gospel” and is vastly different than the Synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Whereas these three Gospels follow a very similar narrative, John’s Gospel diverges into a different portrayal of Jesus’ life. John is more concerned about the signs and symbols that point us to a deeper spiritual truth.
SHARE – Icebreaker – This Sunday’s story takes place at an historic site for the Jewish people, a well on their ancestor Jacob’s land. What is a famous historic site you have visited?
STUDY - Text: John 4:1-10, 16-21 (NRSV)
Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with that person.”3 Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ 8 The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?” … 16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17 “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Those who believe in him are not condemned, but those who do not believe are condemned already because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. 20 For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. 21 But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”
Most Jews in Jesus’ day would have gone out of their way to avoid going through Samaria. Why do you think Jesus chose to go right through there? Are there places in town you avoid going through? What might happen if you went there? Who might you meet?
Jesus crosses a lot of boundaries in this conversation – race, religion, gender, status. What boundaries do you see Jesus crossing in interacting with people today?
This is the longest conversation Jesus has with anyone in all the Gospels. It moves from addressing physical concerns (water) to spiritual concerns (worship). When have you seen ministries that address physical needs open up opportunities for deeper spiritual conversation?
Jesus’ awareness of her marital history doesn’t shame her or shut the conversation down but opens her up, even more, to ask the deeper questions in her heart about worship. How might Jesus’ awareness of our pasts invite us to go deeper in our relationship with him?
This woman becomes the first witness to the Messiah to a non-Jewish people. Her testimony is “come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done!” (v. 29). Why was her witness to her hometown crowd so effective? What is your testimony to Jesus? What invitation can you offer to others?
Many Samaritans came to believe in Jesus because of her testimony (v. 39). Whose witness to Jesus helped lead you to believe in him? Who has come to believe in him because of you?
SUPPORT - Blessings and Burdens: What has been life-giving for you this week? What has been life-draining for you?
Closing Prayer