Breaking Ground
What was your favorite hangout spot growing up? Why?
The Dig
This Sunday, we continued our series Jesus the Christ by exploring Jesus’ conversation with a Samaritan woman.
Begin by reading Luke John 4:1-42. In this story, Jesus approaches a Samaritan woman (a despised enemy in the minds of most Israelites) & engages in a conversation with her in front of this well. Interestingly, this well is famous in the Hebrew Scriptures as a place where soon-to-be married couples meet for the first time. More so, in approaching this woman, Jesus breaches several cultural taboos of his day; including approaching & speaking to an unaccompanied woman he didn’t know, engaging with & helping a Samaritan in general, & more. On top of this, it’s also revealed that she is a social outcast due to her perceived immorality.
With this in mind, consider the back-&-forth between Jesus & this Samaritan woman.
Why do you think Jesus chooses to engage with this outsider? What does this reveal about him & his mission?
How does this Samaritan woman respond to Jesus initiating a conversation with her? What does that reveal about her initial posture towards him?
How does Jesus guide the conversation as it progresses? What stands out to you about what he says?
How do the disciples respond to this interaction? How is this different from the Samaritan woman’s response to Jesus? What do you think accounts for this difference?
Close by reflecting on how this story might speak to us today.
Where do we identify with the Samaritan woman? That is, where do we feel like an outsider & how might Jesus’ opennesses in this story transform how we feel in that part of our lives?
Consider where you might identify with the disciples. Who is our “Samaritan”? How might Jesus’ conversation in this story speak to how we engage with such people?
How does the fruit of this interaction inform how we treat people & engage them with the story of Christ during this season?
Getting Out of the Hole
In this series, take time each week to reflect upon the story from the story & how you can find yourself within it during this season of your life.
- Read John 4:1-42. First, break this story down into pieces. What is Jesus doing in this story? How are people responding to him? What changes by the end of the story?
- Next, close your eyes & reflect upon the story. Imagine yourself in it. Put yourself into the space of the various characters & imagine what it would be like to encounter Jesus in the story.
- What images, teachings, or ideas speak to you the most in this story? What intrigues or confuses you? What feelings arose as you thought about being in the story? How can this story impact your life & your relationship with Jesus in this next season?
Journal, reflect, & pray on how God might be speaking to you through each week’s teaching. Share your experience with your growth group next week!
Additional Resources*
TheBibleProject.com
Simply Jesus by NT Wright
The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning
Coming Up This Week:*
Sunday, November 17th: Join us next Sunday as we continue our series Jesus the Christ!
* Please see mye3.org for details.