Leader Guide

Bible Activity

In today’s Bible study, we are going to look up and discuss a Bible story of a woman who encountered Jesus and then could not help but tell others about Him. What do we call sharing what we know about Jesus? Witnessing!           

    

Make sure each child has a Bible or access to the Superbook Bible App. Try to pair an experienced Bible user with a child who isn’t as familiar with the Bible.

Have the children look up one Bible Passage at a time, provide assistance as needed. Read the verse aloud or divide the verses between children to read if time permits.

Note that the suggested answers are from the New Living Translation. If children are using different translations, their answers will vary.

 

Jesus speaks to a Samaritan woman: John 4:27–30, 39–42.

Introduction: Jesus is traveling with His disciples and stops at a well. His disciples go to get food in  the village and Jesus begins to talk with a Samaritan woman who is drawing water from the well. This is important because the Jewish people and the Samaritans were enemies and did not like each other. Jesus came to unite all people and tear down walls of prejudice and hatred. In their conversation, Jesus revealed many events in her life to that point. 

 

²⁷Just then His disciples came back. They were shocked to find Him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, “What do You want with her?” or “Why are you talking to her?” ²⁸The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, ²⁹“Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could He possibly be the Messiah?” ³⁰So the people came streaming from the village to see Him.

³⁹Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, “He told me everything I ever did!” ⁴⁰When they came out to see Him, they begged Him to stay in their village. So, He stayed for two days, ⁴¹long enough for many more to hear His message and believe. ⁴²Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard Him ourselves. Now we know that He is indeed the Savior of the world.”

 

·      In verse 27, the disciples returned and were shocked at what Jesus was doing. What can we learn about witnessing from Jesus’ example compared with His disciples’ reaction? The disciples didn’t understand why Jesus, being a Jew, would spend time with a Samaritan woman. They didn’t see the importance of everyone coming to know Jesus, regardless of who they were or where they came from.    

Witnessing is for everyone, and God doesn’t show favoritism. The people we think are least likely to receive the Good News or least deserving in our eyes are very important to Jesus. We must make witnessing a priority and seize the opportunity to tell others about Him instead of thinking of ourselves first.

 

·      In verse 28, how meaningful was it to the woman that Jesus took the time to talk with her and that He knew all about her? She was amazed and dropped what she was doing. Nothing else mattered at that moment.

 

·      In verse 29, what did the interaction with Jesus cause her to do? She couldn’t keep it to herself, she had to tell others.  

 

·      In verse 30, did the people from her village ignore her? No, they had to come see Jesus for themselves.

 

·      In verses 39–42, what happened as a result of the Samaritan woman’s witness? Because of her witness many believed, and they came out to see Jesus and begged Him to stay. They believed He is the Savior of the world after spending time with Him.  

 

Consider this for a moment, Jesus was near the village, yet others didn’t know He was there. They may have never met or listened to Him if it weren’t for the woman’s witness about Him.

 

·      What does this say to you about the importance of witnessing? One person can make a big difference. The woman’s witness brought many others to Jesus. It is important to be willing to share your faith with those around you when given the opportunity. When we hear someone we know share something, we are more likely to believe it.  

 

Conclusion: If Jesus had viewed the Samaritan people as His disciples did, so many would have missed out knowing Him as Savior! Let’s close in prayer: Dear God, open our eyes and hearts to see the great number of people who need to hear the Good News of Jesus—no matter who they are!