It was a great night as we brought our series, A Well Story to a close! We kicked off the night with some reminders about some upcoming special programs we have happening here at THP Students, then jumped straight into our lesson!
Video
Notes
This week, Taylor focused on one line from John 4: the story of Jesus and the woman at the well. After she meets Jesus, she runs into town and tells everyone, “He told me all that I ever did.” Taylor said that line confused him at first. In a small town, lots of people probably already knew about her past, so why was it such a big deal that Jesus knew?
To explain, Taylor pointed out that wells show up a lot in the Bible as the place where a man and a woman meet and a relationship begins. He compared it to a story where two strangers meet at a coffee shop, and you can already guess what kind of story it is. In Genesis, Abraham sent his servant to a well to find a wife for his son Isaac. When the woman in John 4 comes to a well and meets Jesus, we’re meant to think of those stories. Jesus even gives her the line to ask for a drink, but she doesn’t think she can. Jesus isn’t looking for romance, though. He came to bring everyone into a close, loving relationship with God. When she asks for living water, Jesus lets her know he knows everything about her past, and he still wants to give it to her.
Taylor pointed to the phrase “and yet” in Jesus’s response. Jesus knows everything about her, and yet he still loves her, still wants to forgive her, and still offers her the living water. That’s why she wasn’t embarrassed or scared. She was so excited that she ran to tell the whole town. Taylor said that seeing how powerful that “and yet” is gives us courage to be honest about the things God has forgiven us for, and to trust him when we don’t feel ready.
Discussion questions
Getting into the story
- Think of a time when someone knew something embarrassing about you and was still kind to you. How did it feel?
- In this story, Jesus asks the woman for a drink, and she doesn’t know what to say. Why do you think she was so surprised?
- Taylor said stories at wells in the Bible usually mean the start of a relationship. What kind of relationship was Jesus offering this woman?
- The woman said, “He told me all that I ever did.” Why do you think it meant so much to her that Jesus knew her whole story and still wanted to talk to her?
Digging in
- Taylor pointed out that Jesus knows everything about her, and yet he still offers her living water. Why can it be hard to believe that about ourselves?
- What do people your age worry about that makes them feel like they don’t measure up? What would “and yet” sound like if Jesus said it about those things?
- After talking to Jesus, the woman wasn’t ashamed or scared. She ran to tell everyone. Why do you think Jesus’ love changed how she felt?
- Taylor said knowing about “and yet” can help us trust God even when we don’t feel ready. Have you ever been asked to do something you didn’t feel ready for? What was it?
- Before meeting Jesus, the woman avoided people because of her past. Why do we sometimes avoid people or situations when we’re afraid of being judged?
Questions from the video
- Is there anyone it’s hard for you to offer “and yet” to? Who is it? How can you pray for them? How can others pray for you?
- Is it possible to go to church every week and still be hiding from God? What does that look like? Have you ever done it? How do you get out of it? What would you say to someone there?
For parents, if you only have five minutes in the car
- Was there ever a time you felt like you were too much of a mess for God, or for other people, to still want you around?
- Is there someone it’s hard for you to be kind to right now? How could we pray for them this week?
- Who in your life makes you feel accepted no matter what? What do they do that makes you feel that way?
