Conversations with Jesus Week 4

Small Group Discussion Guide: Conversations With Jesus – Woman at the Well (Week 4)

Objective: To facilitate a deeper understanding of Jesus' interaction with the Samaritan woman and encourage transformative personal reflection and group sharing.

Part 1: Historical Context
Discussion Starter: Begin by discussing the societal status of women during the time of Jesus. What were the challenges they faced?
 Key Points to Discuss:
    - Women had no rights and were considered property.
    - Their testimonies were not recognized legally.
    - Typically married young and had limited autonomy.

Reflection Question: How might understanding the historical context influence our interpretation of the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman?

Part 2: Jesus' Interaction with the Samaritan Woman
Scripture Reading: John 4:5-26
Discussion Questions:
  1. What surprises you about Jesus’ approach to the Samaritan woman?
  2. How does this interaction challenge cultural norms of that time?

Key Themes to Discuss:
  - Jesus isn’t shocked by our sins.
  - He is the savior for everyone, regardless of social or cultural status.
  - Change can happen fast when encountering Jesus.
  - Jesus' focus is on the future, not our past.

Reflection Activity: Consider how Jesus invites the woman into a relationship, transforms her view of herself, and sends her out to share her story. How can we apply this model in our relationships today?

Part 3: Personal Transformation and Sharing
Scripture Reading: John 7:37-39; Matthew 11:28
Discussion Questions:
  1. What does “living water” mean to you in the context of your spiritual journey?
  2. How does Jesus’ promise in Matthew 11:28 offer comfort in our daily struggles?

Personal Reflection: Share a time when you felt transformed or renewed by an encounter with Jesus.

Group Activity: Break into pairs to discuss how you can invite others into a transformative relationship with Jesus, just as He did with the Samaritan woman.

Part 4: Practical Application
Discussion Questions:
  1. How can we turn from viewing ourselves through our past mistakes to seeing ourselves as Jesus sees us?
  2. In what ways can our group support each other in sharing personal stories of transformation and faith?

Action Steps: Commit to one way you can show Jesus’ love and inclusivity to someone in your community this week. Share commitments with the group for accountability.

Closing
Prayer Focus: Spend time praying for each other’s personal transformation and boldness in sharing Jesus' message of love and acceptance.

Encouragement: Remind the group that, like the Samaritan woman, their stories have the power to impact others when shared authentically.