LEADER’S GUIDE

– The Me Series –
MY STORY  .  WHO AM I?  .  PERSPECTIVE  .  ADOPTED

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Student Notes

The BIG IDEA

God has given each of us a story with him that can encourage others and point them to Jesus.  

The PROBLEM
We keep our stories to ourselves so others don’t know where to find Jesus.  

Our RESPONSE
We prepare and share our story with others so that they can find life in Jesus.  

Why THIS MATTERS
Every believer’s story is a work of God’s art, so it’s important to tell that story well to show off God’s work in our lives.

I WANT MY STUDENTS TO:

• KNOW: Our story is unique, and God can use it to draw people to himself.
• EXPERIENCE: Confidence to share their story with others.
• DO: Think through, prepare, and share their story with others.

The idea box is a place where you can find some creative ideas for leading this study. You might find videos, activities, or great illustrations that really bring the main point home. The ideas come from small group leaders like you, so if you have an idea that isn’t in there, click below to share it with the community!

GET AN IDEA  I  SHARE AN IDEA

*WHAT DO YOU THINK?

If you have the capability to in your group, show one of the “I’m not famous” videos and then ask these questions:

• What drew that person to know Jesus?
• What about their story stuck with you/impacted you?

To find the videos, go to youtube.com/cruimnotfamous/videos. You might want to watch Phoebe’s story which is much like the woman at the well’s story. You can find her video quickly by googling “cruimnotfamous phoebe”.

OR

Have someone in the group prepared to share briefly how they met Jesus and the before and after change he made in his/her life. Then ask the group, “what about his/her story stuck with you/impacted you?”

Today we are going to look at a woman in the Bible who encounters Jesus, and see how her experience with him changes the whole town.

*WHAT DOES GOD SAY ABOUT THIS?

1. Read John 4:7-9.

• Why do you think the Samaritan woman was surprised by Jesus’ request for a drink?
• What kind of barriers did Jesus have to cross to pursue you?
  

Jesus initiated with this woman across gender and cultural lines. Most Jewish travelers went out of their way to go around Samaria, even though traveling through Samaria was the shorter route. There was a deep distrust and dislike between Jews and Samaritans. The Jews looked down on the Samaritans and didn’t see them as pure-bred Jews. They were lower class Jews who were left behind during the exile, and they intermarried with people of other faiths in the region. This woman went at the 6th hour, about noon, during the heat of the day to avoid others, most likely because she was a social outcast even among her own people. It was also unusual for a Jewish teacher to speak to women in public or to accept a drink from a Samaritan’s cup.

Allow the group to share personal answers to the second question.

*2. Read verses 10-26.

• Who is Jesus and what is the gift of God he is offering to the woman?
• What do you think Jesus means by “living water”?
  

Jesus is God and he has come to offer her “living water,” or eternal life. Jesus is the living water. If she knew who Jesus was, she would ask him for eternal life and he would give it to her. It’s ironic that Jesus is asking her for physical water to sustain his physical life while he offers her spiritual water to bring her eternal life.

*3. What is the woman’s response to his offer of water?

• Where is she currently trying to find life?
  

She misses what he is trying to say and wonders where and how he will get living water when he has nothing with which to get the water and the well is really deep. She wonders if by his statement he is greater than the person who gave them the well in the first place. She is still focused on the physical and wants unending physical water, so she never has to come get it ever again. She is finding life currently in relationships with men.

*4. In what people, things, or activities are you trying to find life (meaning, fulfillment, purpose) apart from God?
Allow the group to discuss.

5. Instead of trying to understand every word that Jesus says, what do you notice about who he is and how he interacts with this woman?
Allow the group to discuss. He crosses barriers of culture, religion, and gender to talk to her. He speaks with gentleness, grace, and truth. He keeps pursuing her heart deeper and deeper, revealing her need for a Savior.

6. How do you see the woman responding to his interactions with her?
At first she is surprised that he would talk to her or ask her for water. This must cause her to wonder about him, but she doesn’t resist him. She wants more of the water he is offering, though she thinks it is physical water. She begins to see him as a prophet who has supernatural knowledge when he confronts her about the men in her life. Eventually she comes to believe that Jesus is the Messiah.

*7. Read verses 28-30, 39-42.

• What is the testimony the woman shares with her town about her encounter with Christ?
• What happens as a result?
  

She says, “Come see the man who told me everything I did.” The townspeople follow her to meet him and then come to believe because of what she said and also because of their own interactions with Christ.

*8. The picture at the top of the pages is someone pointing – showing something important to a friend. How is this similar to what the woman at the well did?
She simply told her friends what she had experienced and what she knew to be true. She didn’t’ have to know everything, she just told what she did know.

*HOW DO WE APPLY THIS TO OUR LIVES?

Many people’s lives were changed because the woman at the well simply shared how Jesus impacted her life. God can use our stories, or testimonies, in the same way. Today, we are going to work on putting together our own testimonies so we can share with others how Jesus has changed our lives.

9. Cardboard Testimony:

Write your story of what your life was like before and after you met Jesus. I Am Second (www.iamsecond.org) gives the following instruction on how to write a cardboard testimony:

If all you had was a small piece of cardboard, what one word would you use for your before and after experiences with Jesus? This is your story in a few words. Try several of them, and pick the ones you like best. Boldly print the best before and after words/phrases in permanent marker on each side of a piece of cardboard and share this at the next group meeting. Or take an Instagram photo of both sides of the cardboard and post it online.

(For example, watch cardboard testimonies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mg7GTHZxxl4 and stop after 2:35.)

Leader: Next week, instead of moving on to the next study, consider going through the Testimony Worksheet on the next page. Have your students put them together, then share them with the group. 

Take a second week to walk through how to write out your three-minute personal testimony.

TESTIMONY WORKSHEET

Use this worksheet to write out your three-minute personal testimony.

Write out your testimony: Now that you have the few words or phrases of before and after from your cardboard, you want to expand on it. Use the back of this sheet to work through these steps and then share your story with a friend.

BEFORE:
Describe how your life was before you invited Christ to be your Savior and Lord. Describe how you thought about life and some areas where you had a need or struggle.

HOW:
Describe how you became a Christian. Be very specific, even how you prayed to receive Christ if you remember. It helps people understand how they can receive Christ.

AFTER:
Describe how your life is different now that you have received Christ. List three or four areas, referring back to the “before” section.

Share your story with your friends. If you want, you can have someone video your story and post it to youtube and share it on social media!

Some Tips

• • If you received Christ when you were really young and it is difficult to remember your life before Christ, identify one area where you have had a struggle and Jesus has made a difference, like family problems, a tragedy, personal issues, etc.
  • When you write your answers to these questions, write as though you were talking to a friend.
  • Avoid using religious words that most people would not understand, like “saved” and names of specific church denominations.
  • Use “for example” type of illustrations when you share. It will help others relate.
  • Make your story short, like a couple of minutes.
  • If you think your story is boring, it’s not. Identify how Christ has helped you, and tell it with excitement.

Our review cards are an excellent way to review your past lessons with your students before each study. Not every lesson has one yet but if we have them, you can find them on the PRINT page. Check them out and use them each week to help your students grab hold of the truths in these studies. 

What ideas do you have that could improve this study? Are there creative things you do to bring this topic home to your students? Please share with the community clicking the FEEDBACK button or leaving a comment below.