Ripple Effect Discussion Water for the Way 3
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Introduction:
In human terms, the ripple effect can be seen in situations where an individual's behavior or choices have a profound impact on others, who in turn affect others and so on…This can result in a cascade of consequences that reverberate through families, communities, and even entire societies.
For example, a simple act of kindness shown by one person like stopping to help change a tire, buying the food for the car behind you in the drive through or even something as simple as paying someone a compliment can inspire others to pay it forward, leading to a chain reaction of positive outcomes....
The ripple effect can also be negative, such as being when one person's harmful actions, decisions, or critical attitudes have negative consequences that impact others in a harmful way.
In any case, the ripple effect illustrates the interconnectedness of people and the potential impact that even small actions can have on the world around us.
Jesus Conversation with the Women at the well is a wonderful example of a positive ripple effect.
Read the passage of John 4:1–42 together, and start the discussion by asking for initial reactions, observations, or questions.
John 4:1-42
“1 Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John—
“1 Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John—
2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. 3 So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee.”
2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. 3 So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee.”
“4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph.”
“4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph.”
“6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.
“6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.
7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)”
7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)”
“9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)
“9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)
10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.””
10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.””
“11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water?
“11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water?
12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”
12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”
13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”
15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”
16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” 17 “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband.
16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” 17 “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband.
18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” 19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet.
18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” 19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet.
“20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
“20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.
21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.
22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.
22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.
23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.””
25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.””
“26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”
“26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”
27 Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?”
27 Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?”
28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people,
28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people,
29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?”
29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?”
30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him.”
30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him.”
“31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.”
“31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.”
32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”
32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”
33 Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?”
33 Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?”
34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.
35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.
36 Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true.
36 Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true.
38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.” 39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.”
38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.” 39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.”
“40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days.
“40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days.
41 And because of his words many more became believers.
41 And because of his words many more became believers.
42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.””
42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.””
What do you know about the relationship between the Jewish people and the Samaritans?
What do you know about the relationship between the Jewish people and the Samaritans?
Explore the historical, political, and religious context of the Jewish-Samaritan relationship. Discuss how Jesus breaks the cultural norms and expectations by engaging in a conversation with a Samaritan woman, who was considered an outsider and even an enemy. Consider how Jesus's power and authority in this story challenge the existing power structures and attitudes towards marginalized groups.
How does viewing Jesus in this story as the one with the power change or confirm your view of this story?
How does viewing Jesus in this story as the one with the power change or confirm your view of this story?
What does it communicate about Jesus that he willingly went into Samaria?
Where else have you seen Jesus break traditional geographical, political, religious, ethnic, or racial boundaries, and what does that communicate about the kingdom of God?
Discuss other examples in the Gospels where Jesus interacts with people from different backgrounds, such as the Roman centurion (Matthew 8:5-13), the Syrophoenician woman (Mark 7:24-30), or the tax collector Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10). Consider how these instances reveal the radical inclusivity of God's kingdom and challenge our own prejudices and biases.
How have our biases affected how we've viewed the woman at the well in the past?
How have our biases affected how we've viewed the woman at the well in the past?
Explore how the woman at the well has been traditionally portrayed and perceived in art, literature, and popular culture.
Discuss how our own biases and assumptions might influence our reading of the story and our attitudes towards the woman.
Does knowing that she is vulnerable, and possibly a victim of an unjust system, change your thoughts about Jesus's conversation with her?
Does knowing that she is vulnerable, and possibly a victim of an unjust system, change your thoughts about Jesus's conversation with her?
Consider how Jesus's compassion and empathy towards the woman's situation, such as her multiple marriages and current living arrangements, can challenge our judgmental attitudes and offer a model of grace and love.
What about the woman's testimony do you think caused the other Samaritans to want to follow Jesus?
What about the woman's testimony do you think caused the other Samaritans to want to follow Jesus?
Discuss the impact of the woman's testimony on the Samaritan community and their response to Jesus's message.
Consider what aspects of the woman's story might have resonated with the Samaritans, such as her personal transformation or her encounter with the Messiah. Reflect on the power of personal testimonies in sharing the Gospel and inspiring others to seek God.
What might it mean that the fields are ripe for harvest?
What might it mean that the fields are ripe for harvest?
Explore the metaphor of the harvest and its significance in the Gospel of John and other biblical passages. Discuss how the image of the ripe fields relates to Jesus's mission and message, particularly his concern for the marginalized and oppressed.
How is this idea connected with confronting injustice and going to unexpected places?
How is this idea connected with confronting injustice and going to unexpected places?
Consider how we can apply this idea to our own lives and ministry, and how we can respond to the call to go beyond our comfort zones and reach out to those who are often overlooked or excluded.