The Woman of Samaria at the well.

Read John 4:1–30 “1 Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were), 3 He left Judea and went away again into Galilee. 4 And He had to pass through Samaria. 5 So He came to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph; 6 and Jacob’s well was there. So Jesus, being wearied from His journey, was sitting thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. 7 There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” 8 For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. 9 Therefore the Samaritan woman said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have g…”

INTRODUCTION (Choose three children and/or adult volunteers. Give each a sign with a name of a different nearby town on it. Have two children stand on either side of the room with the third child between them.) Each of these signs represents a town near us. (Call a fourth child to come to the front.) I would like you to stand by (name of first town). Now show us the fastest way to get from there to (name of third town). Now show us a way to get to (third town) while staying far away from (second town). (Encourage fourth child to walk around the room detouring around a few obstacles. Have helpers sit down.) Why would anyone want to go the long way instead of the short way? (Allow response.)

PROGRESSION OF EVENTS Slide 1 The Bible tells us about a place the Jewish people (Israelites) would not go near. This place was called Samaria. The Jewish people often would not go through Samaria to get anywhere because they hated the Samaritans (the people who lived in Samaria) and would do anything to avoid them. Jews would never talk to a Samaritan. There were many reasons why the Jews hated the Samaritans. The Samaritans didn’t like the Jews either. One reason they didn’t like each other is because they did not believe the same things about God. The Jews and Samaritans would fight over who believed the right things about God.

Slide 2 If a Jewish person passed a Samaritan on the road, he would even walk in the ditch so their shadows wouldn’t touch. And even though going through Samaria was the fastest way to many places, the Jewish people would take a different road. Sometimes they would go all the way over by the Jordan River or all the way over by the Mediterranean Sea.

Slide 3 One day Jesus and His disciples needed to make a trip. The shortest route would take them right through Samaria. Which way do you think Jesus went? (Allow response.) The Bible says, (read John 4:3-4). Jesus walked right through Samaria! Why would He do that? Because Jesus loves all people!

Slide 4 Say with me, “Jesus loves everyone!” (Say with children.) He even loves those no one else does. SAVED CHILD TEACHING Did you know that if you have believed on Jesus, He wants you to love everyone? You are commanded to love each other, even the people you don’t like, because they are created by God just like you are. Our memory verse says, (quote Ephesians 4:32 with children). You can be kind and forgiving because Jesus is kind and forgiving to you. Without saying a name out loud, think of someone who is hard for you to love. Maybe it’s someone most other people don’t like. Maybe it’s someone who is mean to you. It can be very hard to love people who are mean or who others do not like, but because you have God the Holy Spirit living in you, He will help you love them. If you have believed on Jesus, ask the Holy Spirit to help you love people who are hard to love. He will give you love for them and the courage and ability to treat them right even when others don’t. Sometimes showing love to a person who is hurting you means you need to tell someone you trust that you are being hurt. This shows love because it can help that person learn the right way to treat others and can stop that person from hurting more people. God will help you know who to tell. He can even help you forgive them. God can help you show love to everyone, even those who are hard to love. Slide 5 Jesus loves everyone. He loved the Samaritans and so He chose to walk through Samaria. He and His disciples had been walking all day. Stand up and walk in place while I count to ten then pretend to be really tired. (Do with children.) It was a tiring journey. They came to a town with a well where the people got their water. His disciples went into town to buy some food and Jesus sat down to rest. Why would Jesus need to stop and rest if He is God? Jesus is fully God but because He was also fully man, He needed to rest and eat when He was on Earth. He got tired and hungry just like you do.

Slide 6 Shortly after Jesus sat down to rest, He saw a Samaritan woman carrying a large jar. She ignored Jesus and prepared to fill the jar with water. Jesus asked her, “Will you give Me a drink?” Jesus was talking to a Samaritan! Why do you think He was talking to her? How do you think the woman felt about a Jewish man talking to her? (Allow responses.) The Jewish people hated her. Even her own people were not friends with her. She was coming to the well in the middle of the day when it was hot and the other women would not be there. But Jesus was different. He is the perfect Son of God. He cared about this woman even though she was a Samaritan. GOD'S PERSON AND HIS LOVE FOR THE CHILD Jesus cares for every person. Jesus is God and He created and loves everyone. He knows and loves you. (Read 1 John 4:19.) Long before you even had heard about God, He knew you and loved you.

Slide 7 Say with me, “Jesus loves everyone!” (Say with children.) He knows everything about you—where you live, what your favorite food is, and your favorite things to do. He even knows what you will be when you grow up! Jesus is God. He is good and holy. This means everything He does is right and perfect. He cares for you and He cares for those who other people do not love. Slide 8 Jesus cared about this woman even though she was a Samaritan and others did not like her. Jesus asked her for a drink. She was surprised He would speak to her. She knew how the Jewish people felt about Samaritans.

Slide 9 After Jesus had asked for a drink, He talked with her. He even told her He was the one God sent to save the people from their sins! But she didn’t understand what He was saying. Jesus did not give up on her. Instead, He told her, “Go call your husband and come back.” The woman answered, “I have no husband.” Her answer didn’t surprise Jesus. He knew all about the woman’s life because He is God. “That’s true,” Jesus said. “You have had five husbands and the man you’re living with now is not your husband.” When Jesus told the woman about herself, He showed that He is God. There is a big word we can use about God. That word is omniscient. This word means “all knowing.” Jesus knew everything about her, even the bad things, and He still loved her. THE CHILD'S PROBLEM - HIS CONDITION BEFORE GOD AS A SINNER God knows everything about you too. He knows when you are happy and when you are sad. He knows when you obey your parents, are kind to others, and tell the truth. God also knows when you sin, even when no one else knows. To sin is to do, say, or think things that are against what God says is right. He knows when you lie and hurt others. When you do not love people, that is sin. You and I were born with sin. (Read Romans 3:10.) Righteous means “does right all the time.” No one does right all the time except God. Even though He loves you and me, the Bible says God hates sin. God takes sin very seriously because He is holy. The punishment for sin is separation from God now and forever, which is the worst thing ever. He knows all about you and your sin but He loves you anyway. Jesus knows everything about you. Jesus knew everything about the Samaritan woman. Wouldn’t you be surprised if someone you didn’t know began telling you all about yourself? This woman was surprised too! She thought Jesus must be a prophet—one who spoke for God—since He knew all about her. She said to Him, “I know the Messiah is coming. When He comes, He will tell us all things.” The Messiah was the promised Savior. Jesus is the Messiah. He came to save the world from the punishment of sin. Jesus said to her, (read John 4:26). Jesus told the woman He is the Messiah. He is the one who came into the world to save everyone who would believe on Him from the punishment sin brings. GOD'S SOLUTION - FORGIVENESS OF SIN THROUGH JESUS CHRIST God sent Jesus, His only Son, to save you! Jesus knows and loves you.

Slide 10 Say with me, “Jesus loves everyone!” (Say with children.) Jesus lived perfectly. He never sinned. He did not deserve to die but He willingly took your punishment because of His love for you. (Read Revelation 1:5b.) On the cross when the nails were put into His hands and feet, Jesus’ blood flowed out and He died. Jesus bled and died so you could be forgiven for all the wrong things you have done and be close to God. He did not stay dead though! He came alive again so all who believe on Him will be saved from the punishment of sin. He is alive in Heaven today ruling over all things. He is the Messiah! Slide 11 Jesus told the woman He is the Messiah, the one who would save the world from the punishment sin brings. Jesus’ words must have shocked the woman. She wondered, Could this man really be the Messiah?

CLIMAX Slide 12 She ran back to the city and told everyone she met, “Come see a man who told me everything I’ve done! Could He be the Messiah?”

CONCLUSION Slide 13 The people hurried to see Jesus. They were surprised at the woman’s words and wanted to see if Jesus truly was the promised Savior they had been waiting for. Many of the Samaritans believed on Jesus because of what the woman had said and because they heard Him for themselves. They believed on Jesus as their Savior. INVITATION TO TRUST CHRIST AS SAVIOR Have you believed on Jesus as your Savior? He loves you and cares for you no matter what sinful things you have done. Jesus knows all about you and loves you so much that He died for you. The Bible says, (read Acts 16:31). To believe means to trust that Jesus died on the cross and came alive again so you could be saved from the punishment of sin and have a friendship with God that lasts forever. When you are saved, God the Holy Spirit helps you live for God as He created you to do. Will you agree with God about your sin and believe on Him? Please bow your head and close your eyes. If you are ready to believe on Jesus as your Savior today, will you show me by looking up at me? (Acknowledge responses.) Everyone can open their eyes now. If you looked up at me and want to talk to me about believing on Jesus, please meet me (designate time and location) and I can show you more about what that means from the Bible.