THIS WEEK’S PASSAGE: JOHN 4:1-44
PREPARATION: Read John 4:1-44. Perhaps you could use the imagine exercise to help you understand what you will be asking of the young people, and to encounter Jesus yourself before the session. Prepare a way to show the YouTube video. Have some pens, colouring pencils and paper ready.
WOMAN AT THE WELL
5 mins
Watch the spoken word adaptation of the woman at the well from the link section.
DISCUSSION
10 mins
Following on from the video, as a group discuss the following questions as a response to what they have just seen.
• Who are those in society that we might pass judgemental glances towards?
• Have you ever felt like the woman at the well? When? Why?
• What should our response be to those who feel left out? Is it the same as the response we would have liked?
KEY POINT
The story of the woman at the well begins with an outcast – an unmarried, divorcee of five husbands - who is having to draw water at the hottest part of the day because no one wanted to be near her and she didn’t want the humiliation of being seen. On top of this, she’s a Samaritan, an enemy of the Jews. The story then sees Jesus enter the scene, who breaks cleanliness laws and social norms in touching and conversing with this woman. He talks with her in such a way that despite him knowing all the dirt and gossip, she is treated as a dignified human.
IMAGINE…
20 mins
Using the Ignatius way of reflecting (using your imagination) read John 4:1-26. Get the young people to find themselves a space where they won’t be distracted, but can still hear you. Ask them to close their eyes and explain to them that they will be using their imagination to reflect upon this story before you read the passage out loud. Emphasise the point that Jesus encounters us through his word and our imagination. Before you begin, ask the Holy Spirit to inspire and be present during the reading.
During the first reading, ask the young people to simply listen and become familiar with the story. During the second reading, ask the young people to reconstruct the scene in their mind and find a place within it, asking themselves these questions as they do so:
• Who are they in the story? A central figure or bystander?
• What are the sounds and smells that surround them?
• Listen to what is said and look around you, look at the expressions on people’s faces and listen to the emotions that fill their words.
• What else can you hear, see or feel?
During the third reading, ask the young people to reconstruct the scene with themselves as the person at the well, still using the same imaginative techniques as before. After this exercise, ask:
• How did you find the exercise?
• Which character did you take on in the first reading?
• How did it feel to be the person at the well during the second reading?
• What fresh insight was given to the passage? What stood out for you?
• What did you learn about Jesus from this?
KEY POINT
Just as Jesus encountered the woman at the well, so Jesus can encounter us. This is not something that is condemning or scary, but deeply personal and connecting. It can be a life-changing moment, and cause us to do something about our encounter. As the Samaritan woman recognised who Jesus was and went and told others how they too could be liberated and known, so we can do the same, wherever we are and whatever we are doing.
WORSHIP ON THE MOUNTAIN?
15 mins
Give out a piece of paper to each of the young people. Get them to individually write or draw the activities that they do in an average week. This could include school, sleep, eating, sports, Facebook etc.
After they have done this, ask the young people to get into pairs and think about how they might worship and encounter God in spirit and truth through these seemingly mundane activities. You may want to discuss or explain what it means to worship in ‘spirit and truth’ if this concept is unfamiliar to the group.
WORSHIP IN THE WORLD?
5 mins
On the back of their piece of paper, get the young people to draw what the world would be like if all Christians worshipped God in spirit and truth wherever they were. Get them to think about who it would affect, how, and why, before sharing the pictures together as a group.
PRAYER AND BLESSING
10 mins
Set up three different spaces for prayer, then get the young people to choose what they would like to pray for. The first space is prayer for those who are excluded because of who they are. The second space is prayer for passion to encounter Jesus through the Bible. The third space is prayer to help worship God in spirit and truth whatever they are doing.
After they have prayed, bless the group with the following blessing / commissioning: Go and be of good courage, seeking all who are lost, and lonely. And may you encounter Jesus there and receive all that you need for the coming week. And the Father, Son and Holy Spirit who come to meet us in our home, our street, our school and church bless you now, and forever more. Amen.
