John 4:15-26
Life Group Questions:
1. If you were not able to hear this week’s sermon, consider going to the church website and listening to it. What are some main ideas that you gathered from the sermon? What, if any, questions did the sermon cause for you or do you desire to have additional clarification?
2. Describe the nature of the Samaritan woman’s request to Jesus. How did her request differ from the offer that Jesus made to her? Why do you think that the woman misunderstood Jesus? How can we grow in the act of placing more emphasis on spiritual instead of physical matters?
3. Why do you think that Jesus instructed the woman to go get her husband after she asked for the living water? Why do you think that Jesus continued to address the situation of the woman’s marital status? Do you think it was inappropriate for Jesus to ask this line of questions? Why or why not? How much should we address a person’s sin when talking to them about spiritual matters? Explain.
4. Describe the woman’s reaction to Jesus’ statements about her relationship with men. What was it about Jesus’ statements that made her think that He was a prophet?
5. Many have stated that the woman’s questions about worship were not genuine, but an attempt to take the focus off of her sinful life. What are your thoughts about her questions? Why do you think John included this portion of the dialogue between Jesus and the Samaritan woman?
6. What are some aspects of Jesus’ deity shown in this portion of Scripture? What are we to understand about Jesus’ knowledge; is He omniscient? Do you sense any racial tension in Jesus distinguishing between Jews and Samaritans? Explain.
7. List at least three observations about Jesus’ teaching on the topic of worship? Describe what you think to be the main point of His teaching here? Summarize the teaching of Jesus about worship in ten words or less from this passage.
8. How can we grow in our understanding and practice of worship? What does it mean to worship God in spirit and in truth? Do you feel you worship God in this manner? Explain. Do you believe that God is still seeking worshippers? What does it mean that He is seeking such people?
9. The woman obviously knew the concept of Messiah’s coming. What was her understanding about the nature of His coming? What significance do you see in Jesus stating “I am” in this passage (cf., Exodus 3:14)? Why did John include it?