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Introduction
This session looks at the story of the Samaritan woman, who Jesus met at the well. It explores how we can relate, at least in part, to her past experience of relationships and how in that moment she encountered true love and acceptance.
THE SESSION
Distribute newspapers and magazines and invite your young people to take a look through and tear out stories about relationships of any kind, not just romantic stories. As they do so, give your young people the opportunity to share any stories that they can relate to, if they feel comfortable in doing so. Tell your group that during this session you are going to look at one person from the Bible, her past experiences of love and relationships, her encounter with Jesus and how she experiences real love and acceptance. Ask someone to read John 4:1-7 and help your young people to understand that the reason why this woman was out at the well in the middle of the day was so that she could avoid being seen, spoken to or judged, as she often was.
Track: Don’t say a word (TRACK 1)
Play the track, and explain that because of this woman’s past hurts and experiences, she must have feared the words that Jesus was about to say when he started speaking to her. What would the group have expected Jesus to say in that situation? Continue the reading, from verses 8-26. How do the lyrics from the song - ‘I’m more alive than I’ve ever been, so now I give you all my sins’ - relate to this woman’s story? Re-read the story, from verse one to 30. Ask your young people to think about the way Jesus acts towards the woman. Help your young people to understand that although he speaks the truth about the woman’s situation, he does so with love and compassion, not judgement. Tell your young people that there will be times in our human relationships when we are hurt or cause hurt to others; whether intentional or unintentional. Jesus, however, offers a perfect love, which far surpasses our experience of love within human relationships.
Track: How long will I love you (TRACK 21)
Let your young people know that you understand that this session may have raised particular issues for them and if they want to talk about them, there is space for them to do so when appropriate. But, for now, invite your young people to find a quiet space where they can let the words of this song wash over them, and be reminded of just how great God’s love is for them, as it was for the woman in the story.
