unit 21 • session 4 jesus and the samaritan woman · from other people. jesus loves all people,...

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Use Week of:

Jesus and the Samaritan Woman

TEACH THE STORY(15–20 MINUTES)

PAGE 140

EXPERIENCE THE STORY(25–30 MINUTES)

PAGE 142

REVIEW THE STORY(10+ MINUTES)

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Unit 21 • Session 4

BIBLE PASSAGE: John 4

STORY POINT: Jesus loves all people.

KEY PASSAGE: John 3:16

BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What makes people special? People are special because God made us in

His own image.

Unit 21 • Session 4

136 Preschool Worship GuideUnit 21 • Session 4

3's-Pre-K

May 31, 2020

4

LEADER Bible StudyAt the time Jesus was on earth, Jews and Samaritans didn’t get along. The strife between the two groups stretched back hundreds of years, to the Babylonian exile.

When the Babylonians attacked Judah, they moved a large group of God’s people away from their homes. But some of the people—the poorest, sickest, least able to work—were left behind in the region that became known as Samaria. The exile lasted 70 years. During that time, those left in Samaria began to mingle with their neighbors to the north. They intermarried and practiced foreign customs. While the Samaritans still believed in God, they adapted foreign beliefs as well.

The Jews who returned home from Babylon to rebuild God’s temple in Jerusalem rejected this new way of life. They were dedicated to obeying and worshiping God, so they didn’t agree with the Samaritans’ practices. The Samaritans opposed the Jews’ efforts to reestablish their nation. In time, the Jews’ hate for the Samaritans grew—so much so that a Jew traveling from Judea to Galilee would take a longer route to travel around Samaria rather than through it.

Jesus broke down barriers when He traveled to Galilee by way of Samaria. Even more surprising, Jesus stopped at a well around noon and asked a Samaritan woman for a drink. Jewish men did not speak to women in public.

But Jesus was kind to her, and He offered her a gift: living water. The woman didn’t understand, but Jesus revealed His knowledge of her past. He even gave her a glimpse of the future. The Samaritan woman expected a Messiah to come and fix everything. Jesus said, “I am He.”

Explain that the living water Jesus offers is the Holy Spirit. (See John 7:37-39.) The Holy Spirit is a gift that He is eager to give us when we ask Him. Those who receive His grace will never be thirsty again.

137Among the People

Jesus and the Samaritan WomanJohn 4

Jesus had been teaching in the land of Judea. When it was time to leave, Jesus and His disciples traveled toward the land of Galilee. They traveled right through Samaria. He stopped at one of the towns where

there was a well. Jesus stayed at the well, and His disciples went into town to buy food.

A woman who lived in Samaria came to the well to get water. Jesus said to

her, “Give Me a drink.”The woman was surprised.

Jews did not like Samaritans! “Why are you talking to me?” she asked. “I am a Samaritan.”

Jesus said, “If you knew who I am, you would have asked Me for a drink. I would give you living water.”

The woman was confused. Jesus did not have any water

with Him. He did not even have a bucket to get water out of the

well.The woman asked, “Sir, where

do You get ‘living water’?”Jesus said, “Anyone who drinks the

water from this well will be thirsty again, but anyone who drinks the water I give will never

get thirsty again!” That sounded wonderful! But Jesus wasn’t talking about actual water. He was talking about God’s Spirit. Whoever has God’s Spirit will have eternal life.

Bible Storytelling Tips

• Puppet conversation: Make one male and one female sock puppet to represent Jesus and the woman at the well. Tell the Bible story through the puppet’s conversation.

• Watercolor art: Use watercolors to depict the story. Ask another leader to paint story scenes while you tell the Bible story. You may also paint scenes ahead of time and hold them up at the appropriate moment in the Bible story. Do not be concerned about quality; simple figures are fine.

The BIBLE Story


Jesus and the Samaritan WomanJohn 4

Jesus had been teaching in the land of Judea. When it was time to leave, Jesus and His disciples traveled toward the land of Galilee. They traveled right through Samaria. He stopped at one of the towns where

there was a well. Jesus stayed at the well, and His disciples went into town to buy food.

A woman who lived in Samaria came to the well to get water. Jesus said to

her, “Give Me a drink.”The woman was surprised.

Jews did not like Samaritans! “Why are you talking to me?” she asked. “I am a Samaritan.”

Jesus said, “If you knew who I am, you would have asked Me for a drink. I would give you living water.”

The woman was confused. Jesus did not have any water

with Him. He did not even have a bucket to get water out of the

well.The woman asked, “Sir, where

do You get ‘living water’?”Jesus said, “Anyone who drinks the

water from this well will be thirsty again, but anyone who drinks the water I give will never

get thirsty again!” That sounded wonderful! But Jesus wasn’t talking about actual water. He was talking about God’s Spirit. Whoever has God’s Spirit will have eternal life.

Bible Storytelling Tips

• Puppet conversation: Make one male and one female sock puppet to represent Jesus and the woman at the well. Tell the Bible story through the puppet’s conversation.

• Watercolor art: Use watercolors to depict the story. Ask another leader to paint story scenes while you tell the Bible story. You may also paint scenes ahead of time and hold them up at the appropriate moment in the Bible story. Do not be concerned about quality; simple figures are fine.

The woman did not understand. “Sir, I want living water,” she said. “Then I will not have to keep coming to this well to get water with my bucket.”

“Go get your husband,” Jesus said.The woman replied, “I do not have a husband.”Jesus knew she was telling the truth. Jesus knew everything

about the woman. The woman could tell Jesus was wise, so she asked Him a question about worshiping God. Then she said, “I know the Messiah is coming. He will explain everything to us.”

Jesus said, “I am the Messiah.”The woman left and told the people in her town what

had happened. Many people believed in Jesus because of what the woman said. Jesus stayed in the town for two days, and many more people believed in Him. The people said, “We have heard for ourselves and know that this really is the Savior of the world.”

Christ Connection: Jesus is different from other people. Jesus loves everyone, and He came to give people a free gift: salvation from sin. When we trust in Jesus, we worship Him as our Lord and Savior.

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TEACH the Story

SESSION TITLE: Jesus and the Samaritan WomanBIBLE PASSAGE: John 4STORY POINT: Jesus loves all people.KEY PASSAGE: John 3:16BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What makes people special? People are special

because God made us in His own image.

Welcome and worship with songGreet preschoolers with a smile. As preschoolers arrive, sing an action song such as “John 14:6” to engage and welcome them. Begin worship by leading preschoolers in the theme song “Take It to the Lord.”

Watch or tell the Bible storyAsk children, “How much do you know about me?” Start with questions with obvious answers like, “Do you know my first name? Am I a boy or girl? How many feet do I have?” Then ask questions children cannot answer, such as, “How old am I? What’s my sister’s name? What street do I live on?”SAY • In our Bible story today, Jesus talked to a woman.

He knew everything about her, even though she had never met Him.

Open your Bible to John 4. Show the video or tell the Bible story using the provided storytelling tips. Use the bolded version of the Bible story for young preschoolers.

Practice the key passage and a Bible skillPlace the key passage marker at John 3:16. Invite a child to open your Bible to the key passage. Say the first phrase of the key passage then point to the group to repeat the

• “John 14:6” song• “Take It to the Lord”

song

• Bible• “Jesus and the

Samaritan Woman” video (optional)

• Bible Story Picture Poster

• Story Point Poster• Giant Timeline

• Bible• Key Passage Marker• Key Passage Poster• “For God Loved the

World (John 3:16)” song


phrase. Continue until children repeat the whole verse. SAY • Jesus told the woman at the well that He was the

Messiah. She went and told her friends, and many believed in Him. Jesus loves all people.

Sing the key passage song “For God Loved the World.”

Learn the big picture question and answerSAY • What makes people special? People are special

because God made us in His own image. The woman didn’t understand why Jesus was speaking to her because Samaritans and Jews didn’t get along. But Jesus loves all people because all people are made in the image of God.

Respond through song and prayerSAY • Jews did not like Samaritans, but Jesus is different

from other people. Jesus loves all people, and He came to give people a free gift: salvation from sin. When we trust in Jesus, we worship Him as our Lord and Savior. This was true for the Samaritan woman at the well, and this is true for us today.

Sing “Take It to the Lord” and “The Spirit of the Lord” as preschoolers move with the music. Prepare for prayer by singing “Jesus, Thank You.” Collect an offering. SAY • God, this story from the Bible reminds us that Jesus

loves all people. He loved the Samaritan woman and told her the truth. Help us trust in Him as our Savior. Give us the living water Jesus told the woman about. Give us Your Spirit. Amen.

Transition to experience the story

• Big Picture Question Poster

• Story Point Poster • “Take It to the Lord”

song• “The Spirit of the

Lord” song• “Jesus, Thank You”

song• offering basket

• countdown video (optional)

141Among the People

Tell how many you haveAsk children to use their fingers to hold up the number of items they have. Possible items include dogs, cats, fish, brothers, sisters, grandparents, parents, teachers, bicycles, toothbrushes, TVs, ears, toes, brains, and so forth. SAY • The woman at the well said she did not have a

husband. The Bible says she had had five husbands. Jesus knew everything about the woman, and He loved her still. Jesus loves all people and showed us His love by dying for our sin and rising again.

Drip water on straw wrappersRemove wrappers from straws by compressing the wrapper down the length of the straw. Set the wrapper on a table. Place one end of the unwrapped straw in water. Put a finger tip over the open end of the straw to hold water inside. Lift the straw out of the water and hover over the straw wrapper. Remove your fingertip to release a drop of water on the compressed wrapper. Watch as the wrapper expands. SAY • It looked like the wrapper came to life! But did it?

(no) Water does give life to humans, animals, and plants, but only for a short time. Living water from Jesus gives life forever. Jesus loves all people and offers the free gift of living water, or eternal life.

• straws with wrappers, 1 per child

• cup• water

EXPERIENCE the Story




Paint with waterCut construction paper into large hearts. Provide cups of water and paintbrushes. Encourage preschoolers to paint water designs on their hearts. SAY • Jesus loved the Samaritan woman. He told her He

was the Messiah and could give her living water, which is the Spirit of God. Jesus loves all people and offers all people eternal life.

Toss splash ballsIf weather permits, play this game outside. Provide multiple buckets and splash balls soaked in water. Invite preschoolers to take turns tossing splash balls into the buckets. Eliminate water for indoor play. SAY • Jesus wanted a drink of water, but He did not have

a bucket. He asked the woman at the well for a drink. The woman did not understand why Jesus was talking to her, a Samaritan. She probably did not think she was special. What makes people special? People are special because God made us in His own image. Jesus loves all people.

Identify types of waterCut apart the “Water” images. Hold up images one by one. Ask preschoolers to identify each type of water they see. SAY • Did I hold up a picture for living water? (no) What

is living water? (the Spirit of God) How can we get living water? (by believing in Jesus) Who is Jesus? (God’s Son, the Messiah, and the Savior of the world) Who does Jesus love? (Jesus loves all people.)

Transition to review the story

• construction paper• scissors (adult use) • paintbrushes• cups• water• painting smocks

(optional)

• plastic pails or buckets

• splash balls• water• towels

• “Water” printable

• countdown video (optional)

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REVIEW the Story



ReviewPoint to the giant timeline as you review today’s Bible story. Ask the following review questions:

1. Where did Jesus stop in Samaria? (at the well) 2. Who did Jesus ask to give Him a drink? (a woman)3. What did Jesus say He could offer the woman?

(living water)4. What is living water? (God’s Spirit)5. Who did Jesus say He was? (the Messiah)6. What makes people special? People are special

because God made us in His own image.SAY • Jesus asked a Samaritan woman for a drink at a well.

The woman did not understand why Jesus was speaking to her because He was a Jew and she was a Samaritan. Jews and Samaritans did not like each other. But Jesus is different from other people. Jesus loves all people, and He came to give people a free gift: salvation from sin. The woman believed Jesus was the Messiah. She went and told the people in her town about Jesus. Many more people believed in Jesus. When we trust in Jesus, we worship Him as our Lord and Savior.

Sing the theme song “Take It to the Lord” or key passage song “For God Loved the World.”

• Bible• Bible Story Picture

Poster• Giant Timeline • Story Point Poster• Big Picture Question

Poster• Key Passage Poster• “Take It to the Lord”

song (optional)• “For God Loved the

World (John 3:16)” song (optional)


PrayInvite preschoolers to tell you any prayer requests they have.SAY • God, thank You for reminding us that Jesus knows

everything about us and loves us still. Thank You for sending Jesus to offer us the free gift of eternal life. Make us like the Samaritan woman, eager to hear from Jesus, eager to follow Him, and eager to tell our friends about Him. Amen.

Missions momentDisplay the “Walk Church in Prayer” photograph.

SAY • Missionaries say prayer helps them every day. Praying for missionaries is very important. Missionaries Heiden and Neena Ratner started a church called Walk Church. Let’s pray for them now.

Read the caption on the photograph and pray as directed.

Deliver the messageForm two groups. Line up each group on different sides of the room. Whisper a message in the ear of the first child in one line. Direct her to go to the other side of the room and whisper the message into the ear of the first child in that line. Preschoolers continue moving back and forth until all children in both lines hear the message. Play multiple rounds. Use the messages in the margin or create your own. SAY • The woman at the well ran back to tell the people in

her town what had happened. Many people believed in Jesus because of what the woman said. Jesus is different from other people. Jesus loves all people, and He came to give people a free gift: salvation from sin. When we trust in Jesus, we worship Him as our Lord and Savior.

• “Walk Church in Prayer” printable

Suggested messages:

• Jesus loves all people. • Jesus gives us living

water. • Jesus is the Messiah. • You matter to Jesus. • God wants you to be

in His family.

145Among the People

unit 21 • session 4 jesus and the samaritan woman · from other people. jesus loves all people,...

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