Curriculum
Woman at the Well
Memory Verse:
“But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” John 4:14
Bible Background
What Kids Will Learn
Regardless of what we’ve done, what our families have done, or what our reputation looks like, Jesus seeks us out and invites us to have a relationship with Him. He is the only One who can satisfy.
Scripture Summary
Jesus and His disciples were in Judea preaching the Good News and baptizing new believers. There were challenges, yet again, with the Pharisees. They had objected to Jesus and His disciples baptizing more people than John the Baptist. Jesus and His disciples went back to Galilee. On the way Jesus stopped in Sychar for some water, and the disciples had gone into town for food.
There was a well outside of Sychar that was originally owned by Jacob (Genesis 33). The well collected water from rain and dew (and wasn’t fed by a spring). Wells were placed outside of the town, closer to main roads. Twice a day (morning and evening), women drew water from the well for their families. The woman in this passage came in the middle of the day, probably to avoid public interaction because she was ashamed of her reputation.
Jesus sought out this woman, an unlikely focus for the Messiah. She was a Samaritan (a despised mixed race) and had a reputation for living in sin. It was a disgrace for a Jewish man to be talking with such a woman in public, but Jesus freely initiated a conversation.
Like Nicodemus (John 3), the woman didn’t understand Jesus’ words right away. God was compared to living water throughout the Old Testament. Like our hunger and thirst for physical food and water, sin leaves a gaping hole in our souls that long for what only God can provide.
Jesus knew all about the woman’s life and choices (and He knows all about our lives, too). He still loved her and offered her Himself, the only One who satisfies. She couldn’t contain her excitement and quickly shared her experience with the town.
Why Is This Important
Jesus didn’t (and doesn’t) accept excuses. He loves each of us so deeply, and He offers His way to each and every one of us. Only Jesus can satisfy our thirst for God.
Teacher Devotion
Scripture
It Started With Just One Conversation
“Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me everything I ever did.’ So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers.” (John 4:39-41)
My husband came to know Jesus when he was in high school. A friend invited him to church, and my husband went out of curiosity. After some time, one of the adult leaders befriended my husband and invited him and a friend out for a soda.
That first conversation prompted a series of conversations, and the adult leader ended up leading my husband to Jesus. And I’m glad he did.
Since that time, my husband has served as an adult leader in youth groups for decades. He has written devotions, curriculum, and a book sharing the truths of Jesus. He encouraged hundreds of youth pastors who were pouring their lives into youth at their churches. My husband has led adult small groups and has modeled the Christian walk for our sons.
I had the privilege of writing that youth leader, from years ago, a thank- you letter. I was timid at first as I couldn’t imagine any attempt would come close to articulating my heart of gratitude. That one conversation, years ago, had a lasting and far-reaching effect for youth and adults across the country.
The woman at the well couldn’t contain her excitement and awe of meeting Jesus the Messiah. She told those in the town and invited them to meet Him. A similar ripple effect took place–from one conversation. She didn’t keep Jesus to herself but freely shared Him with those in the town who believed and shared with their own families and others.
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for loving me and seeking me out. Even though my past is full of things that don’t honor You, You sought me out and saved me. Please help me have meaningful conversations today that point others to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Bible Memory Verse
You’ll Need: “Living Water” handout, Watercolor paint, Paintbrushes, Cups of water
“But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again.” John 4:14 (NLT)
Give each child a “Living Water” handout.
Read the verse to the children. Have children repeat the verse after you.
SAY: Jesus promises to give us living water so we will never be thirsty again. The living water means that He will help us when we are thirsty to know more about God. Let’s use these watercolor paints to paint our verse.
As children paint, continue to read the verse to them.
Afterward, practice saying the verse several times with children so they can learn it. Encourage children to share their Bible memory verse withtheir families.
Interactive Bible Experience
You’ll Need: “Woman at the Well How-to Video”, Clothesline or heavy string, Two people to hold the clothesline up, Eight clothespins, Woman’s dress, Three men’s shirts, A wig for Jesus (optional), Two different men’s, hats (optional), Woman’s wig (optional)
Get Ready: This is a fun way to act out the Scripture. To make the clothesline characters, hang four outfits on the clothesline: Jesus, the woman, and two disciples (in that order). You will also need someone to read the Narrator part or you can read that part yourself.
Tell children that you’re going to use clothesline characters to help tell what happened in the Bible today.
Have the Narrator follow this script while you move to the character who is saying the lines each time. Use different voices and pantomime any actions.
- Narrator: Jesus was tired from the long walk, so He sat wearily beside the well about noontime.
- Narrator: Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water (move to the woman’s costume) and Jesus said to her…
- Jesus: Please give me a drink.
- Narrator: The woman was surprised that Jesus was talking to her.
- Woman: You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?
- Jesus: If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.
- Woman: But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water?
- Jesus: Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.
- Woman: Please, sir, give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.
- Narrator: Jesus and the woman kept talking for some time until the disciples came back from town. They were shocked to find Jesus talking to a woman.
- Disciple 1: Oh my! What is Jesus doing!?
- Disciple 2: I don’t know but He’s talking to that woman!
- Disciple 1: Why would Jesus do that?
- Disciple 2: I don’t know but I’m not about to ask Him. You ask Him!
- Disciple 1: No! You ask Him!
- Disciple 2: No! You!
- Disciple 1: You!
- Disciple 2: No you!
- Narrator: Okay that’s enough. Soon the woman came back from town.
- Woman: I told everyone about you and now they want living water too!
When the reading is over, bring kids together and discuss:
- What do you think about what Jesus said to the woman at the well?
SAY: When we are thirsty for God, it means that we want more of God. We love coming to church. We want to learn from the Bible. We look forward to singing and praying.
Read Matthew 5:6 from your Bible and encourage children to stay thirsty for God.
Snack
Jello Jigglers Snack
You’ll Need: Homemade Jello in a pan, Cookie cutters, Plates, Napkins
Get Ready: For children under 4 years of age, cut JIGGLERS® into small bite-size pieces.
SAY: Today we’re learning that Jesus satisfies our thirst for God with living water. We’re going to have a snack that takes water to make it.
Tell children how you made the snack.
If you’re taking the pan of Jello directly from the refrigerator, dip the bottom of the pan in warm water for 15 seconds.
Have children use cookie cutters to cut out shapes for their snack. Then enjoy!
Game
Water Relay
You’ll Need: Small Dixie cups, Two buckets, full of water (or popcorn if playing inside), Two clear 16-ounce cups
Get Ready: If possible, play this game outside and use water. If not possible, use pop- corn indoors. Place two 16-ounce cups at one end of the room. And place two full buckets of water (or popcorn) at the other end of the play area.
Form two teams. Have teams line up at one end of the room. Follow these steps to play the game:
- The first player fills his/her paper cup with water (popcorn).
- The player runs to the empty cup and dumps the water (popcorn) in it.
- The player returns to the line and gives the cup to the next person.
- That player repeats the steps.
- Play until one of the cups is full and overflowing.
The team that filled the cup first wins.
SAY: This game reminds me of our Bible memory verse because the water (popcorn) bubbled over the glass.
Ask children to recite the Bible memory verse again: “But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again.” John 4:14
Craft
Water Paint Craft
You’ll Need: Watercolor paper, Liquid watercolors, Squirt bottles, Clothesline or heavy string, Clothespins, Plastic tarp
Get Ready: Fill each squirt bottle with a different watercolor paint. For this craft, you’ll need to hang the watercolor paper on something like a clothesline. You can hang the line across your room (with plastic underneath it) or even on a fence outside.
Help children follow these steps to make a Water Paint Craft.
- Hang a sheet of watercolor paper on the line.
- Spray several different colors on the paper.
- Remove the paper and put it in a place to dry.
Remind children that Jesus gives us living water and just as this water made beautiful art, Jesus makes something beautiful out of our lives.
Prayer
Thirsty Prayer
SAY: Tell about a time that you were really thirsty. (Allow time for responses.)
Tell about a time you have been very thirsty for having God in your life or learning more about God or the Bible.
What are some things you need from God? You could say that these are things that you are thirsty for from God.
Once children have shared things, lead them in a prayer for the things they’ve asked for.
PRAY: Dear God, we are thirsty for You. We thirst for these things…(complete with children’s requests).
