Sermon Discussion Guide 6-29-25
Sermon Discussion Guide
The Gospel of John | John 4:27-42
Gathering Question:
What is one way you’ve experienced God in your life this week?
Gathering Prayer
Father, by Your Spirit, would you guide us into all truth. Help us to hear and be attentive to Your voice as we work through this study. In the name of Jesus, Your Son, we pray, Amen.
Opening Questions
Read John 4:27-42
The Transition – 4:27-30
Insider Talk – 4:31-38
The Samaritan Village – 4:39-42
Closing Prayer
The Gospel of John | John 4:27-42
Gathering Question:
What is one way you’ve experienced God in your life this week?
Gathering Prayer
Father, by Your Spirit, would you guide us into all truth. Help us to hear and be attentive to Your voice as we work through this study. In the name of Jesus, Your Son, we pray, Amen.
Opening Questions
- What stood out to you in the sermon?
- What insights did you gain?
- What questions did it raise?
Read John 4:27-42
The Transition – 4:27-30
- What aspect of this transition catches your eye? Is it the shock of the disciples? The woman leaving her jar? Her claim, “come see a man…”? The people streaming out to see him? And then, what’s unique or makes you wonder about this feature of the story?
- Read this ancient hymn - Kontakion (hymn) of the Woman of Samaria – Romanus Melodius (aka Roman the Melodas), [6th century, Syrian, a hymn writer – poor singer until he had a vision] (source: Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture)
When the merciful one was near the spring...
Then the woman of Samaria, coming from her native village,
Sichar, arrive and she had her urn on her shoulders;
And who would not call blessed the arrival and departure of this woman?
For she departed in filth; she entered into the figure of the church as blameless;
She departed and she drew out life like a sponge
She departed bearing water; she became the bearer of God;
And who does not bless
This woman, or rather who does not revere her, the type of the nations
As she brings Exceeding great joy and redemption?
Then the woman of Samaria, coming from her native village,
Sichar, arrive and she had her urn on her shoulders;
And who would not call blessed the arrival and departure of this woman?
For she departed in filth; she entered into the figure of the church as blameless;
She departed and she drew out life like a sponge
She departed bearing water; she became the bearer of God;
And who does not bless
This woman, or rather who does not revere her, the type of the nations
As she brings Exceeding great joy and redemption?
- What songs well up in you when you consider the work of Christ in your life? What is the soundtrack of your life with Christ?
Insider Talk – 4:31-38
- The disciples return with food and are concerned when Jesus isn’t interested. He claims he’s been nourished, because he’s doing the will of his Father. What activity can you become so immersed in that you forget/fail/care to eat? What about that activity makes it enlivening?
- In the parable about the sower and the reaper, biblical commentators offer a number of possibilities as to who this could be alluding to:
- The law and the prophets are the sower; the apostles and church are the reaper
- John the Baptist is the sower; Jesus is the reaper
- The Father is the sower; the Son is the reaper
- How do you read the text? How does the Jesus ultimate summary apply today – that the fields are ripe for harvest? What part are you playing in the harvest?
The Samaritan Village – 4:39-42
- The Samaritans speak of two phases of faith – one based on the woman’s testimony, the second because of their direct interaction with Jesus. How has this two-step modality of faith played itself out in your life?
- Samaria is a place that Jesus chooses to travel through. When he’s invited to stay, he does…for two days. Have you ever thought of asking Jesus to come and stay with you, like the Samaritans, to reveal himself and to speak into your life in this life-giving way? What do you think would happen? What would happen if we suggested this to people who are exploring faith?
Closing Prayer
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