Evangelism (Be a Big Mouth)
Lesson 1: Come and See
Lesson Workbook (PDF) - Click Here for NIV Click Here for KJV
Who's the Loud Mouth? (Activity) Click here
LESSON OBJECTIVES
Goals
1. For the students to develop a new passion for evangelism.
2. To motivate students to employ the come and see method.
3. To give students an inside look at that method at work in Scripture.
Topics
Boldness, Evangelism, Witnessing
OPENING PRAYER (5 to 10 minutes)
GROUP BUILDING (5 minutes)
Who's the Loud Mouth? (Activity) Click here
GETTING STARTED (10 minutes)
I want everyone to think for a moment about the following questions. Answer them as if you were being asked by someone you know very well. How would you respond? (Pause for a few moments between each question to give students time to relfect.)
• What was the coolest thing you have ever seen in person (for example: a sporting event, concert, etc.)
• What made that event so special?
• What was your reaction to witnessing it?
We’ve all seen some cool things (feel free to share your personal experience). Those types of things are memories that we will never forget. They are also the types of things that we tell people about the most. When something really exciting happens, we can’t help but tell our friends, classmates, and family.
A great example of this is going to see a movie because someone told you it was really good. It's always easy for someone to tell about a movie they enjoyed.
DIGGING IN (30 minutes)
Teaching Notes on John 4: 1-42 4. Mt. Gerizim is the mountain referenced in verse 20 by the woman. It was the site of a temple where the Samaritans worshipped for centuries, until it was destroyed by a Jew only about 150 years before this conversation takes place. The subject would have been a hot-button issue for any Samaritan. |
Today, we are going to talk about a time when a woman encountered something so significant and powerful, that she couldn’t help but go and invite everyone she knew to see it too. The passage is John 4: 1-42. Because it is long, we will break it down into smaller parts. (If desired and if there is time, read the entire passage once through. Then re-read each sections prior to the dicussion questions.)
Read John 4: 1-10
Discussion Questions
1. What do you think is the tone of this conversation? Of the woman? Of Jesus?
2. How does the woman first address Jesus? (she called him a Jew)
3. When we read verse 10, we understand easily that Jesus is talking about spiritual things. How do you think the woman heard what Jesus said?
4. What do you think she was thinking at this point?
5. In this passage, what is Jesus doing that a "normal" Jew would never think of doing?
Jesus is: That’s 4 exceptions in order to talk to her. Jesus is the ultimate big mouth, and wants to talk to everyone he can about His life-giving water. |
6. What “obstacles” get in your way of being a big mouth?
7. What scares you the most about sharing your faith with someone who isn’t like you?
8. What lessons can we learn from Jesus from these verses about that?
Read John 4: 11-26
Discussion Questions
1. What do you think is the tone of this conversation now? Of the woman? Of Jesus?
2. How does the woman address Jesus this time in v. 11, 15 and 19? (she calls him “sir”)
It seems like the woman’s opinion of Jesus is changing a little, but she’s still having a hard time understanding what it is exactly that he is talking about.
3. What are her points of confusion? (See v. 11, 15, 20, & 25)
Often when the gospel is being shared, people want to talk around it instead of talking about it. Jesus doesn’t allow that here and instead uses everything the woman points out as a means of drawing her in more and more. When she remarks that one of these days they won’t have to argue about it because the Messiah will clear it all up for them (v. 25), He surprises her by saying, “Hey lady, I’m Him.”
4. With Jesus being ever-present in your life, what are some things that keep you from being nearer to Him?
Read John 4: 27-38
The disciples returned from getting some food and are shocked to see Jesus conversing with an unclean woman. But in a rare moment of self-control, they all managed to keep their mouths shut. The moment they returned, the lady took off, leaving her water jar there. She went back into her town to make her announcement.
Discussion Questions
1. What is the announcement she makes?
2. What do you think her tone was here? (that she had found someone who had told her everything she’d ever done)
3. What is the response of the people? (they went to check it out)
4. What is the topic of the discusion between Jesus and His disciples in verses 32 -38?
It seems like the disciples didn’t understand any better than the Samaritan women. It’s early in Jesus’ ministry, and He was certainly a confusing guy to be around. But one thing was not confusing according to verse 35…the harvest of souls is ripe!
In the time it took for the woman to get back to town and rally the troops, the disciples and Jesus had their conversation. Being only about a quarter of a mile from town to the well, the crowd no doubt made their way to Jesus quickly. As verse 38 concludes, the masses are approaching Jesus with eagerness. After all, the harvest is ripe.
5. Where is your greatest harvest opportunity?
Read John 4: 39-42
Discussion Questions
1. What is the tone of this conversation?
2. What is the end result of the woman being a big mouth? (many in her town came to a faith in Jesus as well)
MAKING IT REAL (10 minutes)
This whole series of lessons is about being a big mouth. Often, you’re told to be quiet. But I want you to hear me loud and clear—SPEAK UP! Your’s is a generation of communicators. In person, online, via e-mail or text message—you like to talk.
There are lots of ways to be a big mouth, and the Samaritan woman is a great example of one method. She employs what is called the “Come and See” method. Remember at the beginning of this lesson I asked what was the coolest thing you've ever seen. It was so awesome; you couldn’t keep your mouth shut? We can be the same way about Jesus.
Breakup into small groups of four or five for the following workbook activity.
Workbook ActivityWhen to speak up! Start by answering the following questions. Then have a group discussion about the issues presented. • When are some times that it’s better to be really quiet and still? ___ (Church, class, funeral) |
High Five Cards (Optional) (Give each student five index cards.) Keep these cards close to you, in your wallet, Bible, locker, or purse. I’d also like for you to bring them with you each week. The idea behind it is for you spend some time thinking about 5 people that you know don’t know Jesus yet. Make a conscience effort to share the Good News with them. In the weeks to follow, we will talk about different ways you can do that. This week, is the “Come and See” method. Now, I want you all to look at the names on your High 5 cards. Picture each of those people in your mind, one by one. Imagine in your head each one saying out loud to you that they want to see for themself the power of Jesus, the same as the Samaritans said to the woman in our text. Finally, pray that God would grant you the opportunity to share with them the gospel by encouraging them to “Come and See.” |
SCRIPTURE MEMORIZATION (5 to 10 minutes)
This Weeks Verses
"Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?" (John 4:28-29)