Bible Study from February 24th, 2024
The Woman At the Well
This week’s Lesson Sermon Subject: Mind
Click here to play the audio as you read:
Bible Study Questions and Readings
Christ comes again with holy power,
To lift our blinded eyes to see;
The sick are healed, the sinner blest,
As on that eve in Galilee.
Once more the lonely heart is fed.
Who dwells with Love hath perfect ease,
Faith, hope, and joy are with us all;
Great are companions such as these.
The weak and thirsty are refreshed,
Again each empty cup is filled;
The tender Christ is here to bless,
And all the storms of earth are stilled.
In Truth there is no pain or death
Nor any shades of coming night;
The promise of our God still stands:
At eventide it shall be light.
— “Home” by Marion Susan Campbell,
Hymn 34 fromThe Christian Science Hymnal, 1932 edition
Topic: Give me this water (John 4:15)
Moderator: Thomas from NY
Main Readings: John 4:1-43
Questions:
- Why did the Jews not have “dealings” with the Samaritans? (John 4:9)
- How did the Samaritan woman know who Jesus was? (John 4:15, 29, 39)
- What is the “living water?” (John 4:10, 11)
Notes from the Discussion
God’s preparations for the sick are potions of His own qualities.
“Vainglory” from Miscellaneous Writings, by Mary Baker Eddy, page 268
The King of Love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack, for I am His
And He is mine forever.
Where streams of living water flow
My ransomed soul He leadeth,
And where the verdant pastures grow,
With food celestial feedeth.
Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love He sought me,
And on His shoulder gently laid,
And home, rejoicing, brought me.
And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise
Within Thy house forever.
Hymn 330 from The Christian Science Hymnal, 1932 edition
Excerpts from Four Lessons from The Woman At the Well Alexa Schirm
1-Jesus, the Savior of the world, asks an outcast to help him.
In God’s eyes, no one is too far gone.
He has a purpose for each of us.
He’ll never let us be alone.
He is always right there.
The question is, are you willing to engage him.
2- And Jesus was unfazed by her sin. It would have been easy for her to leave. To be so overwhelmed by her problems that she doesn’t even try to understand them. But she didn’t run, and she didn’t go, but she pursued. She was curious about his promises, and He didn’t back away no matter how deep her sin ran through. He’s here waiting for us to do the same. He doesn’t see how deep your sin, He sees your heart. He sees your purpose and the beauty in which he created you. There is no running from Him no matter how hard you try. Jesus is always there. So I wonder what would happen if you sat for a while? What if you sit in his presence? You came a little closer, and you asked those questions for yourself. Crack the surface open and allow him space to fill, which can only come with staying.
3- When you stay, you can be filled. … Jesus offered, He’s always offering. The giving of Jesus is a guarantee. The receiving on our end is the stumbling block. Receiving is hard. Especially when we believe we’re too far gone. Perhaps you had faith enough to receive salvation, but you’re struggling to have faith enough to advance it.
4- The filling not only filled her longing, but it gave her a new desire to use the energy to go out and live her purpose. To share the gospel, to become disciples.
As you journey, and betimes sigh for rest “beside the still waters,” ponder this lesson of love. Learn its purpose; and in hope and faith, where heart meets heart reciprocally blest, drink with me the living waters of the spirit of my life-purpose, — to impress humanity with the genuine recognition of practical, operative Christian Science.
“Vainglory” from Miscellaneous Writings, by Mary Baker Eddy, page 206-207