Embracing God's Inclusive Love: The 'And' Perspective
Summary
In the encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well, a profound truth emerges: God’s love and grace are not confined by human boundaries or categories. Jesus, by speaking to a Samaritan woman—someone considered an outsider by Jewish standards—demonstrates that God’s invitation is for all people, regardless of background, status, or past. This story challenges us to move beyond “either/or” thinking, which divides and limits, and instead embrace the “and” way of seeing, which reflects the expansive heart of God.
Throughout scripture, God’s grace continually expands. From the Old Testament, where God’s mercy reaches even the enemies of Israel, to the New Testament, where Jesus breaks social and religious barriers, the pattern is clear: God’s love is inclusive, not exclusive. The story of Jonah, who resisted God’s call to preach to the Ninevites, shows how human reluctance often clashes with divine generosity. Yet God insists on loving both the Israelites and the Ninevites, the insiders and the outsiders.
This “and” way of thinking is not just about who is included, but also about how we approach faith, scripture, and life. It’s easy to fall into the trap of “either/or”—to see ourselves as belonging to one group and not another, to interpret scripture in rigid, binary ways, or to believe that God’s truth can only be found in one place. But scripture itself invites us to a more nuanced, generous approach. The same passages can speak differently to different people, and even to the same person at different times. God’s law is written not just in ancient texts, but also on our hearts and in the world around us.
Embracing “and” thinking means holding together faith and action, love and justice, scripture and personal experience. It means recognizing that God’s truth is bigger than our categories, and that our journey of faith is enriched when we seek to include rather than exclude, to understand rather than judge, and to love without limits.
Key Takeaways
- God’s love is radically inclusive, breaking through the boundaries we create. The encounter with the Samaritan woman shows that no one is outside the reach of God’s grace, and we are called to reflect that same openness in our own lives, welcoming those who are different from us. [06:42]
- “Either/or” thinking is natural but limiting; “and” thinking opens us to the fullness of God’s work. When we insist on dividing people or ideas into rigid categories, we miss the richness of God’s expansive vision. Embracing “and” allows us to see God at work in unexpected places and people. [04:56]
- Scripture is not a static rulebook but a living conversation between God and God’s people. The same verses can speak in different ways, and our understanding grows as we bring together the witness of scripture, our experiences, tradition, and reason. God’s law is written both in the Bible and on our hearts. [10:13]
- The call to love is inseparable from the call to justice. True love does not ignore injustice but seeks to make things right. Our faith is not just about personal piety but about working for peace and justice in the world, embodying both compassion and action. [22:04]
- Our spiritual journey is enriched when we slow down, seek understanding, and remain open to God’s ongoing revelation. Like the story of the woman and the riverbank, our first impressions are often incomplete. Taking time to listen, reflect, and ask “what is the and?” leads us deeper into God’s truth. [04:06]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:46] - Jesus and the Samaritan Woman
[01:40] - Worship in Spirit and Truth
[02:35] - Faith as a Journey
[03:18] - The Power of Story and Perception
[04:06] - Challenging First Impressions
[04:56] - The Limits of Either/Or Thinking
[05:49] - God’s Expanding Grace in the Old Testament
[06:42] - Jesus’ Radical Inclusion
[07:20] - Loving Without Limits
[08:05] - Wrestling with Scripture and Sexuality
[08:47] - The Complexity of Interpreting Scripture
[09:29] - Creation as the First Bible
[10:13] - God’s Law Written on Our Hearts
[11:07] - Scripture and Personal Experience
[22:04] - Love and Justice: Living Out Our Faith
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: “The ‘And’ Way of God’s Love”
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### Bible Reading
- John 4:7-26 (Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well)
- Jonah 3:1-10 (Jonah preaches to the Ninevites and God’s mercy is shown)
- Jeremiah 31:31-34 (God’s law written on our hearts)
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### Observation Questions
1. In John 4, what barriers did Jesus cross when he spoke with the Samaritan woman? (Consider ethnicity, gender, and religious tradition.) [06:42]
2. According to the story of Jonah, how did Jonah respond to God’s call to preach to the Ninevites, and why was this surprising? [05:49]
3. In Jeremiah 31, what does God promise about where His law will be written?
4. The sermon mentioned that Jesus told the woman she could worship anywhere, not just in the synagogue. Why was this significant in that context? [06:42]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. What does Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman reveal about who is included in God’s invitation? How does this challenge the way people often draw boundaries? [06:42]
2. Why do you think Jonah struggled with God’s command to go to Nineveh? What does this say about human reluctance versus God’s generosity? [05:49]
3. The sermon talked about “either/or” thinking versus “and” thinking. How does the Bible encourage us to move beyond rigid categories in our faith and relationships? [04:56]
4. What does it mean for God’s law to be written on our hearts, and how might this affect the way we interpret scripture and live out our faith? [10:13]
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### Application Questions
1. Think about a time when you felt like an outsider or saw someone else treated as an outsider. How did you respond, and how might Jesus’ example with the Samaritan woman inspire you to act differently next time? [06:42]
2. Are there people or groups you find it hard to include or love? What would it look like to practice “and” thinking instead of “either/or” thinking in those situations? [07:20]
3. The sermon mentioned that our first impressions are often incomplete, like the story of the woman and the riverbank. Can you recall a recent situation where you made a quick judgment? How could you slow down and seek deeper understanding next time? [04:06]
4. When have you found yourself interpreting scripture in a rigid or exclusive way? What would it look like to approach the Bible as a “living conversation” that speaks in new ways over time? [08:47]
5. The call to love is inseparable from the call to justice. Is there an area in your life or community where you feel called to work for justice as an expression of love? What is one step you could take this week? [22:04]
6. The sermon encouraged us to ask, “What is the and?” in our faith journey. Is there a place in your life where you feel stuck in “either/or” thinking? What might it look like to invite God to show you the “and” in that situation? [04:56]
7. How can you be more open to God’s ongoing revelation—through scripture, creation, or what’s written on your heart—this week? Is there a practice (like prayer, journaling, or time in nature) you want to try or return to? [10:13]
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Devotional
Day 1: Jesus Offers Living Water to All
Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well reveals that God’s gift of living water—eternal life and spiritual renewal—is available to everyone, regardless of background or status. In this story, Jesus breaks social and religious barriers by speaking with a Samaritan woman, offering her the living water that only He can provide. This living water is not just for the privileged or the religiously pure, but for anyone who is thirsty for God’s grace and truth. The woman’s initial confusion gives way to understanding as Jesus reveals that true satisfaction comes from Him alone, and that His invitation is open to all who seek. [00:46]
John 4:13-14 (ESV)
Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty forever. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
Reflection: Where in your life do you feel spiritually thirsty, and how can you open yourself today to receive the living water Jesus offers?
Day 2: Worship in Spirit and Truth
Jesus teaches that true worship is not confined to a specific place or tradition, but is about worshiping God in spirit and in truth. He tells the Samaritan woman that the time has come when worship is not about location—neither on a mountain nor in Jerusalem—but about the heart and authenticity of the worshiper. God seeks those who will worship Him sincerely, guided by the Holy Spirit and grounded in truth, rather than by external rituals or boundaries. This invitation to worship is radically inclusive, breaking down barriers and inviting all people into genuine relationship with God. [01:40]
John 4:23-24 (ESV)
“But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Reflection: What would it look like for you to worship God today in spirit and in truth, beyond tradition or habit?
Day 3: God’s Expanding Grace
Throughout Scripture, God’s love and mercy are shown to extend beyond boundaries, embracing even those considered outsiders or enemies. From sending Jonah to the Ninevites to Jesus reaching out to Samaritans and others on the margins, God continually demonstrates that His grace is not exclusive. This “and” way of thinking challenges us to see that God’s love is for the Israelites and the Ninevites, the Samaritans and the Jews, the insiders and the outsiders. God’s heart is always expanding, inviting us to do the same in our relationships and communities. [05:49]
Jonah 3:1-2, 10 (ESV)
Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.” ... When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.
Reflection: Who in your life or community might you be tempted to exclude from God’s love, and how can you practice “and” thinking by extending grace to them today?
Day 4: Scripture and the Heart
God’s guidance is not limited to written words but is also written on our hearts, inviting us to interpret Scripture through prayer, reflection, and personal experience. The Bible itself points to the reality that God’s law and love are inscribed within us, and that understanding Scripture is a dynamic process involving both the text and the Spirit’s work in our lives. This means that faithful interpretation is not an “either/or” but an “and”—Scripture and what God is writing on your heart, tradition and reason, community and personal experience. [10:13]
Jeremiah 31:33 (ESV)
“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
Reflection: As you read Scripture today, what do you sense God is writing on your heart, and how might that shape your understanding or actions?
Day 5: Love and Justice Go Hand in Hand
True love is inseparable from justice; to love as God loves means to seek justice for others and to act as peacemakers in the world. The call to “love your neighbor” is not just about kindness or inclusion, but also about standing up for what is right and fair. Love without justice is incomplete, and justice without love can become harsh or empty. As followers of Christ, we are invited to embody both, working for peace with justice in our communities and beyond, reflecting God’s inclusive and transformative love. [22:04]
Micah 6:8 (ESV)
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Reflection: What is one concrete way you can pursue both love and justice in your relationships or community this week?
Quotes
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