Living Water: Embracing the Overlooked and Marginalized

Summary

Today’s reflection centers on the story of the Samaritan woman at the well, a narrative that reveals the heart of Jesus for those who feel unseen, unworthy, or on the margins. The encounter between Jesus and this unnamed woman is the longest recorded conversation Jesus has with anyone in the New Testament, and yet, she is someone society would have overlooked. Her story is not one of scandal, as tradition sometimes paints, but perhaps one of deep loss and vulnerability. In her, we see a person who has endured much, and yet Jesus meets her with dignity, knowledge, and an invitation to receive “living water”—a gift that transcends her circumstances and her past.

This living water is not just for her, but for all who thirst for meaning, belonging, and hope. Jesus’ request for a drink is not because he needs her, but because he chooses to value her, to draw her into the story of God’s redemption. God, who needs nothing, invites us to participate, to give, to serve, and in doing so, grants us worth and purpose. The woman’s response is to leave her water jar behind and run to tell others, not because she has all the answers, but because she has been seen and known by the Messiah. Her transformation is not just personal; it becomes communal as she invites others to encounter Jesus for themselves.

The story also challenges the walls we build—between Jew and Samaritan, between “insiders” and “outsiders,” between those who belong and those who don’t. Jesus tears down these barriers, declaring that true worship is not about place or tradition, but about spirit and truth. The well becomes a symbol of the church: a place where living water flows, where people are welcomed, where strangers become family, and where the presence of Christ is encountered in word, sacrament, and community.

In seasons of loneliness, transition, or uncertainty, the church is called to be a deep well of living water. Every act of hospitality, every word of encouragement, every faithful gathering matters more than we know. God uses ordinary people and ordinary places to do extraordinary things. The invitation is to keep the well flowing, to be a source of life for others, and to trust that God is at work, even when we cannot see the full picture.

Key Takeaways

- God Sees and Values the Overlooked
Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman demonstrates that God notices those whom society ignores or misunderstands. He knows our stories, our wounds, and our worth, even when we feel invisible or unworthy. In Christ, our value is not determined by our past or our status, but by the love and attention God gives us. This truth invites us to see ourselves and others through the eyes of grace. [36:01]

- Participation in God’s Work Gives Us Worth
God, who needs nothing, chooses to involve us in his work—inviting us to give, serve, and build alongside him. This participation is not about God’s lack, but about our dignity and purpose as co-creators and partners in the kingdom. Even when all we have is a “water jar,” God uses it to draw us into deeper relationship and mission. Our small offerings matter in God’s hands. [37:17]

- The Walls We Build Are Torn Down in Christ
The question of where to worship was a symbol of deep division between Jews and Samaritans, yet Jesus declares that true worship transcends place, tradition, and human boundaries. In Christ, the walls that separate us—be they religious, cultural, or personal—are dismantled. We are called to be a community where spirit and truth unite us, not fences or exclusions. [35:10]

- Living Water Flows Outward, Not Inward
The living (leaping) water Jesus offers is not meant to be hoarded, but to overflow into the lives of others. The woman at the well leaves her jar and runs to invite her community to meet Jesus, showing that true encounter with Christ compels us to share, invite, and include. Our faith is not just for our own satisfaction, but for the blessing and transformation of those around us. [41:38]

- The Church as a Deep Well of Grace
A healthy church is not defined by its fences or boundaries, but by the depth and accessibility of its well—the living water of Christ’s presence, hospitality, and mission. When we keep the well flowing through worship, service, and welcome, people are drawn in and lives are changed, often in ways we may never see. Every act of faithfulness, no matter how small, can become a miracle in someone’s life. [57:34]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[28:36] - Personal Introduction and Church Connections
[31:02] - Ministry Transitions and Challenges
[32:29] - The Woman at the Well: Setting the Scene
[34:01] - Jesus Offers Living Water
[35:10] - Breaking Down Barriers: Worship in Spirit and Truth
[36:01] - The Longest Conversation: Being Known by God
[37:17] - God Invites Us to Participate
[38:27] - Rethinking the Woman’s Story
[40:26] - Personal Testimony: Being Seen and Accepted
[41:38] - Living Water and Leaping Water
[51:54] - Communion: Remembering and Receiving
[57:34] - The Church as a Well of Living Water
[01:00:16] - Blessing and Benediction
[01:11:15] - End

Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide: The Samaritan Woman at the Well – Seen, Known, and Sent

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### Bible Reading

John 4:4-30, 39-42
(The story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well)

Psalm 139:1-4
("O Lord, you have searched me and you know me...")

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### Observation Questions

1. In John 4, what are some reasons the Samaritan woman is surprised that Jesus speaks to her? What barriers existed between them? ([34:01])
2. According to the passage, what does Jesus mean by “living water”? How does the woman respond to his offer? ([34:01])
3. What does Jesus reveal about the woman’s life, and how does she react to being known so deeply? ([36:01])
4. In Psalm 139, what does the psalmist say about how well God knows us? How does this connect to the woman’s experience with Jesus? ([40:26])

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### Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon suggests the woman’s story is not just one of scandal, but possibly of deep loss and vulnerability. How does this change the way we see her and her encounter with Jesus? ([38:27])
2. Jesus breaks down the wall between Jews and Samaritans by saying true worship is “in spirit and in truth.” What does this mean for how we think about who belongs in God’s family? ([35:10])
3. The woman leaves her water jar behind and runs to tell others about Jesus. What does this action show about her transformation and priorities? ([41:38])
4. The sermon describes the church as a “well of living water.” What does it look like for a church to be this kind of place? ([57:34])

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### Application Questions

1. The sermon says Jesus sees and values those who feel overlooked or unworthy. Have you ever felt unseen or on the margins? How does it change things to know that God sees and values you? ([36:01])
2. Jesus invites the woman to participate in God’s work, even though she has little to offer. What is something small you have that God might use for his purposes? ([37:17])
3. Are there “walls” in your life or in our church that keep people out or make them feel like outsiders? What is one step you could take to break down those barriers? ([35:10])
4. The woman’s encounter with Jesus leads her to invite her whole community. Who in your life needs to be invited to experience Jesus? What’s one way you could reach out this week? ([41:38])
5. The sermon describes the church as a deep well, not a place with fences. How can our small group or church be more like a well—open, welcoming, and life-giving? ([57:34])
6. In seasons of loneliness or uncertainty, the church is called to be a source of living water. Is there someone in our group or community who might need encouragement or hospitality right now? How can we help? ([57:34])
7. The woman didn’t have all the answers, but she shared what she experienced. Is there a part of your story with God you could share with someone this week, even if you don’t have it all figured out? ([41:38])

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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Thank God for seeing us, knowing us, and inviting us to be part of his story. Ask for help to be a well of living water for others this week.

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus Offers Living Water to the Thirsty
Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well reveals that God meets us in our places of need, offering us living water that satisfies our deepest thirsts. Despite cultural and social barriers, Jesus initiates a conversation, asking the woman for a drink and then offering her something far greater—living water that becomes a spring welling up to eternal life. This living water is not just for the worthy or the well-known, but for anyone who is willing to receive it, no matter their past or present circumstances. Jesus’ invitation is for all who are thirsty, promising a transformation that goes beyond physical needs to the very core of our souls. [34:01]

John 4:4-14 (ESV)
And he had to pass through Samaria. So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” 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 again. 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 dry or thirsty, and how might you open yourself today to receive the living water Jesus offers?


Day 2: God Knows Us Completely and Loves Us Still
The story of the woman at the well and the words of Psalm 139 remind us that God knows us intimately—our history, our struggles, our thoughts, and our needs—yet still loves and values us. The Samaritan woman was surprised that Jesus knew her story, and this knowledge was not used to shame her but to invite her into a new life. Similarly, Psalm 139 proclaims that God searches us and knows us, understanding us even before we speak. This deep knowing is not a cause for fear, but a source of comfort and hope, assuring us that we are seen, known, and loved by the Creator. [41:38]

Psalm 139:1-4 (ESV)
O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.

Reflection: What is one part of your life or story that you have hidden from others or even from God—can you bring it honestly before Him today, trusting that He knows and loves you completely?


Day 3: True Worship Breaks Down Barriers
Jesus’ response to the woman’s question about worship locations reveals that true worship is not about place or tradition, but about worshiping God in spirit and in truth. The divisions between Jews and Samaritans, and the arguments over where to worship, were rendered irrelevant by Jesus’ declaration that God seeks those who worship with genuine hearts, regardless of background or history. This radical inclusivity breaks down walls that separate people, inviting all to draw near to God and to one another in authentic worship. [35:10]

John 4:19-24 (ESV)
The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 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: Are there any barriers—cultural, personal, or relational—that keep you from worshiping God or connecting with others? How can you take a step today to break down one of those walls?


Day 4: The Church as a Well of Living Water
The church is called to be a well of living water for its community, a place where people can encounter the love, grace, and presence of God. Just as the woman at the well left her jar behind to share the good news, the church is most alive when it overflows with the living water of Christ, welcoming strangers, serving others, and nurturing faith. The impact of a church is often unseen, but every act of hospitality, every prayer, and every shared story can be a source of hope and transformation for those who are thirsty for God. [47:30]

Isaiah 55:1 (ESV)
“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”

Reflection: How can you be a source of living water to someone in your church or community this week—through a word, a gesture, or an act of service?


Day 5: Responding to Jesus’ Invitation and Sharing the Good News
When we encounter Jesus and receive His living water, we are called not only to be filled ourselves but to go and invite others to experience Him as well. The Samaritan woman’s immediate response was to leave her jar and run to tell others, inviting them to come and see for themselves. Our faith is not meant to be kept private or hidden, but to be shared so that others, too, may encounter the transforming love of Christ. [36:01]

Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Reflection: Who is one person you can invite to encounter Jesus—through a conversation, an invitation to church, or a simple act of kindness—this week?

Quotes