Gospel of John: March 2, 2017

Date	Theme	Scripture & Class Exercises
March 2	One on one Relation-ships	Nicodemus: 3:1-21 Woman of Samaria: 4:1-42

1. Trust Meaning Exercise: if you met someone for the first time what would make you trust someone?  What do they have to be or do for you to trust them?  Everyone write ideas down on a 3x5 card: I trust someone when . . .  

Class Response:

We can strike up a conversation         Have a dog or a child               They tell the truth     

I am in a comfortable or safe place                 they smile       They are nice to others

They keep confidences           They are polite           We have common ground

John 3:1-21  DVD

*What is the setting of the story?  (time, place, what were they doing?) Who do you think was present?

*What does being BORN AGAIN mean to you?  (How do we define it?) 

Class Response: 

Changing attitudes and feelings                       
Revealing of Spirituality/Growth in Spirituality

Transformation           Feel closer to God

*If you were listening to this discussion what questions or comments would you have for Jesus about being born again in the spirit?

Class Response:

            What do I have to do to be reborn?

            Is there something Jesus can show us about being reborn?

            How will I feel/know when I’ve been reborn?

John 4:1-42:  DVD

Samaria was a “bad place” in Jesus’ time.  Jewish people normally went around Samaria.

Samaritans were a mixed race people who Jewish people considered to be unclean.

Why do you think that Jesus went through Samaria?

Class Response:

Disciples                                                   Samaritans

Jewish & had prejudices                          Typified “bad/wayward” Jews

                                               

Jesus:   Breaks Boundaries   
Asks “Who is my neighbor?”
Got His disciples to expand their idea of who was worthy of God's attention.

Exercise:  Physical and Spiritual Functions

Many people define spiritual functions by paralleling them with physical functions

List physical functions – things we do on the board

            Think of corresponding spiritual actions in our lives.

Class Response:

Eat & Food/ Drink & Water   -----   Thirst & Hunger for God

Sleep                                       -----   Peacefulness & Restfulness

Walk & Run                            -----  Following a spiritual path or system; 
                                                           slowly or quickly

Talking and Singing                 -----   Connecting to people & God in fellowship

Listening                                 -----   Listening for clues to hear our direction

Expelling waste                       -----   Getting rid of things that are not God

Learn                                       -----   Open ourselves to change and transformation