Yale University

Youth Ministry Institute

Women in the Bible – Lesson 7: The Woman at the Well

A youth Bible study on Women in the Bible based on the Yale Bible Study.

Practice Duration 60 minutes
Lesson developed byJill Olds and Victoria Crook
Materials Checklist

Introduction for Leaders

Gather

  • Begin with a check in with members
  • Open with prayer

Engage

Activity 1: Headlines

  • Bring in headlines/magazines/news articles describing men and women and ask youth what they think the article is about. (The more ridiculous the headline the better)
  • Circle/point out the different ways these articles describe the men and women in their stories. Examples include articles talking about what women politician’s wear, descriptors of their bodies, personality traits, discussions around family life, etc. These can be from Pop Culture magazines, NYT, internet articles, commercials, etc.
  • What patterns do you and your youth notice? Discuss why there might be such a difference in descriptions of women and men.

Activity 2: Video

Watch the video “Jesus Talks with the Samaritan Woman”  OR the video “The Truth About Being a Girl”

Reflect

Read the focal scripture and discuss the following questions together:

  1. What is Jesus’ approach here? How does he converse with her?
  2. This is the longest conversation in all of the Scriptures, and it’s with a woman. In Jesus’ exchange with her, the power flows between them. What does that say about how Jesus views women who are outsiders, perhaps adulterous, certainly vulnerable in society?
  3. How often do other people “see” us the way Jesus sees the Samaritan woman? How often do we see others in this way, and let others lead in the conversation, without interruption?

 

Send Forth

Close the meeting in prayer (either the leader or a group member).

Download PDF