Never Be Thirsty

Another Sunday, another craft, right?

This week's story was about the woman at the well, who met Jesus there. In quick synopsis, this woman (who remains unnamed) goes as she does every day to this well to draw water, and on this specific day, she encounters Jesus there. Though first caught off guard for she is a Samaritan and he is a Jew and the simple conversation breaks the normal social ladder, Jesus tells her how this water she is drawing will never quench her thirst, but if she drank from the water He gives, she would never be thirsty. Obviously going over her head, she asks where to get this water. He proceeds to reveal some facts about her that only a prophet would know, and then, He reveals his identity as the Messiah. She runs back to town, and because of her testimony, many Samaritans become believers.

To me, this is a great story of undiscriminating love that only Jesus can give.
Since kids are very physical learners, as some entry activities, we got large bowls and filled them with water as well as some items that they could transfer the water from bowl to bowl with as if "drawing water."
For the craft, we made cups of water. It is so simple, and can be altered depending on age levels.

For my 4 year olds, I cut the water drop, punched the holes, wrote the reference, and cut the string. If you have older kids, I suggest letting them punch the holes and write the reference.

By tying the drop to the cup, it lets them "fill the cup" just like the woman at the well would have.

My church provides labels with the unit verse on it that we placed on the outside of the cup reading a paraphrase of Matthew 28:19-20. A few of the kiddos also decorated their cups with crayons if this seems a bit bland to you. 

For older kids, you could get a water drop for each word and have them write each word on one drop and tie them together. I would write the end of verse 13 reading "whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst."

The suggested craft provided by my church looked like this, but I thought this was too coloring based for my class of all boys to enjoy.

If you're interested in this one, here is a file of the print out of the well. They used 2 man di-cuts to represent Jesus and the woman. Everything else was colored on.

"Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'" 

John 4:13-14

I think verses 13 and 14 convey the overall message of the story very well that nothing in this world can satisfy us except for Jesus. Friends, sports, fame, work, none of that can satisfy us.

This week, let's focus on the one who can satisfy us, and worship him in all that we do.