Part 1: Thirsting for the Right Thing
Have you ever been so thirsty that you reached for something you thought would help — maybe soda, coffee, or juice — only to find you were still thirsty afterward?
It’s interesting how our bodies can crave water, yet we often reach for substitutes. They might taste good for the moment, but they never truly satisfy.
That’s exactly how many of us live spiritually. We’re thirsty for peace, for meaning, for love — but instead of going to the Living Water, we reach for substitutes: people’s approval, career success, social media validation, relationships, or even ministry work.
Like the Samaritan woman, we keep coming back to the same wells, expecting a different result — only to leave empty again. But Jesus shows us that real refreshment doesn’t come from what’s around us; it comes from Who is within us.
This lesson reminds us that until we draw from the right well — the well of Jesus — we will always remain thirsty.
Scripture Focus: John 4:1–18
Supporting Scriptures: Jeremiah 2:13, Acts 17:28
Lesson Focus
We were all created with divine purpose — not simply to exist, achieve, or perform, but to glorify God with our lives. Yet many of us move through seasons of emptiness, spiritual fatigue, or disconnection because we are thirsting for the wrong things — validation, relationships, success, comfort, or recognition — things that can never fully satisfy the soul.
Just like the Samaritan woman, we sometimes find ourselves returning to the same dry wells, hoping they’ll finally fill us. But purpose cannot thrive in an empty spirit. We must be filled and refreshed by the only true source — Jesus, the Living Water.
“For in Him we live and move and have our being.” — Acts 17:28
Teaching Points
Created for Purpose
Every one of us was uniquely designed by God for a divine reason — to glorify Him. Our gifts, experiences, and even our pain all play a part in His bigger plan.Empty Wells
We often look for satisfaction in things that promise to make us whole but don’t. Like the Samaritan woman, we keep drawing from “wells” that leave us thirsty again.Recognizing Spiritual Thirst
Feeling unfulfilled, drained, or disconnected can be a holy signal — a reminder that our spirit is thirsty for more of God.The Human Condition
God calls us back from the world’s broken cisterns to His fountain of living water.“My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters…” — Jeremiah 2:13
Reflection & Discussion Questions (with examples)
What are some “wells” you’ve gone back to that leave you feeling empty?
Maybe it’s seeking constant approval on social media.
Maybe it’s pouring yourself into work, relationships, or ministry trying to feel worthy.
Or maybe it’s numbing through distractions — shopping, food, or busyness.
➤ Discuss how these temporary fixes make us feel full for a moment but never truly satisfied.
How can you tell when your soul is running dry?
You’re easily irritated or discouraged.
You feel disconnected from prayer or worship.
You’re busy doing “good things” but not feeling spiritually alive.
➤ Talk about warning signs of spiritual dehydration and how you’ve recognized them in your own life.
What might it look like to turn your thirst toward God instead of the world?
Spending quiet time in His Word before reaching for your phone in the morning.
Bringing your frustrations and desires to Him through journaling or prayer.
Choosing to rest instead of striving for validation.
➤ Share ways to shift focus back to Jesus as the source of fulfillment.
Have you ever mistaken busyness for purpose?
Sometimes we equate productivity with purpose, yet our hearts remain restless.
➤ Reflect on a season where you were “doing a lot” but still felt spiritually empty.
Takeaway for Part 1
You cannot be refreshed in purpose if you keep drawing from empty wells. Recognize your thirst, acknowledge where you’ve been going to be filled, and allow your thirst to lead you back to the One who truly satisfies — Jesus, the Living Water.
“For My people have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters…” — Jeremiah 2:13