BOTTOM LINE: We leave a mark in our city when I leave a mark in my circles.

1. Seeing physical needs around me opens the door to spiritual needs around me.

2. Religion will try to keep me from the most obvious needs around me.

3. Leaving my mark is the top priority.

4. My biggest mark will be left where I have the greatest influence.

5. My mark is left when I am not the hero of the story.

START TALKING

When have you been part of a project or experience of some kind that required you and other people to divide and conquer? Maybe it's in your family, at school or work, or on a team of some kind. Were you more of the "do most of the work" person or the "show up and participate" person?

Thinking about what you shared above and the examples you gave, what would have happened if just one person tried to do it all? Would it have been as effective or successful? Why or why not?

START THINKING

After reading the history of the Jewish-Samaritan feud, read John 4:1-13. Knowing what you now know about the history, what do you think would have been going through this woman's mind as Jesus strikes up a conversation with her? (hint: verse 9!) Beyond this one word, what do you think she was experiencing in this moment?

What does this story tell us about how we should also approach those that are different than us or that we may even historically have been told to not associate with?

When you think about people in your own circles where you live, work, and play, who are the "Samaritans" of our day that Christians are often assumed - or even taught - to not have any association with? What do you think would be the result if Christians chose to follow the example Jesus gives in this story?

Read John 4:15-19. Why do you think Jesus responds to her wanting his eternal water with the question about her husband? Why do you think he addresses her personal life in this way? What do you notice that he does NOT do when he addresses her personal life? And why do you think He does it this way?

START SHARING

Read John 4:27-30. Who are the people in your life and in your circles that you may be the only one who can "run back" and tell them about Jesus? Identify the circles of people in your life where you live, work, and play that you have the greatest influence with to possibly leave the biggest mark.

What keeps you from making this your top priority like it was for the Samaritan woman. She was so focused on this priority that she left her water jar at the well. What might you have to leave behind to make leaving your mark your top priority?

START DOING

What can you do this week to get to know the needs of the people in your life where you live, work, and play so that meeting those needs might open the door to spiritual influence? What is a need that you can meet this week?

The Samaritan woman ran back and told her story of how she met Jesus, and she did it in just a couple of sentences! What is the short story of how you met Jesus and how he changed your life that you can be prepared to tell? (Hint - Just finish these three sentences! "Before Jesus I was... I met Jesus when... Since I met Jesus I am now...")

Which Serve the City project will you be participating in this week or did you participate in last week? Click the link below to sign up! www.onelifeknox.com/servethecity

START PRAYING

Pray for each other in the micro church to not be afraid to leverage each of our circles where we live, work, and play to leave our mark. Pray that each of us will be filled with the Spirit of God to have the ability, wisdom, and understanding to impact those around us for eternity!