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Jesus Gives Living Water

A woman at a well, a thirsty walk, and the water that never runs out

  • 🛡️ CTR 4–7
  • Week 6
  • 📅 Sunday, February 7, 2027
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

Jesus is like living water: when I keep coming to Him, He fills me up with His love again and again.

I can come to Jesus again and again by praying, learning about Him, and taking the sacrament.

Study it yourself firstRead John 2–4 in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this week (John 2–4)
Know the chapters

John 2–4 has four stories. At a wedding in Cana, Jesus turned water into wine, His first miracle, after His mother told the servants to do whatever He said (John 2:1–11). At the temple in Jerusalem, Jesus found people buying and selling animals and changing money. He drove them out and taught that the temple is His Father’s house (John 2:13–17). Kids understand this well: the temple is a special, quiet, holy place.

In John 3, a leader named Nicodemus came to Jesus at night. Jesus taught him that everyone must be born again, “of water and of the Spirit” (John 3:5). For children: being born of water means being baptized, and being born of the Spirit means receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. It’s like a brand-new start. Your 7-year-olds are getting close! Jesus also taught Nicodemus that Heavenly Father loves the world so much that He gave His Son (John 3:16).

Today’s Story Drama is John 4. Jesus was tired and thirsty and sat by a well. A Samaritan woman came for water, and Jesus asked her for a drink. She was surprised, because Jews and Samaritans usually didn’t talk to each other. Jesus offered her “living water” that would keep filling her forever. He showed He knew all about her, and He told her He was the promised Savior. She left her waterpot and ran to tell her whole town. No child plays Jesus; you read His words.

For ages 4–7, keep the water idea concrete: we get thirsty every day and have to keep drinking. We need Jesus every day too. Praying, reading or hearing scriptures, singing, and taking the sacrament are how we keep coming back to Him. If you teach on fast Sunday, show water but don’t let anyone drink.

Only have 5 minutes?

Fill a clear cup with water. Play the Mystery Water Sound, let your phone or tablet run the Story Drama, do The Refill Cup, teach John 4:14 with motions, and play Forehead Guess. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing” and the cup becomes a pretend cup everyone drinks from, then refills.

What to bring4 items

Tick what you have. Forgot something? Every step that needs a supply has a no-supplies version in the plan below.

Before class

  1. Fill your water bottle and set the clear cup and towel on a table near you.
  2. Add your kids’ names in the My Class tab so you can hand out story roles with one tap.
  3. Pick a 6- or 7-year-old reader to be the Woman at the Well. She reads a few words from the screen in scene 6.
  4. For the bonus game, put a picture of Jesus in a small box or bag and wrap or tie it like a present.

If your class is wild

  • Give the wiggliest kids the Sun role. They get to shine big and hot, and fan themselves, but only in their scenes.
  • Use the Noise Meter in the Market to Temple wiggle. Kids love trying to get it down to “mouse.”
  • Keep the water cup in your own hands. Say, “Water stays with the teacher,” and nobody spills.
  • In Forehead Guess, pair a little one with a big-kid buddy who can whisper an action clue.

The 25-minute plan25 min + bonus

Bonus steps are for when you have extra time. Steps that mention Teach Mode, the Sound Board or other class games refer to the Gospel Sparks app; on the web you can play Forehead Guess and Scripture Showdown from this page.

1. Hook

Mystery Water Sound

2 min

A splashy mystery sound gets kids curious and thinking about why we need water.

  1. SAY“Close your eyes and listen. What is this sound?” Tap splash on the Sound Board, or make a splashing noise with your mouth.
  2. When they guess water, ask: “What do we need water for?” Let kids call out answers (drinking, baths, plants, pets, swimming, baptism!).
  3. Ask: “If you drink a glass of water, will you ever be thirsty again?” (Yes, tomorrow!)
  4. SAY“Today Jesus talks about a special kind of water that never runs out. Let’s find out what it is!”
🌪️ Guessers raise a hand with eyes still closed. Anyone who peeks gets to be the next sound maker only if they close their eyes the next round.

Class screen: 💧 Listen… what’s that sound? · Splish! Splash!

2. Story

Story Drama: The Woman at the Well

6 min

Acting out John 4 shows that Jesus knows and loves each of us and offers living water to everyone.

  1. Hand out the roles (tap Roles in Teach Mode to assign them from your class list). Everyone left over is a Townsperson. Say: “I’ll read what Jesus says. Listen for His kind words.”
  2. Big-kid readers: let a 6- or 7-year-old read the caption on each screen before you read the scene.
  3. Read each scene and pause for the action. The Sun shines in scenes 1 and 2 and then sits down.
  4. At scene 4, ask: “Jesus was kind to someone other people wouldn’t talk to. Who can we be kind to?”
  5. At scene 6, say: “Jesus knows everything about you, and He loves you anyway.”
🌪️ Townspeople wait “inside their houses” (sitting on the rug) until the Woman calls, “Come, see!” Then they tiptoe-run.

Class screen: 🎭 Story Drama time! · Everyone gets a part

3. Object lesson

The Refill Cup

3 min

A cup that has to keep being refilled shows that we need to keep coming to Jesus every day.

  1. Pour water into the clear cup and hold it up. Say: “This water helps us when we’re thirsty.” Pour it back out into the bottle. “But soon we’re thirsty again!”
  2. Ask: “How do we fill up our cup again?” (Go get more water!) Pour a little back in.
  3. SAY“Jesus is like living water. We need Him every day, not just once. How can we come back to Him again and again?”
  4. For each answer (pray, read scriptures, sing Primary songs, take the sacrament, be kind), pour in a little more water until the cup is full.
  5. SAY“Every time we pray or take the sacrament, Jesus fills us up with His love again.”
🌪️ Pick a helper who is sitting still to hold the towel under the cup. Only the teacher pours.

Class screen: 🥛 Empty… then full again! · 🙏 Pray · 📖 Scriptures · 🍞 Sacrament

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A clear cup and a water bottle or pitcher of water (for showing, not drinking), plus a towel for drips

The Pretend Refill Cup

  1. SAY“Everyone hold out a pretend cup.” Pretend to pour water into each child’s cup from a pretend pitcher with a glug-glug sound.
  2. SAY“Drink it all up!” Everyone gulps. Ask: “Will you be thirsty again tomorrow?” (Yes!) Everyone turns their cup upside down: “Empty!”
  3. SAY“Jesus is like living water. We need Him every day. How can we come back to Him again and again?”
  4. For each answer (pray, read scriptures, sing, take the sacrament, be kind), everyone holds their cup higher and says, “Glug, glug, fill it up!”
  5. SAY“Every time we pray or take the sacrament, Jesus fills us up with His love again.”

Class screen: 🥛 Glug, glug! Fill it up again! · 🙏 Pray · 📖 Scriptures · 🍞 Sacrament

4. Wiggle break

Market to Temple

2 min

Loud market noises, then a reverent tiptoe, show that the temple is Heavenly Father’s holy house.

  1. SAY“When Jesus went to the temple, people had turned it into a noisy market!” Everyone makes market noises: moo, baa, coo like doves, and “Buy my sheep!”
  2. SAY“Jesus said the temple is His Father’s house, and He drove the sellers out.” Everyone freezes.
  3. SAY“The temple is holy and quiet.” Tap the Noise Meter. Everyone tiptoes in place, as quietly as they can, until the meter shows a mouse.
  4. SAY“Our church and the temple are special places. We can be reverent there because we love Heavenly Father.”
🐭 Noise Meter (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 🐑 Moo! Baa! Coo! Then… shhh. The temple is holy. · Quiet as a mouse 🐭

5. Scripture

Scripture Spotlight: John 4:14

3 min

Motions help every child, reader or not, remember that Jesus gives water that never runs out.

  1. Show the verse on your phone or tablet. Ask a big-kid Reading Helper to read it out loud.
  2. SAY“Whosoever means anyone. Thirst means being thirsty. Jesus is talking about His love and His gospel, which fill us up forever.”
  3. Teach the motions one phrase at a time. Say it three ways: a whisper, a bubbly voice, and a strong, happy voice.
  4. Ask: “Who can have Jesus’s living water?” (Anyone! Everyone!) “How do we get it?” (Come to Him.)

Class screen: 💧 “…shall never thirst” · John 4:14

6. Game

Forehead Guess: At the Well

4 min

A picture guessing game reviews the stories, and the pictures let non-readers give clues too.

  1. Tap Forehead Guess. A guesser holds your phone or tablet on their forehead, screen facing the class.
  2. Everyone else looks at the picture and gives clues without saying the word. Little ones can act it out: gulp for water, baa for sheep.
  3. Big kids can read the hint under the picture if the class gets stuck.
  4. Tilt down for “got it,” up to pass. Give each guesser about 30 seconds. Pair a little one with a big-kid buddy on their turn.
🌪️ Clue-givers stay on their bottoms and raise a hand. Shouting the word means you act out the next clue with no sound.
▶ Play Forehead Guess on the web

Class screen: 🤔 Forehead Guess! · Act it out or give a clue · Don’t say the word!

7. Talk it over

A Brand-New Start

3 min

Connect Jesus’s words to Nicodemus with the children’s own baptism and the Holy Ghost.

  1. SAY“One night a man named Nicodemus came to visit Jesus. Jesus told him we need to be born again, of water and of the Spirit. Born of water means being baptized. Born of the Spirit means getting the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
  2. Sit close in a circle. Ask one question at a time. Let two or three kids answer each. Invite anyone who has seen a baptism to share.
  3. Little ones can answer by acting: “Show me how a brand-new baby sleeps.”
💬 Ask the class
  • Have you ever seen someone get baptized? What did you see?
  • Baptism is like a brand-new start. How do you think it feels to be brand-new?
  • How can the Holy Ghost help you after you are baptized?

Class screen: 👶 Baptism is like a brand-new start!

8. Testimony

Filled Up with His Love

2 min

End calm and reverent, with one way to come back to Jesus this week.

  1. Lower your voice. Everyone folds their arms and takes one slow breath.
  2. Share one or two sentences about how praying or taking the sacrament fills you up with Jesus’s love.
  3. SAY“Heavenly Father loved us so much that He gave us Jesus. Every day, we can come to Him and be filled again.”
  4. Introduce the Daily Refill challenge on the screen, and ask a child to say the closing prayer. Little ones can repeat a prayer after you, a few words at a time.

Class screen: 💛 Jesus fills me up with His love. · Every day · Again and again

9. Game

The Best Gift

4 minBONUS

Unwrapping a picture of Jesus teaches John 3:16: Heavenly Father’s best gift to us is His Son.

  1. Hold up the wrapped gift. Say: “Guess what’s inside! It’s the best gift ever given.” Let kids guess (a puppy, a bike, candy!).
  2. Pass the gift around the circle while the Hot Potato music plays. Whoever holds it when it stops names a favorite present they’ve gotten.
  3. On the last round, let that child open it and show the picture of Jesus.
  4. Read John 3:16. Say: “Heavenly Father loves us so much that He gave us Jesus. That’s the best gift of all.”
🥔 Hot Potato (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 🎁 What’s inside the best gift ever? · John 3:16

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A small box or bag with a picture of Jesus inside, wrapped like a gift (for the bonus Best Gift game)

The Invisible Gift

  1. Pretend to hold a big, heavy present. Say: “Guess what’s inside! It’s the best gift ever given.” Let kids guess.
  2. Pass the invisible gift around while the Hot Potato music plays. Whoever holds it when it stops names a favorite present they’ve gotten.
  3. On the last round, that child “unwraps” it slowly. Say: “It’s Jesus!” and point to the verse on your phone or tablet.
  4. Read John 3:16. Say: “Heavenly Father loves us so much that He gave us Jesus. That’s the best gift of all.”

Class screen: 🎁 Unwrap the invisible gift! · John 3:16

10. Game

Scripture Showdown

5 minBONUS

A team picture quiz reviews the lesson.

  1. Split into two teams, each with big kids and little kids mixed.
  2. Tap Scripture Showdown. A big kid on each team reads the question out loud; the whole team whispers and points to an answer.
  3. Tap the team that got it right to give them a point. Cheer for both teams.
▶ Play Scripture Showdown on the web

Class screen: 🏆 Scripture Showdown!

Story drama

The Woman at the Well

John 4:5–42 ↗

Parts to hand out

  • The Woman at the WellCarries a waterpot, asks for living water, then runs to town. A good part for a 6- or 7-year-old reader.
  • DisciplesTwo or three kids who walk with Jesus, then march off to town to buy food and come back with pretend bread.
  • The WellTwo kids hold hands in a circle to make the well. They say “Drip, drip” when someone draws water.
  • The SunStands tall with arms in a big circle, shining hot on everyone. Fans themselves: “Whew!”
  • TownspeopleEveryone else. Wait in the town, then run to meet Jesus and cheer, “He is the Savior!”

Scenes

  1. ☀️🚶 A long, hot walk

    Jesus and His disciples were walking a long, long way. By about lunchtime, Jesus was tired and thirsty.

    🎬 Everyone walks in place slowly and wipes their forehead. The Sun shines big: “Whew!”

  2. 🧔🍞 The disciples go get lunch

    They came to a town in a place called Samaria. Jesus sat down to rest by an old well. The disciples went into town to buy food.

    🎬 The Disciples march off to a corner. The Well kids join hands in a circle.

  3. 👩🏺 A woman comes to get water

    A woman walked to the well carrying a big, empty waterpot. She came to get water.

    🎬 The Woman at the Well walks up with a pot on her head. The Well: “Drip, drip!”

  4. 🥤😮 Jesus asks for a drink

    Jesus said, “Give me to drink.” That means, please give me a drink. The woman was surprised! His people and her people usually didn’t even talk to each other. But Jesus was kind to her anyway.

    🎬 The Woman puts her hands on her cheeks. Everyone makes a surprised face: “Whoa!”

  5. 💧✨ Water that never runs out

    Jesus said that anyone who drinks this well water will get thirsty again. But the water He gives never runs out. It is like a spring bubbling up inside you forever.

    🎬 Everyone makes a bubbling spring: crouch low, then wiggle fingers up high: “Bubble, bubble, bubble!”

  6. 🙋‍♀️💧 “Sir, give me this water”

    The woman said, “Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not.” She didn’t want to be thirsty anymore! Then Jesus told her things about her life that no stranger could know. He knew all about her, and He still loved her.

    🎬 The Woman reads from the screen: “Sir, give me this water!” Everyone puts a hand on their heart.

  7. ⭐💛 Jesus is the Savior!

    The woman said she knew the Savior would come someday and teach them everything. Jesus told her, “I that speak unto thee am he.” That means: I am the Savior!

    🎬 Everyone points up and whispers, “It’s Jesus!”

  8. 🏃‍♀️🏺 She leaves her pot and runs!

    The woman left her waterpot right there and ran into town. Maybe she was too excited to carry it! “Come, see!” she told everyone.

    🎬 The Woman runs in place to the Townspeople: “Come, see!” Everyone waves: “Come!”

  9. 🎉🌍 “The Saviour of the world”

    Lots of people came to meet Jesus. After they listened to Him, they said they knew He was “the Saviour of the world.”

    🎬 The Townspeople run to the well and cheer, “He is the Savior!” Then everyone sits and folds their arms.

Key verse

John 4:14 ↗
“whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst”
In kid words: Jesus said, “Anyone who drinks the water I give will never be thirsty.”
🙌 “whosoever drinketh” = tip a pretend cup and gulp · “of the water” = wiggle fingers down like rain · “that I shall give him” = hands open like getting a present · “shall never thirst” = shake your head no, pat your tummy, and say, “Ahhh!”

More verses

John 3:16 ↗
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son”
In kid words: Heavenly Father loves everyone so much that He sent Jesus to us.
John 3:5 ↗
“Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
In kid words: We need to be baptized in water and receive the Holy Ghost to live with Heavenly Father again.
John 2:5 ↗
“Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.”
In kid words: Mary said, “Whatever Jesus tells you, do it!”

Forehead Guess words16 words

  • 🪣 Well
  • 💧 Water
  • 🏺 Waterpot
  • ☀️ Sun
  • 🥵 Thirsty
  • 🚶 Walk
  • 🍞 Bread
  • 🏘️ Town
  • 🏃 Run
  • 💒 Wedding
  • 🏛️ Temple
  • 🐑 Sheep
  • 🕊️ Dove
  • 🌙 Night
  • 👶 Baby
  • 🎁 Gift
Clues for each word
  • Well: A deep hole where you get water
  • Water: You drink it when you’re thirsty
  • Waterpot: The woman carried water in it
  • Sun: Hot and bright in the sky
  • Thirsty: How you feel when you need a drink
  • Walk: Jesus did this a long, long way
  • Bread: The disciples went to town to buy food like this
  • Town: Lots of houses close together
  • Run: The woman did this to tell everyone
  • Wedding: Jesus did His first miracle at one
  • Temple: Heavenly Father’s holy house
  • Sheep: Says “baa.” People sold them at the temple
  • Dove: A white bird that says “coo”
  • Night: When Nicodemus came to visit Jesus
  • Baby: Brand-new! Jesus said we need to be born again
  • Gift: A present. Heavenly Father gave us Jesus
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown8 questions

  1. Where did Jesus sit to rest when He was tired?
    • A. By a well 🪣
    • B. On a camel 🐪
    • C. In a tree 🌳
    Show answer

    ✅ A. By a well 🪣 John 4:6. He sat by Jacob’s well at about noon.

  2. What did Jesus ask the woman for?
    • A. A cookie 🍪
    • B. A drink of water 💧
    • C. A hat 👒
    Show answer

    ✅ B. A drink of water 💧 John 4:7. He was kind to her, even though Jews and Samaritans usually didn’t talk.

  3. Jesus’s living water is special because it…
    • A. Is purple 💜
    • B. Is very cold 🧊
    • C. Never runs out
    Show answer

    ✅ C. Never runs out John 4:14. His love and gospel fill us up forever.

  4. What did the woman leave behind when she ran to town?
    • A. Her waterpot 🏺
    • B. Her shoes 👟
    • C. Her dog 🐕
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Her waterpot 🏺 John 4:28. She hurried to tell everyone about Jesus!

  5. What did the townspeople say about Jesus?
    • A. He’s too tired
    • B. He is the Saviour of the world
    • C. He’s a fisherman
    Show answer

    ✅ B. He is the Saviour of the world John 4:42. They listened to Him and believed.

  6. What did Jesus turn water into at a wedding?
    • A. Ice 🧊
    • B. Juice boxes
    • C. Wine 🍇
    Show answer

    ✅ C. Wine 🍇 John 2:9. It was His very first miracle.

  7. The temple is Heavenly Father’s…
    • A. Store 🛒
    • B. Playground 🛝
    • C. Holy house 🏛️
    Show answer

    ✅ C. Holy house 🏛️ John 2:16. Jesus wanted it to be a sacred, quiet place.

  8. Being “born of water” means being…
    • A. Baptized 💧
    • B. Washed in the bath 🛁
    • C. Rained on 🌧️
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Baptized 💧 John 3:5. Then we receive the Holy Ghost, being born of the Spirit.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • He Sent His Son Children’s Songbook, p. 34

    Goes with John 3:16: Heavenly Father loved us so much that He sent Jesus. Find it ↗

  • Baptism Children’s Songbook, p. 100

    Sing it after A Brand-New Start. Jesus taught that we must be born of water and of the Spirit. Find it ↗

  • I Love to See the Temple Children’s Songbook, p. 95

    Pairs with Market to Temple: the temple is Heavenly Father’s holy house. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Daily Refill

Every time you get a drink of water this week, remember Jesus’s living water. Then say a quick prayer or sing a Primary song to fill up with His love.

Text the parents

This week we acted out the woman at the well. Jesus asked her for a drink and taught her about “living water” that never runs out (John 4:14). We learned that we need Jesus every day, just like we need water, and that baptism is like a brand-new start (John 3:5). Ask your child: why did the woman leave her waterpot and run to town?

📝 After class

What worked? Who needs a check-in this week? Jot it here on a printed copy, or in the app’s private class notes.

Got extra time?

💒 Do What He Says · 3 min

  1. Tell the wedding story: the wedding ran out of drinks, and Mary told the servants, “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it” (John 2:5). That means: whatever Jesus tells you, do it!
  2. Play a quick game: when you say “Jesus says,” kids do the action (fill the jars, carry them, pour). If you don’t say it, they freeze.
  3. SAY“The servants obeyed, and Jesus did a miracle. When we do what Jesus says, He blesses us.”

🌬️ Wind You Can’t See · 3 min

  1. Ask everyone to blow on their hand. “Can you see the wind? Can you feel it?”
  2. SAY“Jesus told Nicodemus the Spirit is like the wind (John 3:8). We can’t see the Holy Ghost, but we can feel Him help us.”
  3. Ask: “How does it feel when the Holy Ghost is near?” (Warm, peaceful, happy, safe.)

🤝 Kind to Everyone · 3 min

  1. SAY“Jesus talked kindly to a woman other people wouldn’t talk to.”
  2. Name situations: a new kid at school, someone sitting alone, a kid who speaks a different language. Kids show how they’d be kind: wave, share, sit by them.
  3. SAY“When we’re kind to everyone, we’re being like Jesus.”

Sources

Scripture quotations are from the King James Version, the Bible used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Tap or click a reference to open it in Gospel Library. Start with the official Come, Follow Me manual; these ideas are here to help it come alive.

All CTR 4–7 lessons