Icebreaker:
What is your favorite perfume or cologne scent?
How are you using essential oil scents?
Prayer:
During this series on prayer, determine to spend more time
in personal prayer each day. As a group, pray before your discussion. Start a
prayer log to record requests and answers. Check the church’s weekly email
blast for needs to add to your log.
Overview:
In this week’s lesson, the sinful
woman anoints Jesus’s feet with a fragrant ointment. Scents were often used by
cultures where personal hygiene was not as convenient as it is today. These
days not everyone responds favorably to fragrances. I recently attended a
multi-day convention where all attendees were asked to refrain from using
fragrances to accommodate other attendees with allergies to fragrances. I must
admit I felt a little uncomfortable without my signature fragrance each day. Jesus
enjoyed the luxury of the sweet, fragrant anointing. He knew it was an
expression of her appreciative heart that was overflowing with love for Him and
the forgiveness He gave her.
Discussion:
Review theme scripture from Matthew 6:5-15.
Read Luke 7:36-50.
If
you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. --
Matthew 6:14 NLT
What illustration did Jesus use to explain the woman’s
actions?
How was she expressing her need for forgiveness?
How did Simon express his need of Jesus?
How are you expressing your appreciation for your
forgiveness?
Which person are you? Simon, the Pharisee, or the forgiven
woman?
By what authority does Jesus forgive sin?
Why is forgiveness of others required of us?
Activity:
Consider the sinful world around you and their need of
forgiveness. Some may be aware of their need (like the sinful woman) while
others are totally oblivious to their sinful situation (like Simon). Do small
acts of kindness this week that shares the love of Jesus with them this week. Pray
that Jesus will reveal His path of forgiveness to them and they will be open to
it.
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