Lessons from an Unlikely Teacher – Discussion Guide 10.23.22

Steve Welch                                                  Rockford Campus                                           October 23, 2022

LESSONS FROM AN UNLIKELY TEACHER

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE

REMINDERS

• Men’s Groups! Monday @7pm, Wednesday at 6am and 6:30pm
• Women’s Groups! Check the website for our many options!

 

TOGETHER IN LIFE

**On Sunday, Steve talked about the things we love. What is something that your friends and family would say that you love? How do they know you love this?

 

TOGETHER IN THE WORD

“A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” Luke 7:41-47

 

**Take time to read the full passage together (Luke 7:36-8:3).

 

QUESTION: How do you think the world around us would describe what love looks like? How might this be different than how the Bible describes love?

 

         THREE MAIN CHARACTERS

>THE WOMAN

QUESTION: What do you think it was like for this woman to live in this community? How might this impact our view of her actions here in this passage?

QUESTION: Our passage shows the woman’s response to Jesus’ grace. Can you remember the first time you understood the grace of Jesus? What was your response?

 

>SIMON 

QUESTION: Is there ever a part of you that just wants Jesus along for the ride instead of in control? How does this self-righteousness show up in our lives?

QUESTION: Jesus agreed to come to this party because he loves Pharisees. What kind of people do you have a hard time imagining that God loves them? How does it make you feel that God loves even the vilest of sinners?

QUESTION: This woman broke several taboos in her actions. What are some of the taboos in our current culture that impact the way we view people in the church? If this passage was written today, what type of person would represent this woman?

QUESTION: Steve described the woman’s actions/worship as premeditated, risky, self-forgetful, tearful, affectionate, and sacrificial. Which one of these descriptors sticks out to you most? Why?

QUESTION: If we were to look at your worship throughout your week, what words would we use to describe it?

 

>JESUS

QUESTION: In Jesus’ upside-down kingdom, we have a prostitute as an unlikely teacher. What other unlikely teachers might we overlook in life?

 

        ASPECTS OF OUR WORSHIP

QUESTION: “None of us are beyond love’s reach.” How should this change the way we live? How should this change the way we view other people?

QUESTION: Steve describes the qualities of our worship as forgiveness, faith, gratitude, love, and sacrificial giving. Which one of these do you struggles with the most in your own worship?

QUESTION: What does the use of my time, talents, and treasures, indicate about what I worship?

 

        MONEY BLINDNESS

QUESTION: When you look at the stats that Steve gave about giving, how do they strike you?

QUESTION: Why is the way we use our money such a sensitive topic? Why do you think people don’t give more of their treasure?

QUESTION: What would be an appropriate reflection of the grace we have been given when it comes to our time, talents, and treasure?

 

TOGETHER IN ACTION

Take some time this week to evaluate your worship. Do you have a love and worship of God that overflows from the grace you have received?

 

TOGETHER IN WORSHIP

Confession is often awkward. Many times because we don’t have a regular habit of it. But scripture commands us to confess our sins one to another. Steve said on Sunday that some of the things we treasure are choking out what we should love the most. Take some time to examine your own life and then confess to each other the things that have been choking out your affection for Jesus.