STUDY GUIDE: SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 02 September 21, 2008
Theme: Sept.: Transformed Lives
Theme Verse: “Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–which is your spiritual worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2
Readings: Luke 7:36-50; Luke 18:9-14; John 7:45-49
Optional: John 4:1-42
Memory Verse: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
Notes: ( The term “a sinner” usually meant sexual sin (prostitutes, etc.). Tax collectors were often very corrupt and despised.)
The woman and the tax collector were forgiven and changed. The woman showed love and gratitude to Jesus.
Jesus speaks directly to the woman and when she heard “Your sins are forgiven, it had already happened She admits she was a sinner and Simon didn’t. She expressed gratitude. Both had a need to be forgiven but only she recognized it and experienced God’s forgiveness.
(Jesus said she was truly sorrowful. Psalm 51:17 “a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart” 2 Corinthians 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance- which leads to salvation.) There is a difference between remorse/feeling bad and repentance. Repentance is an action, not an emotion, though there may be emotions involved.
Simon, the Pharisee, was proud and self-righteous and lacked love. He had been forgiven little because he lacked repentance. (see vs.47) The Pharisee “turned to himself’ and the tax collector turned to God in repentance.
(costly worship is like the expensive perfume. )
Jesus want to give us a new beginning and to help others find a new beginning.
God’s love and mercy flow in forgiveness where there is genuine repentance.
A word received: Keep your eyes on me — that is the essence of the lesson. Those who had their attention fixed on me responded in one way, those who did not in another. Humility or not and where your attention is fixed is the difference. The tax collector and the prostitute had their attention on God and their own need for mercy and forgiveness. The Pharisee in the temple had his attention on himself and on the tax collector, and Simon the Pharisee (Jesus’ host) had his attention on what others would think. He projected his own judgment of the woman (or lack of it) on Jesus). Neither Pharisee saw any reason why the woman or the tax collector should receive mercy (this was really offensive to Jesus). Remember the parable of the Unforgiving Servant: “should you not have had mercy?”
Look at the consequences that flow out of the choices these four people made. Two are forgiven/justified before God and receive new life (not a formula process — their attention was on Jesus/God — huge.) They saw their condition by the light of Jesus/measured themselves by God. “Those who walked in darkness have seen a great light” and they walked into the light. Jesus saw in the woman and in the tax collector true repentance and his love flowed out in forgiveness. The two Pharisees measured themselves by something else (themselves).
WORDS about other things Jesus wants us to learn: What are our attitudes to open sinners who have come to Christ Church?
And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, (Luke 7:37)
A word received: People come to the prayer table, people come and sit in the back of the church; welcome them as I welcomed this woman.
and stood at his feet behind him weeping; and she began to wash his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed his feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. (Luke 7:38 )
A word received: Remember the man who shed tears of repentance on the prayer table and I told you that was holy water. I want you to value, as I do, tears of repentance.
Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This man, if he were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” (Luke 7:39)
A word received: I want you to examine your hearts when you meet my little ones who have been led in sin. Remember my parable of bringing every lost sheep back on my shoulders rejoicing. Never despise the one I have rescued.
And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” So he said, “Teacher, say it.” (Luke 7:40)
A word received: Will you hearken to my words to you?
God is love, but he is not indulgent (a contemporary view).
Sunday School Lesson #2 Sept. 21, 2008—Bullet points for little ones
1.- God loves us no matter what we have done.
BUT sin (wrong doing) separates us from God, so He wants to bring us back to Himself-like a lamb brought home on Jesus’ shoulders.
2.- Jesus wants to give us a new beginning- make us a new creation.
And Jesus wants us to help others find that new beginning. HOW?
3.- First we need to recognize and admit we are sinners.
And to come to Jesus for help. a CHOICE
Then Jesus will forgive us and give us a new beginning.
NOTE
The Pharisees in the two stories did not see any sin (wrong doing) in themselves (only in others) so they didn’t repent. That meant they could no be forgiven till they had. Each of the four made a choice. (Two were changed and two were not.)
Posted by anglicanprayer 
