CELL NOTES 13/7/09

ICE BREAKER

What parties do you enjoy, dislike?

THEME

The secret of a loving heart : Gratitude

Reading; Luke 7 : 36 – 50

SERMON OUTLINE

1) Story of a miserable man and a joyful woman.

2) Incident happens at a semi-public banquet, at which Jesus was the guest of Simon the Pharisee.

3) Simon insulted Jesus by not offering a kiss, the washing of his feet, or oil (as a deodorant).

4) Lurking on the fringe was a prostitute, regarded with contempt by most people, but who had found love and acceptance in Jesus. She extravagantly makes up for the insults Jesus had received.

5) Jesus illustrates the incident by his parable of the loan shark, and two tenants in arrears.

6) It’s love that counts – and the greater the cancelled debt, the greater the capacity to love.

7) Who is in greater need of forgiveness, who is in greater debt to God? The woman trapped in an immoral life, or the judgemental, loveless Pharisee?

8) Story of Teddy Stollard.

9) Do you want a more loving heart? Who do you identify most with in the incident in the reading?

10) Parable of prodigal son demonstrates how God has room for the reprobate and the respectable judgemental types.

11) Do you know the authority of Christ within, to dismiss in peace, to live in love – as was the experience of the woman at the end of the reading?

QUESTIONS OF APPLICATION

1)  What is God saying to you through the reading? What did He say to you on Sunday?

2) Who do you identify most with in the reading?

3) What did the Pharisee need? What do you need in terms of your heart?

4) What have you learned from this theme that you can apply this week?