Nigeria Baptist Convention Sunday School Outline For April 21, 2024 : Topic – FAITH OF A WOMAN WHO LOVED JESUS.
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SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR YOUR PREPARATION
NBC SUNDAY SCHOOL OUTLINE
Theme for the Month: “THE MEASURE OF FAITH.”
DATE: SUNDAY, 21ST APRIL, 2024.
TOPIC: FAITH OF A WOMAN WHO LOVED JESUS.
Devotional Reading: Romans 8:1-16.
Background Scripture: Luke 7:36-50.
Lesson Scripture: Luke 7:36-39, 44-50.
GOLDEN TEXT: “Jesus said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Luke 7:50
OBJECTIVES:
By the end of the lesson, class members should be able to:
● Describe the meaning of true repentance and genuine forgiveness.
● Discuss believers’ response to forgiveness received from God.
● Resolve to demonstrate their devotion to God in every way possible.
INTRODUCTION:
We live in a society where segregation and discrimination are the order of the day, and the church is not left out of this. Where such exist, people tend to mingle only with people of their status – financial, social, professional, spiritual or educational people of the same tribe or other discriminatory factors. There are also cases in which the handicapped, the disadvantaged, the sick, and the weak are not accepted because of their predicament. Regrettably, if you do not belong to a particular class, you may not be accepted or easily related with. In our contemporary time, some people find it difficult to accept or relate with other people from the depth of their hearts because of their past misconduct. We often despise and deny them close association and affection, yet we forget that we are not saints. Some people sometimes feel reluctant to relate freely with people for fear of being humiliated and disregarded. Jesus’ lifestyle, during His earthly ministry is contrary to this attitude. He related with everyone—the sick, the downtrodden, sinners, the outcasts, the rich, and the poor. His single encounter with such people brought about a change of behaviour and testimony of a renewed life to them.
Today’s lesson is about a woman who met Jesus in the home of one of the Pharisees. Although her past was terrible, her encounter with Jesus brought about a reversal of shame, as Jesus forgave her sins and dismissed her in peace. God is able to reverse the shame of anyone, just like He did for the woman in today’s text, despite her sinful past. Although she was a sinner but because she acknowledged the lordship of Jesus Christ and expressed her faith through genuine generosity, she went home forgiven.
THE LESSON EXPLAINED…
A. A SINFUL WOMAN ANOINTS JESUS
[Luke 7:36-39]
The Pharisees were a group of people who constantly confronted Jesus and looked for ways to trap Him, rather than learn from Him. One day, a Pharisee invited Jesus to his house for a meal, after the synagogue worship probably to test Him, as it was their habit. Without doubt, the news of Jesus presence in the home of the Pharisee would have spread around the town. A woman who was living a sinful life came to Him with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume. Although her identity was not disclosed and her sins were not mentioned, it is likely she had a bad reputation in the community. When she heard about Jesus’ teaching, she decided to forsake her sinful lifestyle by coming to Him with a penitent heart and a desire to receive forgiveness. According to the passage, she did some remarkable things as an evidence of her willingness to seek Jesus and begin a new life (vv. 38-39):
● She stood at Jesus’ feet weeping (a sign of soberness).
● She wet Jesus’ feet with tears from her eyes.
● She wiped the feet of Jesus with her hair and kissed them.
● She poured expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet.
The reason for her action is not stated in the passage; it could be that she desired to receive forgiveness and a new life, free of sin. The Pharisee could not comprehend why Jesus will allow an unworthy person in the society to come near Him, especially in his house. He pondered within himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is-that she is a sinner.” (v. 39)
Jesus does not discriminate― He is a friend of all and always ready to associate with everyone, no matter how sinful the person may be. He is patient because He does not wish that anyone should perish but that all will come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9b). By human standard, the woman had dented her image in the community and did not deserve a close relationship with anyone, not even Jesus. Interestingly, she was privileged to meet Jesus in the home of a Pharisee and she expressed her emotion (v. 37). She maximised the opportunity and Jesus accepted her and for this, she was grateful. Surprisingly, the woman did not consider the oil too expensive but lavished it on Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. Her sacrifice was a demonstration of her devotion to Jesus, the friend of all. We can conclude that we have our roles to play before any remarkable change can take place in our lives.
DISCUSSION TIME:
1. Why is it difficult for some people to seek help openly just like the woman in today’s lesson who defied all odds to seek Jesus’ help?
2. What do you think would have motivated the woman to anoint Jesus’ feet with such an expensive perfume?
B. JESUS COMMENDS THE WOMAN’S FAITH:
[Luke 7:44-50]
The Pharisee’s statement in verse 39 suggests that he never expected the woman to have close relationship with Jesus because of her sinful lifestyle. However, Jesus justified the woman’s action as that of one who deserves forgiveness, and He gave an illustration of two forgiven debtors (vv. 40-43). He called Simon’s attention to his failure to give Him warm reception (like the washing of the feet, a kiss, and the putting of oil on His head). According to verse 48, Jesus immediately declared that her sins were forgiven, and the other guests at the table began to say to one another, “Who is this who forgives sins?” (v. 49) Invariably, the people meant that being a sinner, Jesus would not have accepted her or her service. In fact, it was an indication that the people did not actually know Jesus as One who has power to forgive sins. Jesus’ response is amazing; He turned to the woman and said, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace”. (v. 50)
Indeed, Jesus was impressed and appreciative of the woman’s kind gesture. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the woman’s action was not an act of bribery to receive Jesus’ forgiveness; after all, God cannot be bribed. Rather, her deed was nothing but a show of gratitude and reverence for God’s grace, which Jesus later acknowledged when He declared, “Your faith has saved you”. (v. 50) This is a confirmation of God’s injunction when He said, “Return to me, and I will return to you… (Malachi 3:7b) Apart from Jesus’ commendation, He also forgave the woman her sins on the basis of His mercy on her (vv. 47-48, 50). The lesson teaches that Jesus will forgive anyone who will come to Him in genuine repentance. It is also an assertion that God is able to transform sinners into saints. ”
DISCUSSION TIME:
1. How should believers’ respond to the forgiveness they received from God?
2. Discuss ways we can demonstrate our devotion to God.
Fellowship and Ministry Building Activity:
● Let a class member share a personal testimony of how he/she received forgiveness recently and how he/she felt.
Take Home: Write down three lessons you are taking home from today’s lesson?
● __________
● __________
● __________
Commitment:
● Based on today’s lesson, make a personal commitment to forgive your offenders, notwithstanding the gravity of their offence.
Happy Sunday in Advance.
Remain Inspired & Be Lifted!