Welcome to the second week of our summer series, Dinner with Jesus. This week, we discuss Jesus’ interactions at a Pharisee’s dinner party.
SHARE LIFE
Building healthy and life-giving relationships.
Updates
What has been new or challenging in your life since last time the group met? Spend 20–30 minutes checking in with each other.
Share Part of Your Story
What’s one of the craziest things that has ever happened while you were at a restaurant?
Prayer
Where do you feel like God is challenging you lately? How can your group be praying for your spiritual growth?
PURSUE GOD
Taking next steps toward Christ together.
Have someone read Luke 7:36-50 aloud. What are the key events?
Meals and Mission
Where is the party? How does Jesus end up there?
A few verses before this passage, Luke writes that Jesus came “eating and drinking.” How was sharing a meal with people part of Jesus’ strategy? Did you accept Pastor Jeff Manion’s challenge to have someone over to share a meal last week? If so, what did you do?
How can your group encourage each other to share a meal with someone this week?
The Party Crasher
What do we know about the woman who interacts with Jesus? What does the woman do? Why do you think she does that?
What would’ve been a normal response for Jesus to do in that culture? How would someone react to something like that today?
How does Jesus’ response to her help us know how we should treat others?
Debt Forgiveness
What’s the big idea of the parable? The story withholds some information about how Jesus was treated until after the parable. What do we find out about how Jesus was treated? What does that reveal about the party host?
Why do you think Jesus compares forgiveness and canceling debt? How does our culture try to extract payment from people who have hurt us?
When you think about forgiving someone, it can bring up some serious emotions. Is there someone in your life you feel like you struggle to forgive? What’s one small step you can take this week to move toward forgiveness?
Jesus saves us from two types of sins, those we committed and those we would’ve or could’ve committed. What jumps out to you about that statement? Why might it be so important to say, “that could’ve been me”?
What are some of the sins that we tend to overlook in our culture or our own lives? What could it look like to incorporate the line from the Lord’s prayer, “Forgive us our debts” regularly into your life?
The fallout of forgiveness is that if we feel like we’ve received big forgiveness, we will show big love. How should that change the way we live and interact with people?
Jesus’ interactions at the Pharisee’s house helps us look at our hearts and reveals his heart for others. Where have you been challenged through this conversation? What’s one step you can take this week to grow in that area? Who are you going to share a meal with this week?
INVEST IN OTHERS
Valuing people outside the group and outside the faith.
Discuss how you and your group can better engage the people in your life outside your small group.
Invite
Summer is a good time to invite someone to join your small group. While your group may not be meeting as regularly, often the social get-togethers provide a friendly environment for someone new. As a group, consider whether there is anyone you could invite to join your group this summer.
Download a printable PDF here.