Creekside Community Church
Little Sinner Syndrome (Luke 7:36-50)
June 30, 2024 Jeff Bruce, Lead Pastor
Locations & Times
Creekside Community Church
951 MacArthur Blvd, San Leandro, CA 94577, USA
Sunday 7:00 AM
1. Recognizing “Little Sinner Syndrome”:
2. Recovering from “Little Sinner Syndrome”:
2. Recovering from “Little Sinner Syndrome”:
For Further Thought and Discussion
Getting Started
1. What was helpful to you in this week’s sermon? What didn’t you understand?
Going Deeper
2. Who invites Jesus over for a meal (v. 36)? Why is this ironic in light of what Jesus has just said (see v. 34)? How does this passage (vv. 36-50) illustrate the truth of what Jesus has just taught (see vv. 34-35)?
3. How does Luke describe the woman who interrupts Jesus’ meal (v. 37)? What does she do? Why would her actions have seemed scandalous (vv. 37-38)? What two conclusions does Simon draw from this incident (v. 39)? How does Jesus demonstrate that both of Simon’s conclusions are false (see vv. 40 and 44-46)?
4. Compare and contrast Simon’s hospitality with the woman’s (vv. 44-46). What does Jesus want Simon to see (v. 44)? Why is Simon’s lack of hospitality shocking? How is the woman’s hospitality extravagant? How does Jesus’ commentary on this situation reframe our perspective of these two characters?
5. How does Jesus describe the connection between forgiveness and love (v. 47)? Does Jesus forgive the woman becauseshe loves, or does she love because Jesus has forgiven her (compare vv. 40-41)? If the woman has already been forgiven, why does Jesus proceed to publicly declare that her sins are forgiven (v. 48)?
Application
6. Jesus says that “…he who is forgiven little, loves little.” (v. 47) What does he mean? Jeff described this as “Little Sinner Syndrome” and provided a number of ways to diagnose this condition. Which of these stood out to you? Why?
7. Jeff shared a few ways we can deepen our appreciation of God’s forgiveness. Which of these stood out to you? Why?
8. What’s one thing you can do this week to apply this passage?
Getting Started
1. What was helpful to you in this week’s sermon? What didn’t you understand?
Going Deeper
2. Who invites Jesus over for a meal (v. 36)? Why is this ironic in light of what Jesus has just said (see v. 34)? How does this passage (vv. 36-50) illustrate the truth of what Jesus has just taught (see vv. 34-35)?
3. How does Luke describe the woman who interrupts Jesus’ meal (v. 37)? What does she do? Why would her actions have seemed scandalous (vv. 37-38)? What two conclusions does Simon draw from this incident (v. 39)? How does Jesus demonstrate that both of Simon’s conclusions are false (see vv. 40 and 44-46)?
4. Compare and contrast Simon’s hospitality with the woman’s (vv. 44-46). What does Jesus want Simon to see (v. 44)? Why is Simon’s lack of hospitality shocking? How is the woman’s hospitality extravagant? How does Jesus’ commentary on this situation reframe our perspective of these two characters?
5. How does Jesus describe the connection between forgiveness and love (v. 47)? Does Jesus forgive the woman becauseshe loves, or does she love because Jesus has forgiven her (compare vv. 40-41)? If the woman has already been forgiven, why does Jesus proceed to publicly declare that her sins are forgiven (v. 48)?
Application
6. Jesus says that “…he who is forgiven little, loves little.” (v. 47) What does he mean? Jeff described this as “Little Sinner Syndrome” and provided a number of ways to diagnose this condition. Which of these stood out to you? Why?
7. Jeff shared a few ways we can deepen our appreciation of God’s forgiveness. Which of these stood out to you? Why?
8. What’s one thing you can do this week to apply this passage?