Luke 7:36-50
Invite a member to read the following Bible reading, and while listening, ask members to consider how all the Love Languages are expressed in it.
‘When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to 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.”
Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” he said.
“Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”
“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven – as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”’
(Luke 7:36-50 )
WORDS OF AFFIRMATION
‘Then Jesus said to her: “Your sins are forgiven.” “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”’
ACTS OF SERVICE
‘As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.’
RECEIVING GIFTS
‘So she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume.’
QUALITY TIME
‘So she came there.’
PHYSICAL TOUCH
‘She began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them …’
In this story, we hear of an exchange of love. A woman, whose name we don’t know, considered unworthy by society, shows the most humble and beautiful love to Jesus. And in his response, Jesus shows compassion and restores dignity to this woman.
The Bible is full of occasions when God showed his love to humankind, from his gift of creation to his gift of his son Jesus. And true love is demonstrated time and time again through the life and teaching of Jesus.
Just think for a moment of a story that comes to your mind that highlights how Jesus loved:
- maybe Jesus meeting with Zacchaeus, or
- teaching how to love through the parable of the Good Samaritan, or
- the Prodigal Son, or
- washing the disciples’ feet, or
- raising Jairus’s daughter from the dead, or
- maybe the ultimate love language of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection – what an act of service!
As part of the Christian Church, The Salvation Army’s message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in his name without discrimination. And we are invited to join in this mission and live out the new command Jesus gave us, found in John 13:34.
‘A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.’
PRAYER
Play the song ‘How deep the Father’s love for us’
ONLINE GROUPS
Screen share the video.
While listening to the music, invite members to think of someone they can show love to, choose a gift, or a card or promise coupon to write to someone and commit to doing something to show them they are loved.
ONLINE GROUPS
Ask members to use the resources given earlier or create their own card/coupon.
PRAYER
Father God,
We come to you, holding out our hands for you to embrace us,
lift us and lead us. Last year we experienced joy and happiness, despair and distress, and you held us as we journeyed through it all. There is no change in your eternal love towards your creation, nor in your love to us; and so as we step into the new year, we confidently continue to put our hope in you. AMEN.
