Locations & Times

Guest Speaker Mark Moore brings the story of the Mary Magdalene and how shame is a lie of the evil one and it is time to let it go.

Setlist

QUESTIONS

// Bible References
Luke 5:17-26; 7:36-50; 8:1-3; 23:44-46; John 12:5; 19:25-27; 20:1-18, Matthew 18:30

// Community Question
Share a memory from high school where you thought your future was over.  If you could go back, what would you tell your past self now?

// Discussion Questions

1. Read Luke 7:36-50. The sermon recounts the story of Jesus embracing the act of reverence by the woman with a sordid reputation and how He forgave her, emphasizing that those who have been forgiven much will love much. How has experiencing forgiveness in your own life impacted the way you view yourself and others?
2. Read Luke 7:39,44-46. Mark relayed that Simon neglected every common courtesy for Jesus as a guest in his home, exposing his lack of love and regard for Jesus. Likely Simon was primarily hosting Jesus to gain honor from his community. If we are being honest, in what ways have we been like Simon and sought to use Jesus for our own reputation or life goals?
3. The sermon emphasizes how shame can hold us back, trapping us in our past and preventing us from experiencing a fulfilling future. However, when we come to Jesus, seeking His forgiveness, and making Him the Lord of our lives, we are met with His undeserved grace. Jesus carried our shame and sin on the cross, enabling us to let go of the past and move forward with hope and purpose. How can the assurance of Jesus' forgiveness and grace empower you to let go of shame and embrace a future filled with purpose and freedom?
4. The speaker related that God never designed our souls to bear shame. It is crippling and incapacitating because we cannot mentally or emotionally handle it. Where have you seen destructive shame play out in your own life or someone else’s?
5. The speaker relayed that there are two reasons why we don’t release our shame. 1) We keep beating ourselves up as if the sacrifice of Jesus was not enough. 2) We ask others for forgiveness before we have made restitution. Why would making restitution to one we have wronged be necessary for the release of shame?

// Challenge: What shame, past actions, or thoughts do we need to release to Jesus this week? What relationship needs acts of restitution from us in order to heal?