Joyful Moments in Christ

Forgiven and Following Jesus

This Sunday School lesson is intended for upper elementary students. All lessons on this website are protected by copyright, but you can use them for free in small groups or Sunday School classes. You may share a link to this page, but please do not copy these pages and put them on other websites.

The Big Idea

Jesus forgives sinners and welcomes both men and women to follow and serve him.

Lesson Objectives

1. Students will learn that Jesus forgives those who come to him in faith.
2. Students will see that those who are forgiven much love much.
3. Students will understand that Jesus welcomes both men and women into his mission.
4. Students will consider how they can love and serve Jesus with thankful hearts.

Class Setting Notes

1. Recommended for upper elementary Sunday School.
2. Lesson length: 45-60 minutes. Can be shortened or extended based on activities selected.

Opening Activity

Gratitude Chain

1. Give each student a strip of paper.
2. Ask them to write down one thing they are thankful to Jesus for.
3. Loop the strips into circles and connect them to make a class paper chain.
4. Hang the chain in the room as a reminder of how forgiveness and thankfulness connect us to Jesus and one another.

This activity helps introduce the idea that those who know they have been forgiven much respond with gratitude and love.

Bible Reading

Ask the class to read Luke 7:36-8:3 aloud together or have one person read it.

• Very Easy: Easy-to-Read Version: Luke 7:36-8:3 (ERV)
• Very Easy: New International Reader’s Version: Luke 7:36-8:3 (NIRV)
• Easy: Good News Translation: Luke 7:36-8:3 (GNT)
• Medium: New Living Translation: Luke 7:36-8:3 (NLT)
• Hard: New International Version: Luke 7:36-8:3 (NIV)
• Very Hard: English Standard Version: Luke 7:36-8:3 (ESV)

Additional Reading: Choosing the Right Bible Translation: A Comparison of 7 Versions

Suggested prompts:

As the class reads aloud, consider asking some of these prompts:

1. What do you notice about the way the woman treated Jesus?
2. How did Simon the Pharisee respond to Jesus and to the woman?
3. What lesson did Jesus teach with the story about the two men in debt?
4. Who else followed Jesus after this story?
5. How did the women show their love and thankfulness to Jesus?

Teacher Background Notes

1. In the culture of Jesus’ day, it was customary to wash guests’ feet, greet them with a kiss, and anoint their heads with oil. Simon failed to do these basic acts of hospitality, but the woman showed extraordinary devotion.
2. The alabaster jar of perfume was costly, showing that the woman gave Jesus something valuable out of her love and gratitude.
3. Jesus’ parable of the two debtors reveals that awareness of forgiveness produces deep love for him.
4. Luke highlights that women were included among Jesus’ followers, something unusual in that culture, showing the wide reach of the gospel.
5. These passages together demonstrate that the mission of Jesus is for all kinds of people, no matter their background, gender, or past sins.

Theological Insights

1. Jesus has authority to forgive sins, proving he is the Son of God.
2. Forgiveness leads to love. Those who know the depth of their sin show greater gratitude to Jesus.
3. Faith in Jesus saves and brings peace.
4. Jesus welcomes both men and women, rich and poor, to follow him and take part in his mission.
5. God’s kingdom is built not on human status or works but on grace and faith in Christ.

Discussion Questions

Understanding the Text

1. What did the woman do to show her love for Jesus?
2. Why was Simon surprised at Jesus’ response to her?
3. What did Jesus’ parable of the two debtors teach Simon?
4. How did Jesus respond to the woman at the end of the story?
5. Who else does Luke tell us followed Jesus and helped his ministry?

Personal Reflection and Application

1. Why do you think people who know they are forgiven show greater love to Jesus?
2. How does it feel when you are forgiven by someone? How does it feel to forgive others?
3. What can you offer to Jesus out of thankfulness for his forgiveness?
4. How can you, like the women in Luke 8, use your time, money, or talents to serve Jesus this week?

Suggested Activities

Act It Out

1. Assign roles (Jesus, Simon, the woman, narrator) and have the class act out Luke 7:36–50.
2. Afterward, ask the students what they learned by stepping into the story.

This activity helps students engage the passage with their imaginations and see the contrast between Simon and the woman.

Love in Action

1. Provide small slips of paper. Have each student write one way they can show love to Jesus or others this week.
2. Collect the slips and place them in a basket labeled “Offering of Love.”

This activity helps students connect their thankfulness for forgiveness to real acts of service.

Women Who Followed Jesus

1. Create a chart with the names Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna.
2. Discuss with the students what each woman might have given to support Jesus’ ministry.
3. Invite students to think of ways they, too, can support the work of the church.

This activity helps students see that everyone has a role to play in serving Christ, no matter their background.

Memory Verse

And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Luke 7:50 (ESV)

Closing Prayer

Father,
Thank you that in Jesus we find forgiveness, peace, and new life. Help us to respond with love, gratitude, and service. Thank you that you welcome people from every background to follow you. Teach us to give you our hearts and to use what we have for your glory.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

The ESL Version

I also create materials for adult English Language Learners (ELLs) and ESL students. You can find my ELL Bible Studies based on Luke 7:36-8:3 here:

• ELL Lesson 33: Luke 7:36-50 — A Woman Shows Great Love
• ELL Lesson 34: Luke 8:1-3 — Women Who Followed Jesus

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Related Resources

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English Standard Version (ESV): Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.