Key Thought : From God’s perspective, every human being is of infinite worth. Everyone deserves as much mercy, respect, and kindness as possible.

[Lesson plan for Jesus and the Social Outcasts February 10, 2014]

1. Have a volunteer read Luke 15:1-7.

a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
b. What does this passage reveal about Christ’s attitude toward social outcasts?
c. Personal Application: What kind of attitude do we have toward those who don’t fit in the normal social arena? Do we reach out to them? Shun them as beyond help? Tolerate them in church? Just don’t think about it? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study: One of your relatives states: “What social standards have changed in your lifetime? Have these standards been a positive or negative impact on society?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read John 8:1-11.

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. How does Jesus avoid here both excusing sin and condemning sinners?
c. Personal Application: What personal attitudes might need to be changed in order for you to become an effective witness to social outcasts? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study: One of your friends states, “How does your church treat its members who are caught up in sin? How do they show grace to the sinner while not encouraging the sin?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Mark 5:15-20.

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
b. Why did the people ask Jesus to leave when He delivered the demoniac from his demons?
c. Personal Application: How do we treat people with mental illness? Besides praying for them, what else can we do? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “Does the story of the demoniac show that some mental illness is actually demon possession? How does one discern the difference between true physiological reasons for mental illness and spiritual reasons? Why does the Scriptures say the Lord has not given us the spirit of fear, but of a sound mind?” How would you respond to your neighbor?

4. Have a volunteer read John 4:15-19.

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. When the woman asked for the water of life, Jesus showed her her sins, including living with a man while not being married. Why do so many people today think it’s not a sin to live together without being married? Didn’t Jesus show here that not only divorce, but also living together is a sin needing repentance and change?
c. Personal Application: Could we be guilty of being as judgmental and prejudice as the disciples were toward this woman? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Note : “Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.” MH p. 149.

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