1. What was Jesus doing? What happened? Who was the woman? Why did the Pharisee criticize Jesus in his heart? What does it reveal about him?
2. What did Jesus teach? Why did Jesus ask such questions? How did Simon answer? What did this parable show about Jesus' understanding of the woman and his grace? (44-47)
3. Why were the people at the dinner party so surprised when Jesus said, "Your sins are forgiven"? What did Jesus teach about the relationship between love and forgiveness? (50) What did he mean by, "Your faith has saved you" and "Go in peace"?
II. The Good News of the Kingdom of God (8:1-15)
4. What did Jesus proclaim as he travelled about from one village and town to another? What is the significance of his message?
5. Who travelled with him? How did they support Jesus' ministry? To whom did Jesus tell his parable? What happened to the seed the farmer sowed? Why did Jesus call out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."?
6. Why did Jesus' disciples ask him the meaning of the parable? What did Jesus tell them about the special privileges of a disciple? Why?
7. What does the seed represent? How is this parable descriptive of Jesus' ministry? What happens to those with hearts like a path? What is the consequences?
8. What happens to those whose hearts are like a rock? Why is the thin soil so deceptive? What causes rootless people to fall away? Why is perseverance in the time of testing so important? (1 Tim. 4:15-16; Heb. 10:35-38)
9. When the word of God falls on hearts like thorny soil what happens to it? What are thorns?
10. What is a noble and good heart? How can we be good soil? What kind of fruit do you think Jesus wants?
