Uninvited But Welcome
Are you weighed down by guilt or wondering if God could ever forgive your past?
In this week’s message, Pastor David Cowan unpacks forgiveness through the story of Simon the Pharisee and the sinful woman in Luke 7:36–50.
He contrasts empty religion with the raw devotion of a woman who brings her brokenness and her worship to Christ’s feet. Her story shows how pride, comparison, and spiritual routine can keep us at a distance from the very Savior who invites us near.
No amount of good works can lift the weight of sin. Only Christ can do that. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus offers grace to anyone who comes to Him. Bring your burdens, and find peace and freedom in the One who calls the uninvited welcome.
Key Takeaways
- Our greatest need is forgiveness, not self-improvement.
- Sin separates us from others, ourselves, and God.
- Forgiveness is a gift in Christ, not something we earn or achieve
- Proximity to spiritual things is not the same as true closeness to Jesus.
Further Study
- Read Luke 7:39, where Simon reacts to what he sees. Then look at Luke 19:10 and Mark 2:17. As you read these together, consider how Christ describes His own mission and how that sheds light on what happens in Simon’s house.
- In Luke 7:47, Jesus connects forgiveness and love. Read that alongside 1 John 4:19. Sit with both verses for a minute. What do they show us about the relationship between being loved and showing love?
- Read Luke 7:49–50, where Jesus speaks peace to the woman. Then turn to John 8:36 and Ephesians 2:8–9. As you read, trace what these passages say about freedom, grace, and faith. Let them interpret each other before you draw conclusions.
The Gospel
If you have questions about what it means to be a Christian, we would love to talk with you about it.
Reach outThe Gospel is good news. God has made a way for sinners to be forgiven and restored to Him through Jesus Christ.
As Pastor David said, our greatest need isn’t to know more or achieve more, it’s to be forgiven. Sin makes that impossible on our own. It separates us from God and from others. It leaves a weight we can’t lift.
But God didn’t leave us there. Isaiah 53:6 says, “We all like sheep have gone astray,” yet God’s love moved Him to act. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son.”
Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, lived the perfect life we couldn’t live. He took our place on the cross and bore the punishment we deserved.
And the story didn’t end with His death. Jesus rose from the grave, showing His power over sin and death.
Forgiveness isn’t something we earn. It isn’t gained by good works or religious effort. To receive the Gospel is to admit your need, to trust Christ alone, and to rest in what He’s already done. His forgiveness wipes your record clean. His grace sets you free.
This gift is for anyone who will receive it. Like the woman with the alabaster jar, you can bring your burdens and failures to Jesus. When you do, He gives peace where there was guilt and freedom where there was shame.
If you sense that need today, ask God to forgive you. Put your trust in Jesus, and rest in His mercy. Then reach out. We’d love to hear from you and pray with you.