3/22/09 Developing Strong Faith
1. Motivate
Why are people thrilled by roller coaster rides? (show video clip if you can find one)
- visual effect, going fast
- feeling the negative and positive g’s
- feels like riding in a fighter plane
- scares you, at the same time you know it is safe
When people choose to ride a coaster, where have they placed their faith?
- the designer
- the construction company
- the amusement park that maintains the equipment
- the operators
2. Transition
You probably don’t know any of those people, but you’re willing to place blind faith in their work. Today we study a man who demonstrated blind faith in Jesus Christ.
3. Bible Study
3.1 Seeking Christ’s Help
Where do people today turn when they need help?
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3/22/09 Developing Strong Faith
- the internet
- friends
- Oprah
- Dr. Phil
- Dear Abby
- a professional counselor
- a lawyer , so they can sue someone
- congressmen so they can get government money
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3/22/09 Developing Strong Faith
Listen for who needs help and to whom he turns.
Luke 7:1-5 (NIV) When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. [2] There a centurion's servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. [3] The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. [4] When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, "This man deserves to have you do this, [5] because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue."
Why did the centurion have the Jewish elders approach Jesus?
- wanted help for his servant
- the servant was sick
- he was paralyzed and in terrible suffering
Interesting facts about Roman centurions …
- the only officers in the army with direct contact with soldiers
- was a good paying job … money and prestige
- most centurions did not marry until late in life
- recall that centurions figured prominently in the lives of Jesus and Paul
Why did the Jewish elders agree to intercede for a Roman military man?
- he deserved Jesus help
- he loved the nation of Israel
- he had donated money and effort to build their local synagogue
ð God had begun to work in this man’s life before his encounter with Jesus
Why might the request for the healing of a servant or slave be a curious request from a Roman soldier?
- servants were property
- you don’t worry too much if one of your pieces of property “suffers”
- it’s like your car … if it “suffers” too much, you “put it out of its misery” and junk it
- the centurion’s attitude was the exception to how most people treated their slaves
The centurion presented his request to Jesus through friends; how much is this like asking friends to pray for us?
- he felt his friends might have a more rapid, more available access to Jesus
- we often have the sense of people who are spiritual and are known to be prayer warriors
- he probably felt that multiple requests would be better than one person asking
- we want many people praying for us
3.2 Faith in Christ’s Authority
Listen for the centurion’s response to Jesus approach to his house.
Luke 7:6 - 8 So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: "Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. [7] That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. [8] For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."
What humble, surprising suggestion did the man make?
- I don’t deserve to have you come under my roof
- just say the word
- that will be enough to heal the servant
What rationale did the centurion have for making his request?
- I understand authority, I am under authority
- I have soldiers under my authority
- I say go/come and they do it
- I tell my servant, “do this” and he does it
What authorities do you have in your life?
- parents
- boss
- spouse!?
- civil authorities (police, security guards, etc.)
- God
What causes you to respect these authorities?
- fear
- respect – they deserve to be in charge
- knowledge that things run more smoothly authority is obeyed
- they have power to enforce their authority
What causes people to reject authority?
- the people in charge don’t have the wisdom to be in charge
- people have abused their authority over you
- you’re just plain rebellious
How can we become more receptive to Christ’s authority in our lives?
- must become convinced of His love for us
- must learn to know Him better
- learn how He wants to accomplish good things in our lives
How can we become more convinced of the authority and lordship of Jesus as we turn to Him during crises?
- we must have input into our minds of these truths … you have to be reading and applying God’s Word
- learn to trust God on daily basis
- make a practice of seeing God at work, attributing to Him the solutions to your problems
Why is it so difficult to give a problem over to Jesus instead of finding some other source?
- we feel that we are “unclean” or undeserving we can approach Jesus
- we are impatient … don’t want to wait
- God is less tangible than a doctor or a person we talk to
- we are not convinced that God understands or that God has the power to intervene
- even when other people don’t like us, Jesus is willing for us to come to Him, even wants us to come to Him
ð Remember that “great faith” is not something that we generate from within ourselves.
- Great faith is faith in a Great God …
- faith is only as effective as the object of our faith … Jesus!
3.3 Trusting Christ to Be in Control
Listen for something that amazes Jesus.
Luke 7:9-10 (NIV) When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel." [10] Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.
So what effect did the centurion’s comments have on Jesus?
- Jesus was amazed
- declared that no one in Israel had such great faith
Consider synonyms for “amazed”
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- surprised,
- astonished,
- astounded,
- flabbergasted,
- dumbfounded,
- incredulous
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3/22/09 Developing Strong Faith
Note the one other place in scripture where Jesus declares His amazement:
Mark 6:4-6 (NIV) Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor." [5] He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. [6] And he was amazed at their lack of faith.
Jesus was amazed at extreme lack or extreme presence of faith. What would cause the extreme lack of faith in His home town?
- they were too familiar with Him as just a human
- the relationship was too common
- they overlooked the reality of His being God
What kinds of things cause us to have that lack of faith … causing Jesus to be amazed all over again?
- humanistic thinking, unwillingness to believe in someone supernatural
- scientific thinking … doctors can do amazing things today
- lack of knowledge, understanding of God’s attributes … omnipotence, omniscience, love, wisdom, righteousness/justice, etc.
Consider Hebrews 11:1 (NLT) What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see.
What are physical things you believe in but cannot see our completely understand?
- gravity
- when you turn the key in your car, it will start
- when you flip a switch, the light will come on
Just like we are convinced about these physical realities
ð the centurion was convinced of Christ’s spiritual authority over sickness
ð we also must be convinced of Christ’s authority over all the issues we face in our lives
4. Application
4.1 In order to have great faith you simply have to choose to believe Christ is who He says He is
- List areas of your life which you have not been entrusting to Christ
- Write down what must change in order to trust Christ in those areas
- Release control of that area of your life to Christ
4.2 Note the challenge in our Christos journal:
- “Find an area you have trouble trusting Jesus with …
- Ask Him to show you how your life would look in that area if you trusted Him as the one and only Son of God”
4.3 Jesus affirmed the faith of the centurion. This week look for ways that you could affirm the faith of someone who has been an example to you.
- Thank them for their prayers for you
- Tell them how those prayers have been answered
- Tell them you will partner with them in praying for, trusting God for each other
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