NAU Luke 7:1 When He had completed all His discourse in the hearing of the people, He went to Capernaum.

Facts:

2 And a centurion's slave, who was highly regarded by him, was sick and about to die.

Who was about to die? A slave, belonging to? A centurion. What nationality is the centurion? Roman, yet what were his feelings toward the slave? Highly regarded–a term for respect and honor.

Facts:

3 When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders asking Him to come and save the life of his slave.

What gave him some hope for the slave? Hearing about Jesus.

How did he approach Jesus? Sent some Jewish elders

With what request? Come save the life of his slave

What insight does this give us into the Centurion?–he was respectful to Jews–didn't demand, but requested.

Was willing to ask for what he wanted even of the Jews in order to help his slave. –Unselfish.

What does this tell us about the Centurion's faith?–unselfish

Facts:

4 When they came to Jesus, they earnestly implored Him, saying, "He is worthy for You to grant this to him;

5 for he loves our nation and it was he who built us our synagogue."

When the elders came to Jesus they earnestly implored Him with two reasons, what were they? He is worthy 1 for he loves our nation, and 2 he built us our synagogue.

What insight into the elders do we get from these two reasons.

1.	They think people can become worthy of God's help by what they do.

What specifically do they hold up as making this Centurion worthy?

2.	He loves our nation–He likes us! He's worthy of God's favor because he likes us? What is this saying about God? He has favorites, and we're more important than anyone else 'cause we're His favorites!

What's the other reason?

3.	He built our synagogue. He's nice to us. He's worthy of God's favor because he's nice to us? Not just any kind of niceness, this was expensive niceness, so now we're saying that God's favor is for the rich! –oil rig story?

You laugh, but they're serious.

Facts:

6 Now Jesus started on His way with them; and when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to Him, "Lord, do not trouble Yourself further, for I am not worthy for You to come under my roof;

7 for this reason I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed.

Jesus goes with them, but before Jesus got to the man's house, what message did the Centurion send?

1. "Lord, do not trouble Yourself further,

Why not?

2. for I am not worthy for You to come under my roof;

What does he mean by do not trouble yourself further? Don't bother coming all the way here.

Why not? I am not worthy to have you come under my roof.

He did not even consider himself worthy to do what else? Come to Jesus, so summarizing he says, I'm not worthy to have you come here, and I'm not worthy to go to you.

How does the Centurion's estimate of himself compare with that of the Jewish elders?

He does not think that his love for the Jewish nation, or his money makes him worthy.

What does it tell us about the Centurion's faith that he asked even though he knew he was unworthy?

–his faith didn't focus on his own worthiness upon what he had done.

Facts:

What fascinating statement does the Centurion make next?

but just say the word, and my servant will be healed.

8 "For I also am a man placed under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, 'Go!' and he goes, and to another, 'Come!' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this!' and he does it."

What is He saying to Jesus? Summarize. I don't need to see you, I don't need you to come to me. I believe you can do this from anywhere because You have the authority to do it–having you come here won't increase your authority.

Where did the Centurion believe Jesus' authority was found? –in His word–Just say the word.

What was the Centurion's faith based on?–it was based on the word of God,

What was the Centurion's faith not based on?– not on feelings or demonstrations. He didn't even have to see Jesus in order to believe. He just heard about Him.

9 Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, and turned and said to the crowd that was following Him, "I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith."

10 When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.

How's your faith this morning?

Summary

1. Faith is never focused on man's achievements, but on God's achievements.

2. Always focused on the words of God, not of man–just say the word, Lord.

3. True faith always seeks the best for others, not self-seeking. (Not 'so I can go to heaven' no matter what happens to anyone else?) Why? Faith comes from God who is Himself unselfish.

4. Faith is never based on signs or feelings.–I don't need you to come show me signs 'cause you have authority.

Are you walking by faith, despite your feelings of unworthiness? Despite what you know, are you resting in what Jesus has done, and in His word which says to You, I have redeemed you?