Weekly Teaching Reflection
November 2nd Reflection
Sermon Notes and Discussion Questions
Luke: Identity of the King
The Author of Our Faith
Luke 7:1-10
When He had completed all His teaching in the hearing of the people, He went to Capernaum.
Now a centurion’s slave, who was highly regarded by him, was sick and about to die. When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to Him, asking Him to come and save the life of his slave. When they came to Jesus, they strongly urged Him, saying, “He is worthy for You to grant this to him; for he loves our nation, and it was he who built us our synagogue.”
Now Jesus started on His way with them; but already, when He was not yet 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 enter under my roof; for that reason I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You; but just say the word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man placed under authority, with soldiers under myself; 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.”
Now when Jesus heard this, He was amazed 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.” And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.
Hebrews 11:1
Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.
Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. and let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.
Prophecy connections to Jesus in the book of Luke:
#1 – Association with John the Baptist
Luke 3:4 and Luke 3:15-22
#2 – First public statement in Luke is prophecy quote
Luke 4:16-21
#3 – Message to John the Baptist
Luke 7:18-22
#4 – Teaching after resurrection
Luke 24:25-27
Centurion's Faith
Luke 7: 6-10 - (The only time Jesus is amazed at someone's faith.)
We must release mistaken understandings, including always needing certainty in answers about God and faith
Isaiah 55:8-9
We can find a path to godly behavior other than "do's" and "don'ts"
Romans 12:2
When we allow the transformation by the Holy Spirit, we become the signs of Jesus still working to the world
We now wait on prophetic fulfillment of a different sort. The new heavens and the new earth.
Isaiah 65:17-19; 60:19-20; Revelation 21:1-5
For Group Discussion
This week: Scripture for Reflection
Invite the group to read these aloud and sit with them in silence for a moment before discussion:
Luke 7:6-8 – “But just before they arrived at the house, the officer sent some friends to say, 'Lord, don't trouble yourself by coming to my home, for I am not worthy of such an honor. I am not even worthy to come and meet you. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, 'Go,' and they go, or 'Come,' and they come. and if I say to my slaves, 'Do this,' they do it.”
Hebrews 11:1 – “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.”
Hebrews 12:1-2 – “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.”
Romans 12:2 – “We love because He first loved us.”
Group Discussion Questions
Use these to prompt honest, Spirit-led conversation and reflection:
Is faith a real concept to you that brings immediate understanding and examples to mind or is is something very etherial and "fuzzy"?
How did faith show up in your life this last week?
How does connecting prophecies to the life of Jesus help your faith?
What does it mean to say that Jesus had a vocation that was foretold by the prophets?
What are some ways that the transformation of your life can show the working of the Holy Spirit?
Do you have personal hope for being part of the resurrection? Are there particular parts of the Revelation 21 description that really sound inviting?
For Practice This Week
Invite everyone to choose one tangible way to practice Jesus’s words this week.
For Practice:
Ask God to search your heart: Is there some prejudice, unscriptural belief or attitude that is blocking your progress in transformation?
Take one step of faith:
Has God directed you to do something that you are resisting? Take one small step toward obedience.
Have you lost a sense of God's goodness in your life? Ask Him to renew it and open yourself to anyway He may choose to show it.
Ask God to use you in blessing the life of one or more particular people. Expect Him to do it!
Reflect: At the end of the week, ask: Has my faith in God made a difference in my daily life and the way I interact with others?