Luke Week 20 6:43-7:10

What is your favorite Fruit? Why do most people like to eat fruit so much?

Have you ever about it? It is amazing to think about fruit and all the good things. Now of course there are some people who may not like fruit but fruit and other foods come from only their source. Think about it. An apple can’t come from an orange tree or a raspberry bush. Just like a Raspberry can’t come from a an apple tree.

Read Luke 6:43-45

Luke 6:43–45 NIV

43 “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

I love verse 44 particularly. Each tree is recognized for its own fruit. Like I said before you don’t go looking for Apples among the thorn bushes. You do though go looking for Raspberries there.

In what ways do people store up evil things in their hearts? Good things?

The heart is powerful. The emotions we take in and the things that we dwell on are important. What we allow to fill our heart and control our heart will bear it out in our fruit. The actions we harbor are so often born of the choices and things of our lives.

It is here that we start to see the choices we make and how they impact us. Speaking of choices let’s look at some more scriptures that dig into that very idea.

Read Luke 6:46-49

Luke 6:46–49 NIV

46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

Why is a houses foundation so important?

hard work is required to make a houses foundation strong. We don’t really just build straight on rock anymore we build our own foundations. They still take a lot of work.

How would we define a good foundation as Christians?

Read Luke 7:1-10

Luke 7:1–10 NIV

1 When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people who were listening, 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.” 6 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.” 9 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.

Who is the Roman Centurion

WE need to have a better understanding of who and what a Roman Centurion is. Roman centurions are an officer in the Roman military. While there are many comparisons to today’s military ranks they are often thought of being the equivalent of an army Captain.

That may not mean much to us unless we are familiar with the military that is why i lean more toward the description provided by historians. these are the qualifications often looked for in a Roman Centurion.

They must not be so much seekers of danger as men who can command, steady in action and reliable. They ought not to be over anxious to rush into the fight but when hard pressed they must be ready to hold their ground and die at their posts.

These men were respected and upon highly and respected. They were thought to be the very backbone of the Roman army. Both fighters and commanders. They were leaders.

Now that we understand a little bit about the qualifications of this man let’s look at his actions.

Luke 7:2–3 NIV

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.

Why would He send for Jesus instead of going to him?

This is actually a show of respect to Jesus.

Why is Humility so important when we approach God?

Luke 7:4–5 NIV

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 is it important to note that Jewish leaders Cared about this Centurion?

Luke 7:7–8 NIV

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.”

Why is the Centurion’s man of authority important?

How do we react when we see great faith from unexpected places?

I think of testimonies of the last people we would expect to be followers.

The Centurion sets an example that many Christians could learn from.

compassion for his servant

humility before god

openness to the marginalized

What can we learn from the centurion’s faith?