Charless Cooper  

Faith that Pleases God

Luke 7:1-10

The Problem

Listening to some, it is easy to conclude that unless a man has "mountain moving faith,"he may not have "faith" at all. This type of teaching often leads to discouragement and apathy in the lives of those who desire to follow Jesus Christ. Yet, one of only two examples where the Lord praises the faith of a man reveals an opposite conclusion. The object of faith is critical.

Luke 7:1-10 Setting

A centurion's sick slave (7:1-2) Jewish emissaries request Jesus' help (7:3-5) Jesus goes (7:6a) Other emissaries ask Jesus to speak and heal only (7:6b-8) Jesus praises a Gentile's faith (7:9) The healing is noted (7:9)

Two Questions to Answer:

1.What aspect of faith is Jesus praising?

2.On a scale of 1-10, how strong is this man's faith?

Two Questions to Discuss:

1.The Lord's comparison of this man's faith over against the people of Israel proves what about the Jewish people's attitudes about Jesus?

2.How much faith is necessary to see God work in a man's life?