Upside-Down Kingdom: Faith in Action

Discussion Questions

1. Today we are in the final week of our teaching series called “Upside-Down Kingdom.”

In today’s reading, Jesus has concluded His time of teaching and now shows His

disciples by His example what it looks like to live out this kind of faith. Read it for

yourself, Luke 7:1-10. What stands out to you as you read?

2. Jesus just got done teaching a large crowd about what it takes to be one of His true

disciples. He spoke about loving your enemies, not rushing to judgment, and how you

can recognize a person by their “fruit.” Now local leaders have asked Jesus to help the

servant of a Roman Centurian. What do you know about the Roman's relationship with

the Jewish people during this time that would make this a tricky situation? 

3. Although this particular Roman Centurion is said to be friendly to the local Jewish

people, even helping them build their synagogue, most people of Jesus’ day would

consider any Roman to be “the enemy.” But Jesus looks at something deeper and

decides to go help this man. In what ways do you see Jesus living out His sermon

from the previous chapter? 

4. “Say the word and my servant will be healed.” These are the words of a Roman

Centurian who considers himself unworthy to meet Jesus, let alone have Jesus enter

his house. Jesus responds by saying that He hasn’t found such faith even in all of

Israel. When the messenger returned, he found the servant healed. Why do you think

Jesus considered this man's faith so great? What can we learn from the faith of this

Roman Centurian?