The Centurion Bible Study

Time: 45 minutes 1 hour

Passage: Luke 7:1-10

Luke 7:1-10New International Version (NIV)

The Faith of the Centurion

7 When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered
Capernaum. 2 There a centurions 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, dont 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.

Introducing the Passage:

Faith is a word that we hear a lot. How would you define it? In this study we are going to take a
fresh look at what faith is, and what faith in Jesus means in a practical way, through the witness
of a Roman soldier.

The setting is the Jewish town of Capernaum on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus has just
finished teaching about obedience (Luke 6:46-49). He is now interacting with a person in a
crisis.

Study-Discussion Questions:
Have someone read aloud Luke 7:1-10. Ask the group to notice the different kinds of people
involved in this experience.

Look at the first five verses. What is interesting about how the centurion approaches Jesus?

This centurion is part of the Roman occupation army in Israel at the time. He had authority over
100 men.

How do the people in an occupied country usually feel about the occupying army?

How is this centurion unusual?

Why do you think he would ask help from Jesus?

Why would he involve elders of the Jews?

Which words and phrases in verses 4 and 5 indicate the regard of the Jewish leaders for the
centurion? Why do you think Jesus goes with them?

Consider the centurions request in verse 3. Then look at his request in verses 6 and 7. What is
the difference in the two requests? Why do you think he changes what he asks?

Why do you think there is a contrast between the elders view of the centurion and Jesus in terma
of origin of authority and extent of authority.

In what ways does Jesus respond to the centurions faith in Him? How many different people are
affected and how are they affected?

What evidences of true faith do you find in the centurion, from the start of the passage through
the end?

What does this true faith look like in this passage? How is it expressed?

In Closing:

What are some ways we can show true, practical faith in Jesus care and authority?

What can we trust him for this week, and how can we demonstrate our trust?