Ben Phebus // Rockford Campus // June 2, 2024

 

Storytellers: Choosing to Trust

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE

 

TOGETHER IN LIFE

For many of us, the first week of June is the beginning of summer. Do you have any summer plans that you’re looking forward to?

 

TOGETHER IN THE WORD

THIS WEEK’S KEY PASSAGE: Luke 7:1–10 | Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant

Note: We encourage you to read the entire text together as a group out loud.

 

THE HUMILITY AND FAITH OF THE CENTURION

This account of Jesus’ life involves Jesus performing a miracle for a Roman centurion. A centurion was responsible for overseeing one hundred Roman soldiers, and he represented the strength of the Roman empire to the people around him. In other words, this was a man of genuine power, influence, and prosperity. Yet his interaction with Jesus also demonstrates genuine humility and faith.

QUESTIONS:

Re-read verses 4 and 5.

• How do the elders of the Jews describe the Roman centurion?
• Why do they suggest he is deserving of a miracle from Jesus?

Now re-read verse 6.

• How did the centurion describe himself, and how does this contrast with what the elders of the Jews said?
• How does this model a genuine humility?

Re-read verses 7 and 8.

• On what basis did the centurion believe his servant could be healed?
• Do you think the Roman centurion believed in the goodness of Jesus?
• Why do you think Luke recorded this particular miracle?
• Does this account challenge you to grow in your own humility and faith? Why or why not?

 

AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE

Jesus’ miracles were acts of kindness, power, and grace. But they were also purposeful announcements of the coming kingdom of God. While Jesus didn’t heal everyone in need during His earthly ministry, His miracles gave the people assurance of the future healing that is to come.

QUESTIONS:

Read Isaiah 35:3-6.

• In what ways do we see Isaiah’s prophecy coming true in Jesus’ life?
• In what ways did Jesus’ miracles point to the future kingdom of God?
• How does this give us hope, even when our prayers aren’t answered when or how we would like?

Read 1 Peter 1:3-9.

• What does this tell us about the coming kingdom of God and our current circumstances?

 

LIVING A LIFE OF FAITH & TRUST

Ben noted that trust is how we begin our life with Jesus, bringing us into salvation. And trust is how we continue in our relationship with Jesus. There’s nothing more shaping about you, how you live, and how you view the world than whether or not you will choose to trust Jesus in all things.

Select one of the verses below, mentioned during the sermon, and read it aloud as a group. Talk about how this calls you to a life of faith and trust.

• Romans 10:9: because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
• Hebrews 11:1: ​​Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
• Matthew 6:26: “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”
• 2 Samuel 22:31: This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

 

TOGETHER IN ACTION

Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. – Psalm 62:8

As next steps this week, reflect on where you put your trust in times of stress or crises. Are there things you turn to for security rather than living with faith and trust in Jesus Christ? Confess to one another or to a trusted friend or mentor, and ask for them to pray for you to grow in this area.

Make a plan to select a relevant Bible passage to memorize, either as a group or as individuals, in order to remind you that you can trust Jesus in all things. Check in with one another this week to see how this is going.

 

TOGETHER IN PRAYER

As you close in prayer, thank God for His goodness, which doesn’t depend on our worthiness but on His steadfast character. Thank Him that because of Jesus’ death on the cross, all who receive Christ as Savior in faith can approach His throne of grace in confidence (Ephesians 3:11). Ask Him to highlight areas where each of you can grow in faith and trust, and ask Him to do this work in each of you this summer.