Amazing Faith

Ps David Jones

Sunday Morning’s message 7th of September 2025

citywestchurch YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaKPUUp77G4

Leaders note: This study is a guide—use it flexibly. Adapt the questions and follow the flow of your group. Keep it simple, keep it fun, and create space for God to move as you grow together.

This passage about the Roman centurion is one of the most powerful accounts in the Gospels of what true faith looks like. Here we find a man, an outsider to Israel, who recognised something about Jesus that even many of God’s own people struggled to see. His faith was so remarkable that Jesus Himself marvelled at it.

Luke 7:1-10 "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."

The Roman centurion was a man of power and responsibility, overseeing about 100 soldiers. He was an enforcer of Roman authority—often feared and seen as part of the oppressive system. Normally, centurions were viewed as harsh “bad guys” of the empire. Yet this centurion stands out. He had a heart that leaned towards God, compassion for his servant, and an unusual humility for someone in his position. From him we can learn how to approach Jesus in faith.

Faith Begins with Hearing

Luke 7:3-4 – The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant.

The first step in the centurion’s faith was that he heard. He had heard testimonies of Jesus’ miracles, healings, and His love for people. Hearing stirred belief, which stirred into action. In the same way, when we value and immerse ourselves in Scripture, we begin to see God more clearly, and our expectation and faith grow.

Romans 10:17 – So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (NKJV)

Discuss:

• What testimonies or Scriptures have strengthened your faith recently?

• How can we make room in our lives to hear God’s Word more regularly and deeply?

• How can we openly share what God is doing in our lives so that it encourages and strengthens the faith of others?

  
  

Compassion

The centurion’s compassion was extraordinary. In Roman culture, a slave could be discarded without thought, yet this centurion valued his servant highly and sought help for him. His compassion was so evident that Jewish elders, normally suspicious of Roman soldiers, spoke in his favour: “This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” (v4-5)

Colossians 3:12-13 – Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Matthew 9:36 – When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Compassion reflects God’s heart. Faith that amazes Jesus is not cold or self-centred—it flows from love and mercy.

Discuss:

• Where is God calling us to show compassion in our everyday lives?

• How have you seen compassion open doors for faith?

• In what ways can we make compassion a natural, daily habit rather than an occasional response?

Humility

Luke 7:6-7 – “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.”

The elders called him “worthy,” but the centurion saw himself as unworthy. True humility acknowledges our need for God, while trusting fully in His grace. Remarkably, the centurion combined strong faith with deep humility—two qualities we might think don’t go together, but in fact, they strengthen one another.

C.S. Lewis once wrote: “True humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.”

Our worthiness doesn’t come from our good deeds but from what Jesus accomplished at the cross. When Jesus cried out it is finished, it truly was done. Complete. All the victory of the cross is ours.

Discuss:

• How do you personally approach Jesus—confident, hesitant, or somewhere in between?

• What does it mean to live in both humility and confidence in Christ?

• How does true humility strengthen, rather than weaken, our faith?

  
  

Authority

Luke 7:8-9 – “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.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him…

The centurion recognised authority when he saw it. He understood that just as his word carried authority over soldiers, Jesus’ word carried authority over sickness and the spiritual realm. His faith wasn’t in a method but in the authority of Christ Himself.

Matthew 28:18 – Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

Everything in heaven and on earth must ultimately submit to Jesus. His authority is absolute—over sickness, over nature, over spiritual powers, and even over life and death itself. When the centurion recognised this, he was seeing far beyond what most people around Jesus could grasp. He understood that Jesus didn’t need to be physically present, touch someone, or perform an elaborate act. A single word from Jesus carried the full weight of divine authority. That kind of trust—acknowledging that Christ’s spoken word alone is enough—reveals a “mega faith” that went beyond human reasoning and amazed the Lord Himself.

Discuss:

• What areas of life do we struggle to believe are under Jesus’ authority?

• How does knowing Jesus has “all authority” strengthen your faith in prayer?

• How can we practise living under Jesus’ authority in practical ways day by day?

  
  

Amazing Faith

Luke 7:9-10 – When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him… “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.”

Only twice in Scripture do we read of Jesus being amazed: once at unbelief (Mark 6:5-6) and here at great faith. The centurion’s faith wasn’t complicated—it was simple trust that Jesus’ word was enough.

Luke 17:5-6 – The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.”

Faith that pleases God is not measured by its size but by its focus. We often think we need a huge, unshakable faith to see God move, but Jesus taught that even faith as small as a mustard seed—a tiny, almost insignificant seed—is extraordinary when it is placed in Him. The power doesn’t come from how much faith we can muster up, but from the One in whom our faith rests. A whisper of prayer, a single step of obedience, or a quiet declaration of trust can move what seems immovable, because Jesus is the One who moves mountains.

Discuss:

• What do you think it means for Jesus to be “amazed” at faith?

• How can we take small, practical steps to grow in faith this week?

• What situations in your life right now need a fresh step of faith?

  
  

Closing Thought

The centurion shows us that faith begins with hearing, grows in compassion, is grounded in humility, recognises Christ’s authority, and ultimately amazes Jesus. Let us be people who take Him at His word, live out faith in love, and walk in the confidence that His authority is over every situation we face.

PRAY together for:

• Greater faith in Jesus’ authority.

• Compassionate hearts like Christ.

• Courage to act in faith this week.