Church Requel
Amazing Faith
Often the crowds around Jesus were amazed. The Jews were amazed. The disciples were amazed. Forty-three times in the New Testament we find some one or some group amazed at something. But only once do we find Jesus “amazed.” In today’s study we learn that Jesus was amazed at the centurion’s faith. Would you like to have amazing faith too?
Locations & Times
Church Requel
2 Marion Ave, Mansfield, OH 44903, USA
Sunday 11:00 AM
Free Gift For Our Guests
If you are visiting with us today, WELCOME! We’re glad you’re here. If you will stop by the piano on the north side of our sanctuary after this morning’s worship, and drop off your connection card, we have a FREE Christian book to share with you. We promise no one will show up at your door. But we will include you in our weekly Friday email newsletter and tell you about the good things happening at Church Requel. Thanks for being our guest!
Membership Class
We will be offering a new members class over 3 Sunday evenings starting April 17th. Discover who we are and why we’re here. You do not have to become a member if you take the class, but you cannot become a member without first attending the class.
Signup is in the foyer.
Signup is in the foyer.
New Food Pantry
Ask yourself - is there any good reason why someone would ever leave Church Requel and go home to an empty cupboard? This happens more than we’d like. So we have started a food pantry downstairs, which we will stock with non-perishable foods. When you come to church on Sundays bring some food to share with others, who may be sitting in the pew next to you.
BIG Thanks To New Setup Team
Do you ever wonder how everything is so well arranged for us to worship every Sunday morning? The coffee is made. The communion table is set. The bathrooms are prepped. That’s the often thank-less task of the setup team. We’re saying a BIG THANK YOU to them today. We have a new team led by Jenny Repp. Thanks go out to Ed & Paula, Dan & DeeDee, Ken & Karen, Chris, Tamara, Steve, and Mary Kay. Major props also go out to Don, who faithfully shows up at 8 am each and every Sunday to mop and sweep. We love and appreciate each and every one of you!
Nursery Volunteers Needed In May
Tamira Barnes needs nursery volunteers for a once a month commitment. You may choose to volunteer to be a sub just for April and May. Please contact Tamira at 419.631.6828 or tamira.barnes@churchrequel.org.
Donate To Church Requel
Use the link below to make a one time donation to Church Requel using your debit or credit card. We want to make sure you know that we provide this as a convenience for those who use the debit or credit card responsibly in their financial lives. It is not our intent for you to go into or add to credit card debt to give to CR. We appreciate your ongoing financial support of our ministry!
https://churchrequel.ccbchurch.com/trx_submit.php?type=public_gift#1. Amazing faith starts with recognizing ________________.
Another way to say this is that amazing faith begins with humility. Humility is rightly looking at ourselves and realizing that everything doesn’t revolve around us.
“… he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” Luke 7:5b NIV
“That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you…” Luke 7:7a NIV
Here is a man with an understanding of exactly who he is and what he can do. A powerful man with responsibilities.
#2. Amazing faith has nothing to do with _______________.
Christianity is much more about a relationship with Jesus and the desire to live by His principles, than a practice of religious activity OR a family background or religious heritage. The concept of a centurion being someone who could amaze Jesus with His faith is proof that it’s not about where we come from, who we know, or our religious practices.
“The centurion … sent some elders of the Jews to him.” Luke 7:3b NIV
Moving the Christian faith away from a Jewish - centric religion is a vital part of our story. And again a centurion was involved!
“At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing.” Acts 10:1-2a NIV
#3. Amazing faith has everything to do with ___________ .
Amazing faith starts with and continues with Jesus… and Jesus only!
“The centurion heard of Jesus.” Luke 7:3a NIV
Do we ever get in the way of people hearing bout Jesus? Do they have to hear about us first? Or our church?
“Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof.” Luke 7:6b NIV
#4. Amazing faith understands __________ in God’s creation.
What exactly did the centurion say or do that was so amazing to Jesus?
“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.” Luke 7:8 NIV
(A) He understood the authority of God in the universe; (B) He understood that God (through Jesus) could do anything because He was the Creator; (C) He understood that God’s power could work through him if he asked Jesus. This is what’s necessary to exercise great faith. It starts with God and his authority and power and ends with believing God’s power ultimately could work through us. See why correct humility is so important?
Let’s break this understanding of God’s authority down -
(A) God has authority in the universe - He is the creator!
“The LORD does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths.” Psalm 135:6 NIV
Amazing faith starts with the view that God is running the show. He can do anything that pleases Him in all the world, whatever or whenever that is.
(B) Impossible is impossible with God!
“For nothing will be impossible with God.” Luke 1:37 ESV
Luke 1:37 comes from the Angel to Mary. Is it possible for a barren woman to give birth to a baby? Is it possible for a virgin to conceive? For us that is inconceivable. But for the angel who was accustomed to hanging out with God? No big deal. Why? Simple! “For nothing is impossible with God!”
(C) God’s power can work through me!
“Glory belongs to God, whose power is at work in us. By this power he can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.” Eph. 3:20 GW
God can do anything He wants in any way that He wants. What is truly remarkable is that He loves to work through those people who follow Jesus as their Lord. Apostle Paul writing to Christians says about God’s power - that it “is at work in us.” You are literally like little power stations walking around the world. And you cannot begin to believe just how much of God’s power is available through you! Notice the language. “More than we can ask.”“More than you can even imagine asking.” How much more? “Infinitely!”
Faith never stops. Always one more step. Always growing. How?
#5. Amazing faith grows out of __________________.
“Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.” Luke 7:10 NIV
Our amazing faith grows by watching Jesus do amazing things through our faith. Luke doesn’t record that Jesus said anything or did anything. The entire focus [weirdly] is upon the men who had been sent. Why do you think? Because the issue is what they found. The servant, who 7 verses before was “about to die” is now found well. The difference? Certainly the answer of Jesus would be correct. But isn’t it more? Isn’t it also the amazing faith of the centurion?
Do you think that centurion would ever look at his faith in Jesus in the same way again? Do you think his faith would be strengthened?
Here’s the challenge - We are quick to ask in prayer, as if we are checking off the next thing so we can feel like we’ve done everything. When the prayer is answered we are just as quick to forget. To forget the urgency. To forget the faith. To forget Jesus’ role in answering our faith. And so our faith is never really built up.
Experience with Jesus means remembering all those times when He has provided answers. Allowing our faith to grow as a result. One experience builds on another experience. Our faith can be amazing. Because the One in Whom we believe is also amazing.
Another way to say this is that amazing faith begins with humility. Humility is rightly looking at ourselves and realizing that everything doesn’t revolve around us.
“… he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” Luke 7:5b NIV
“That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you…” Luke 7:7a NIV
Here is a man with an understanding of exactly who he is and what he can do. A powerful man with responsibilities.
#2. Amazing faith has nothing to do with _______________.
Christianity is much more about a relationship with Jesus and the desire to live by His principles, than a practice of religious activity OR a family background or religious heritage. The concept of a centurion being someone who could amaze Jesus with His faith is proof that it’s not about where we come from, who we know, or our religious practices.
“The centurion … sent some elders of the Jews to him.” Luke 7:3b NIV
Moving the Christian faith away from a Jewish - centric religion is a vital part of our story. And again a centurion was involved!
“At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing.” Acts 10:1-2a NIV
#3. Amazing faith has everything to do with ___________ .
Amazing faith starts with and continues with Jesus… and Jesus only!
“The centurion heard of Jesus.” Luke 7:3a NIV
Do we ever get in the way of people hearing bout Jesus? Do they have to hear about us first? Or our church?
“Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof.” Luke 7:6b NIV
#4. Amazing faith understands __________ in God’s creation.
What exactly did the centurion say or do that was so amazing to Jesus?
“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.” Luke 7:8 NIV
(A) He understood the authority of God in the universe; (B) He understood that God (through Jesus) could do anything because He was the Creator; (C) He understood that God’s power could work through him if he asked Jesus. This is what’s necessary to exercise great faith. It starts with God and his authority and power and ends with believing God’s power ultimately could work through us. See why correct humility is so important?
Let’s break this understanding of God’s authority down -
(A) God has authority in the universe - He is the creator!
“The LORD does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths.” Psalm 135:6 NIV
Amazing faith starts with the view that God is running the show. He can do anything that pleases Him in all the world, whatever or whenever that is.
(B) Impossible is impossible with God!
“For nothing will be impossible with God.” Luke 1:37 ESV
Luke 1:37 comes from the Angel to Mary. Is it possible for a barren woman to give birth to a baby? Is it possible for a virgin to conceive? For us that is inconceivable. But for the angel who was accustomed to hanging out with God? No big deal. Why? Simple! “For nothing is impossible with God!”
(C) God’s power can work through me!
“Glory belongs to God, whose power is at work in us. By this power he can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.” Eph. 3:20 GW
God can do anything He wants in any way that He wants. What is truly remarkable is that He loves to work through those people who follow Jesus as their Lord. Apostle Paul writing to Christians says about God’s power - that it “is at work in us.” You are literally like little power stations walking around the world. And you cannot begin to believe just how much of God’s power is available through you! Notice the language. “More than we can ask.”“More than you can even imagine asking.” How much more? “Infinitely!”
Faith never stops. Always one more step. Always growing. How?
#5. Amazing faith grows out of __________________.
“Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.” Luke 7:10 NIV
Our amazing faith grows by watching Jesus do amazing things through our faith. Luke doesn’t record that Jesus said anything or did anything. The entire focus [weirdly] is upon the men who had been sent. Why do you think? Because the issue is what they found. The servant, who 7 verses before was “about to die” is now found well. The difference? Certainly the answer of Jesus would be correct. But isn’t it more? Isn’t it also the amazing faith of the centurion?
Do you think that centurion would ever look at his faith in Jesus in the same way again? Do you think his faith would be strengthened?
Here’s the challenge - We are quick to ask in prayer, as if we are checking off the next thing so we can feel like we’ve done everything. When the prayer is answered we are just as quick to forget. To forget the urgency. To forget the faith. To forget Jesus’ role in answering our faith. And so our faith is never really built up.
Experience with Jesus means remembering all those times when He has provided answers. Allowing our faith to grow as a result. One experience builds on another experience. Our faith can be amazing. Because the One in Whom we believe is also amazing.
Church Requel's Website
Here is your online link to everything Church Requel on the Internet. Here you will find all of our sermons, in video and audio. Each week our pastor writes in his online blog and publishes an audio podcast. You'll find all of our pictures, our Facebook page and our Twitter feed. You can even connect with other Church Requel folks in our online community!
http://www.ChurchRequel.org/