Master Teacher: 2nd Quarter 2016

By Rev. Charles J. Ellis Sr.

Master Teacher is the teacher’s quarterly to be used with Adult Christian Life and College and Career. Each lesson contains extensive biblical exposition and specific instructions for the teacher. The outline of the lesson is reader-friendly, and includes suggestions for maximizing teacher/student interaction and topics for making the study informative and enriching.

• Language: English
• Publisher: R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation
• Release date: Dec 1, 2015
• ISBN: 9781681671079

Book preview

LESSON 1 FOR WEEK OF APRIL 3, 2016

GOOD AS NEW

UNIFYING TOPIC:

Renewed Health

LESSON TEXT

I. A Worthy Centurion

(Luke 7:1–5)

II. Speak the Word

(Luke 7:6–10)

THE MAIN THOUGHT

When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. (Luke 7:9, KJV)

UNIFYING PRINCIPLE

Everyone has desperate needs at times that cause her or him to wonder if any help is available. To whom can Christians turn for help that makes a difference? The centurion’s faith in Jesus Christ as the great healer made all the difference in meeting his need to see his servant healed.

LESSON AIM

To explore the surprises found in the story of Jesus’ healing of the centurion’s servant.

LIFE AIM

To be encouraged that the faithful will see God’s mighty works.

BEFORE YOU TEACH

Consider . . .

Focus for College and Career—Challenge the students to think about difficult circumstances and how they may be overcome through faith.

Focus for Adult Christian Life—This group of students may have lengthy experiences in facing difficulty through faith. Utilize their experiences, good and bad, in order to analyze and discuss deeper dimensions of faith.

Supplementary Study Materials

For further reference, see today’s lesson from Boyd’s Commentary, New National Baptist Hymnal, 21st Century Edition #45 (NNBH #153), and God’s Promises Bible.

Teacher Helps

For teaching supplements visit http://www.rhboydpublishing.com.

First Step: Introduction. Preparation: Pray that God will lead you in teaching the class the life lessons and principles in the lesson. Consult any other materials that will help in understanding and clearly communicating about today’s verses.

Second Step: Ask students about their beliefs regarding God and divine healing. What was the importance of the healings that Jesus performed in His ministry? How did these differ from healings by religious leaders today?

Third Step: Read the Scripture text and the lesson text together, discussing anything that jumps out at the class or any questions they have. What sets this story apart from other healing stories in the Gospels?

Fourth Step: Talk with the class about the centurion. Why would it be unusual for him to send for Jesus? Ask students to discuss how unbelievers can demonstrate faith. What message does Jesus send about the centurion’s faith?

Fifth Step: Close the class with a prayer.

God’s Word in Life

Medical missions are a huge ministry in the world today, especially in places where basic health care is difficult to access. Christian doctors and nurses travel from the comfort of home to foreign places, both domestic and international. By using their skills and knowledge to help alleviate physical suffering, they are showing the love of Christ. Although there are times where proper care for the body and soul are separate, such missions prove they don’t have to be. Showing Jesus’ love through physical care can also heal the soul.

One such organization, World Medical Mission, provide[s] evangelical mission hospitals and clinics with the resources they need—equipment, supplies, and Christian physicians and biomedical technicians to treat their patients while standing as a shining witness of God’s love through Jesus Christ. God wants each of us to dedicate our lives to changing people’s lives regardless of race, creed, culture, or nationality. †

— EXPOSITION —

Introduction

Perhaps one of the most intriguing movies was The Sting. The Sting was a show about alternate reality that was known for its sudden twist. In many cases, just as the viewer seemed to have the show and plot figured out, this sudden twist would turn the whole thing around.

In a similar way, our narrative has some Sting-like qualities. Jesus had been ministering and once again teaching people how to live in the Kingdom of God. In fact, some have called this series of sermons that Jesus teaches in Luke the Sermon on the Plain. These admonitions include everything from how to deal with retaliation to how to ethically order one’s life and build on the firm foundation of the Lord. But in chapter seven the scene turns to Capernaum, a place where Jesus had done miracles before. In our text, it becomes clear that Jesus has authority over all our lives, including in the area of sickness, to command things to be as they should. As Creator, He alone has authority and power to set things right in creation.

I. A Worthy Centurion

(Luke 7:1–5)

As our narrative unfolds, we are told that Jesus entered into Capernaum. Capernaum, located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, served as a sort of headquarters for Jesus during His ministry. Throughout the Gospels, we see that Jesus performed many miracles from Capernaum as well as gave key instructions (see Matt. 4:13, 11:23, 17:24–27; Mark 1:21, 2:1, 9:33; Luke 4:23, 10:15; John 2:12, 4:46–54, 6:59; etc.). As Jesus entered the town, He was approached by a delegation of men sent by a Roman centurion. What makes this so peculiar is that we are told this delegation that approached Jesus were Jewish elders. Although the term elders can be taken to mean someone esteemed or simply in old age, the meaning in our text appears to be that of officials. In Israel, the function of the elders was to sit at the gates and decide justice for the people, as is seen in many Old Testament stories. Theirs was an esteemed position in the community because of their life experience, knowledge, and wisdom. Thus, a group of Jewish officials had come to Jesus on behalf of a Roman centurion.

If that in itself isn’t puzzling enough, the Jewish elders told Jesus that the centurion’s servant was sick and had asked to have Jesus come and heal his servant. Although at this time everyone may not have been clear about the true identity of Jesus, one thing was clear: Jesus had the power to heal. The elders included in their request the detail that the centurion had a special relationship with the Jewish people. They pointed out that he ‘loves our people’ and even built a synagogue (v. 5, NRSV). These Jewish elders were making the case for Jesus to go and heal the servant of this centurion. It was as though anyone could be worthy to receive Jesus or His blessings. Theirs was a strong case as the centurion did indeed seem to hold the Jewish people in high esteem, going far beyond his official Roman duties in order to help these people.

This Gentile could quite accurately be described as a God-fearer. These God-fearers were men and women who respected the Jewish people and, more importantly, Yahweh. However, they did not take the necessary steps to become part of the nation of Israel. Instead of being accepted as full members of the community, God-fearers prayed to God, offered monetary support, and advocated for the often-hated Jewish people within the Roman Empire. This God-fearing centurion had been so good to the Jews within his community that the Jewish leaders were probably glad for a chance to offer him help from a great Rabbi and Healer.

For more information about CAPERNAUM, visit www.rhboydpublishing.com.

II. Speak the Word (Luke 7:6–10)

As Jesus moved toward the home of the sick servant, we see a move in the text. Apparently, the centurion had some second thoughts about Jesus coming into his home. After all, he was a Roman, usually considered an enemy in Israel, one who occupied the territory of the Jews against their wishes. How could he ask Jesus for a favor? As Jesus and His group approached the home of the centurion, they were greeted by another delegation, likely of Gentiles this time. These men pointed out that the centurion felt unworthy to allow Jesus to come into his home. It is remarkable that a Roman military leader did not feel worthy. The most powerful empire had granted him authority, but Rome’s power was nothing compared to God’s power. This centurion realized that he was not worthy to have Jesus enter his home, because his authority did not come from God.

AUTHORITY

(Greek: exousia)

Although this term is often translated or confused with power, it actually denotes the ability or right to do something. Thus, while authority involves power, it also combines the ability to bring something to pass with the right and permission to do it. As Lord of creation, Jesus has the authority to order life as He sees fit, including healing sickness, even from afar.

However, what his friends passed along next is perhaps one of the greatest declarations in all of Scripture on confidence and faith. Although the representatives of the centurion halted Jesus’ physical approach to the home, their alternative was actually better. The centurion told them to say to Jesus, ‘But only speak the word, and let my servant be healed’ (v. 7, NRSV). They admonished Jesus to simply speak because the centurion had complete faith that Jesus could heal the servant from afar.

In case one might think that this was some flippant, last-minute request, the representatives gave the centurion’s reasoning behind the requests. For I also am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and the slave does it (v. 8, NRSV). The centurion above