Faith, Generosity, and Our Mission Together

 

Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound story found in Luke chapter 7, where Jesus encounters a Roman centurion whose faith amazes Him. This narrative serves as a powerful reminder of the essence of faith and its role in our lives and mission as a church community. The centurion, a figure of authority and power, demonstrates a remarkable humility and trust in Jesus, acknowledging that he is not worthy to have Jesus under his roof but believing that Jesus can heal his servant with just a word. This act of faith, devoid of any grand theological understanding, is what Jesus finds astonishing.

As we conclude our series on generosity, we shift our focus to missional giving, emphasizing the importance of investing in God's mission. Our mission at Discovery is to reach spiritual explorers, develop guides, and impact our community and culture. This mission is fueled by a posture of generosity, defined as personal sacrifice for others through loving, everyday actions that reflect God's kingdom. The good news of Jesus is worth our time, treasure, and talents because it is the best news for humanity, offering eternal life and the restoration of God's creation.

Faith is the cornerstone of our mission. It requires us to trust in Jesus rather than our techniques or strategies. The centurion's story illustrates that faith is not about having all the right answers but about trusting Jesus to do what only He can do. As a community, we are called to engage in God's mission not as saviors but as people who trust the Savior, believing that God is at work even when we cannot see it.

We also heard from Chuck, a member of our community, whose journey of faith exemplifies the power of trusting Jesus. His story reminds us that faith moves the mission forward, and each step of faith, no matter how small, contributes to the larger mission of God. As we reflect on our own journeys, we are challenged to consider our next step of faith, whether it's giving, joining a community, serving, or exploring our questions and doubts.

Key Takeaways:

- Faith as Trust: Faith is not a magical substance but a relational word that describes trust in Jesus. The centurion's faith was remarkable because he trusted Jesus' authority without needing to see physical evidence. This trust is what moves God's mission forward. [06:07]

- Generosity as an Expression of Faith: Our generosity is a tangible expression of our faith in Jesus. It reflects our trust in Him and our commitment to His mission. By giving missionally, we invest in the work of God, believing that it is worth our time and resources. [17:12]

- The Power of Humility: The centurion's humility in acknowledging his unworthiness and trusting Jesus' word is a powerful example for us. Humility allows us to recognize our limitations and rely on Jesus to do what we cannot. [40:41]

- Community and Mission: Our mission is not just about gathering as a community but about becoming a communitas—a group bonded through shared adventure and risk. This requires personal sacrifice and a commitment to loving actions that reflect God's kingdom. [40:41]

- Taking the Next Step of Faith: Each of us is called to take a step of faith, whether it's giving, joining a community, serving, or exploring our doubts. These steps, though they may seem small, contribute to the larger mission of God and demonstrate our trust in Him. [40:41]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [06:07] - The Centurion's Faith
- [12:00] - Generosity and Mission
- [17:12] - Chuck's Story
- [22:30] - Faith Moves the Mission
- [28:45] - Humility and Trust
- [33:00] - Community and Communitas
- [36:15] - Taking the Next Step
- [40:41] - Conclusion and Prayer
- [45:00] - Communion and Worship

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Luke 7:6-10

Observation Questions:
1. What was the centurion's request to Jesus, and how did he express his faith in Jesus' authority? [06:07]
2. How did Jesus respond to the centurion's faith, and what did He say to the crowd about it? [06:07]
3. What role does humility play in the centurion's interaction with Jesus, and how is it demonstrated in the passage? [06:07]

Interpretation Questions:
1. Why might Jesus have been amazed by the centurion's faith, especially considering the centurion's background as a Roman officer? [06:07]
2. How does the centurion's understanding of authority relate to his faith in Jesus' ability to heal his servant? [06:07]
3. In what ways does the centurion's story challenge common perceptions of faith and worthiness in the context of Jesus' ministry? [06:07]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you had to trust in Jesus without seeing immediate results. How did that experience shape your faith? [40:41]
2. The centurion demonstrated humility by acknowledging his unworthiness. How can you practice humility in your daily interactions, especially when seeking help or guidance? [40:41]
3. Generosity is described as a tangible expression of faith. What is one way you can express your faith through generosity this week, whether with your time, talents, or resources? [17:12]
4. Consider the idea of moving from a community to a communitas. What steps can you take to deepen your relationships within your church community and engage in shared adventures or risks? [40:41]
5. Identify a specific area in your life where you feel called to take a step of faith. What practical actions can you take to move forward in that area this week? [40:41]
6. Chuck's story highlights the power of trusting Jesus through life's challenges. How can you support someone in your community who is on their own faith journey? [17:12]
7. The sermon emphasized the importance of trusting Jesus over techniques or strategies. How can you apply this principle in your personal or professional life, especially when facing uncertainty? [40:41]

Devotional

Day 1: Trust Beyond Evidence
Faith is not a magical substance but a relational word that describes trust in Jesus. The centurion's faith was remarkable because he trusted Jesus' authority without needing to see physical evidence. This trust is what moves God's mission forward. The centurion, despite his position of power, recognized the authority of Jesus and believed in His ability to heal with just a word. This act of faith, devoid of any grand theological understanding, is what Jesus finds astonishing. It challenges us to consider the nature of our own faith and trust in Jesus, even when we cannot see the outcome. [06:07]

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life are you struggling to trust Jesus without needing to see physical evidence? How can you take a step of faith today to trust Him more deeply?


Day 2: Generosity as a Reflection of Faith
Our generosity is a tangible expression of our faith in Jesus. It reflects our trust in Him and our commitment to His mission. By giving missionally, we invest in the work of God, believing that it is worth our time and resources. Generosity is not just about financial giving but involves personal sacrifice for others through loving, everyday actions that reflect God's kingdom. This kind of giving is fueled by a posture of generosity, defined as personal sacrifice for others through loving, everyday actions that reflect God's kingdom. [17:12]

"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7, ESV)

Reflection: What is one way you can express generosity today, not just financially, but through your time or talents, to reflect your faith in Jesus?


Day 3: The Power of Humility
The centurion's humility in acknowledging his unworthiness and trusting Jesus' word is a powerful example for us. Humility allows us to recognize our limitations and rely on Jesus to do what we cannot. The centurion, despite his authority, approached Jesus with a humble heart, acknowledging that he was not worthy to have Jesus under his roof. This humility is a key aspect of faith, as it opens us up to the work of God in our lives and allows us to trust in His power rather than our own. [40:41]

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you." (James 4:10, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to practice humility and acknowledge your limitations? How can you invite Jesus to work in that area today?


Day 4: Community and Mission
Our mission is not just about gathering as a community but about becoming a communitas—a group bonded through shared adventure and risk. This requires personal sacrifice and a commitment to loving actions that reflect God's kingdom. As a community, we are called to engage in God's mission not as saviors but as people who trust the Savior, believing that God is at work even when we cannot see it. This shared mission strengthens our bonds and propels us forward in faith. [40:41]

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)

Reflection: How can you contribute to your community's mission this week? What is one action you can take to support and encourage others in their faith journey?


Day 5: Taking the Next Step of Faith
Each of us is called to take a step of faith, whether it's giving, joining a community, serving, or exploring our doubts. These steps, though they may seem small, contribute to the larger mission of God and demonstrate our trust in Him. Faith moves the mission forward, and each step of faith, no matter how small, contributes to the larger mission of God. As we reflect on our own journeys, we are challenged to consider our next step of faith. [40:41]

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: What is the next step of faith you feel called to take? How can you act on this today, trusting that God will guide you in the process?

Quotes


We do this by inviting people to explore the good news of Jesus together, collectively. We do this through cultivating a posture of generosity, which we've been defining as a personal sacrifice for others, through loving, everyday actions that reflect God's kingdom. Now, my hope, my hope, my prayer, as we've started this year off through these nine weeks, is that you would see and that you would know that the mission of God is worth it. [00:05:11] (39 seconds)


The truth that God is putting his family back together, restoring his good creation back to the way it was intended to be. That our rejection of right relationship with God is not the end of the story. The good news that eternal life is available to us right now and forever through the death and resurrection of Jesus. This is the best news possible for human beings. Are you with me? [00:06:07] (35 seconds)


This is why we're here this is why our mission matters right we want to move from from not just being a community right some people who just happen to gather in a high school theater on a Sunday morning we want to move from a community to a communitas right that deep sense of relational bonding that comes through adventuring together through risking together through going on mission together this is it right this is our adventure to generously invest in God's mission because it's worth it. [00:07:43] (40 seconds)


It requires faith because and this is this is a news flash okay people are complicated, people are complicated the work is slow results can be hard to measure I think this messes with us especially in our like you, american pragmatism where we want to input this to get this exact output and sometimes our immediate gratification society faith pushes against that and yet it is a requirement for this because to enter the mystery of god's mission and his work of transformation it's slow and oftentimes invisible and we may not always see the direct and clear impact of our investment but it is happening and the question is do we have the eyes to see it do we have the faith to believe it the faith to trust it. [00:09:06] (59 seconds)


As a community toss on mission together adventuring together we do not engage in the mission of God as the saviors we engage as people who trust the Savior people of faith believing hoping trusting that God is up to something again even if we don't see it feel it have tangible evidence of it we trust God you are up to something faith moves the mission forward. [00:14:49] (34 seconds)


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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?