This Won't Take Long: Faith, Healing, and Perspective

In reflecting on the story of the ten lepers in Luke 17, it’s important to recognize how God’s presence is not limited to our Sunday gatherings or even to our most spiritual moments. God is with us in every space—at our dinner tables, in our text messages, and even in our most mundane or messy conversations. His faithfulness and willingness to abide with us is not based on our worthiness, but on His unexplainable love and grace. When we consider the story of the lepers, we see that Jesus’ healing was not about elaborate rituals or religious performance. He simply said, “Go,” and as they obeyed, they were cleansed. The simplicity of this miracle challenges our tendency to complicate faith with our own perspectives, preferences, and expectations.

Luke, as a physician, was known for his attention to detail, yet in this story, he gives us only eight verses and omits many specifics we might expect. This is not a failure, but a deliberate choice to keep the focus on the essential: the power of Jesus’ word and the response of faith. The story highlights how our perspectives shape the way we see others and even how we see God’s work. The lepers were defined by their condition, cast out by their communities, and yet Jesus saw their value and responded to their desperate faith. The one who returned to give thanks was a Samaritan—a stranger, an outsider—reminding us that God’s grace often shows up in unexpected places and people.

We are challenged to examine how we respond to the deliverance and transformation of others. Do we meet them with skepticism, requiring them to prove their change, or do we greet them with an “amen”—it is finished, I agree, I believe? Too often, our own perspectives and judgments keep people stuck in their past, even after God has set them free. The call is to keep it simple: to trust God’s word, to act in faith, and to let go of the need to add our own “sauce” to the miracle. When we remove ourselves from the center and let Jesus be seen for who He is, more people will be drawn to Him. Our role is not to complicate the gospel, but to live it out with authenticity, humility, and a willingness to see others as God sees them.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s Presence Is Everywhere, Not Just in Sacred Spaces God’s willingness to dwell with us is not confined to church buildings or religious rituals. He is present in every aspect of our lives, even in our digital interactions and ordinary conversations. This challenges us to recognize and honor His presence in all places, not just the ones we deem “holy.” [01:27]
• 2. Faith and Obedience Are Often Simpler Than We Make Them The healing of the ten lepers came not through elaborate ceremonies, but through a simple act of obedience to Jesus’ word: “Go.” We often expect God’s answers to be complex or dramatic, but sometimes deliverance is as straightforward as trusting and acting on what He has already said. Our need for complexity can actually hinder our faith. [36:57]
• 3. Our Perspectives Can Limit How We See Others and God’s Work Just as the lepers were labeled by their condition and cast out, we too can be guilty of defining people by their past or present struggles. When we govern others by our own limited perspectives, we risk missing what God is doing in their lives and may even become obstacles to their freedom. We must learn to see people through the lens of God’s possibility, not just their history. [53:39]
• 4. Authenticity in Ministry Means Letting Jesus Be the Focus Luke’s restraint in adding details to the story of the lepers is a model for us. We are called to present Jesus simply and authentically, without adding our own embellishments or requirements. The power is in the word and presence of Christ, not in our showmanship or manipulation. When we keep the focus on Jesus, the gospel remains compelling and transformative. [43:13]
• 5. Respond to Others’ Transformation with Faith, Not Skepticism When God brings change in someone’s life, our response should be one of agreement and celebration, not suspicion or judgment. Too often, we pray for others’ deliverance but continue to treat them as if they are still bound. True faith means embracing people as new creations and encouraging them in their journey, rather than holding them captive to their past. [57:26]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:46] - God’s Presence in Everyday Life
• [02:45] - The Mystery of God’s Goodness
• [04:06] - The Meaning of “Amen”
• [05:26] - Luke’s Perspective as a Physician
• [08:00] - How the Bible Was Compiled
• [10:38] - The Character and Skills of Luke
• [14:22] - Luke 17: The Story of the Ten Lepers
• [17:31] - The Power of Perspective
• [20:36] - Reading Luke 17:11-19
• [24:29] - Forgetting Where We Came From
• [27:03] - The Social Stigma of Leprosy
• [31:21] - Being Labeled by Our Condition
• [35:43] - The Simplicity of Jesus’ Miracle
• [43:13] - Keeping the Gospel Simple and Authentic
• [49:43] - The Dangers of Showmanship in Ministry
• [53:39] - Judging Others by Their Past
• [57:26] - Responding to Transformation with Faith
• [72:48] - Final Reflections and Closing

Bible Reading

Luke 17:11-19 (ESV) —
> 11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee.
> 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance
> 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”
> 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed.
> 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice;
> 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.
> 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?
> 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”
> 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

Observation Questions

1. What instructions did Jesus give to the ten lepers, and what happened as they obeyed?
2. According to the story, who was the only one to return and thank Jesus, and why is that detail important?
3. How does Luke, as a physician, choose to tell this story differently than we might expect from someone with his background?
4. What does Jesus say to the one who returns, and how is his response different from what he says to the others?

Interpretation Questions

1. The lepers were healed “as they went” in obedience to Jesus’ word. What does this suggest about the relationship between faith, obedience, and God’s work in our lives?
2. The only one who returned to give thanks was a Samaritan, considered an outsider. What might this teach us about who can experience God’s grace and how we respond to it?
3. The sermon points out that Luke leaves out many details we might expect. Why might it be important that the focus stays on Jesus’ word and the response, rather than on the process or the people’s backgrounds?
4. The group discussed how our perspectives can keep people stuck in their past, even after God has set them free. How does this challenge the way we view and treat others who have experienced change?

Application Questions

1. The sermon says God’s presence is not just in church, but everywhere—even in our text messages and daily conversations. Where in your everyday life do you struggle to recognize God’s presence? How can you start to honor His presence in those spaces this week?
2. Jesus’ healing of the lepers was simple: “Go.” Are there areas in your life where you are waiting for a complicated answer from God, but He’s already given you a simple instruction? What would it look like to just “go” in faith?
3. Think of someone you know who has experienced change or deliverance. Do you find yourself skeptical or hesitant to accept their transformation? How can you respond with an “amen”—agreeing with what God has done—instead of doubt?
4. The group discussed how we sometimes add our own “sauce” to the gospel, making it more about us than about Jesus. Are there ways you’ve complicated your faith or made it about your preferences? What would it look like to keep it simple and authentic?
5. When someone shares a testimony of what God has done in their life, do you celebrate with them or do you question if it’s real? How can you become someone who encourages and affirms others’ journeys with God?
6. The lepers were defined by their condition and cast out by their community. Is there anyone in your life you have “cast out” or kept at a distance because of their past or present struggles? What is one step you can take to see them through God’s eyes this week?
7. The sermon challenges us to “let Jesus be seen for who He is.” What is one practical way you can take yourself out of the center and point others to Jesus in your words or actions this week?