OVERVIEW

Worldview – a particular philosophy of life or conception of the world. It’s what a person believes about truth and the world in which they make decisions.

Biblical Worldview – the means of experiencing, interpreting, and responding to reality from a biblical perspective.

THIS WEEK: FAITH or FAÇADE?

Faith (n) – complete trust or confidence IN someone or something.

Façade (n) – an OUTward appearance that is maintained to conceal a less pleasant or creditable reality.

Context (with the text) – Have eyes to see and ears to hear

• Author – Matthew – written by an outsider to outsiders
  • When have you felt like an outsider?
• After Jesus delivers the Sermon on the Mount and comes down and heals the unclean leper
  • Observe the practice from the preaching & the model of the message
  • What was his message? What was he preaching? How is he practicing it? What is his model?

Text (the Word)

Matthew 8:5-13 (NIV) – 5When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6“Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” 7Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” 8The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9For 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.” 10When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.

Extext (from the text)

• Who was this centurion?
  • Roman Military Authority of wealth, power and prestige; A non-Jewish, Pagan, outsider
  • This outsider understands that the “culture” would not allow Jesus – a Jewish Rabbi insider – to enter in his home, even if it was to help, but in his FAITH, he still believes that Lord Jesus can heal.
    • A man of authority recognizes a man of authority
    • A command from a man of authority is to be followed – just say it done
  • This outsider has FAITH that Jesus is Lord
• Jesus’ reply:
  • I have not found anyone in Israel (insider) with such FAITH as this outsider
  • There are insiders who think they are in sit with Abraham, but they will actually be thrown out.
    •  What they think is a life of FAITH, Jesus is exposing is a life of FAÇADE
•  So, who really is an insider of Faith vs. an outsider of Façade?
  • One who has faith and believes that Jesus is Lord and Messiah and lives and acts accordingly, regardless of their status, position, successes or failures, cultural expectations or religious qualifications.
• Who are you today?

APPLICATION QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF AND SHARE WITH OTHERS:

1. When have you ever felt like an outsider?
2. In an instance where you have been an outsider that became an insider, what occurred to make that happen? Did anyone help? What did they do? What was your part?
3. Jesus says that disciples in the Kingdom seek those on the outside. Who are you seeking?
4. The centurion knew that he did not “deserve” to invite Jesus in, yet he approached him anyway. What is it in your life that causes you to think you do not deserve to invite Jesus in? After seeing and hearing this story, will you approach him anyway?
5. What determines who is on the inside or the outside of the kingdom?
6. If you were to be honest, does your life in practice look more like faith or more like façade?
7. What is one next step can you take today in your faith walk?