University Heights Baptist Church

“When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people, he returned to Capernaum. At that time the highly valued slave of a Roman officer was sick and near death. When the officer heard about Jesus, he sent some respected Jewish elders to ask him to come and heal his slave. So they earnestly begged Jesus to help the man. “If anyone deserves your help, he does,” they said, “for he loves the Jewish people and even built a synagogue for us.” So Jesus went with them. But just before they arrived at the house, the officer sent some friends to say, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself by coming to my home, for I am not worthy of such an honor. I am not even worthy to come and meet you. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to the crowd that was following him, he said, “I tell you, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!” And when the officer’s friends returned to his house, they found the slave completely healed.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭7‬:‭1‬-‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

As you think about this Roman official, what does this tell us about him? He and Jesus are never face to face; they never have a conversation. Are there any insights we can pick up about his faith?

If you ordered a prayer and gratitude journal, they will be at the welcome table this morning.

See you at 10:30!

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Often, we can look at the past with nostalgia thinking our best days are behind us. Why do you think we sometimes idolize the "good old days?" How do we stay hopeful without pretending new is easy?

“So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Are you tempted to believe God is finished with the good work you have been called to? Or are you paying attention and looking for new things?

“Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? Isaiah 43:18-19a NIV

If you live in Missouri, the seasons change at the drop of hat, so change is often one day away. If we're honest, we are always beginning a new phase or a new season - though we don't always see it or acknowledge it. Isaiah reminds us to "Look" and not miss the new growth happening right in front of us. Have you ever missed something new and good because you were so focused on the past?

Don’t remember the prior things;
don’t ponder ancient history.
19 Look! I’m doing a new thing;
now it sprouts up; don’t you recognize it?
I’m making a way in the desert,
paths in the wilderness. Isaiah 43:18-19 CEB

God is always leading people of faith into something new, that is what it looks like to be part of a faith community. And many of us don't mind something new as long as we feel like we are in control.

What is the last "new thing" God called you into? Did you feel like you were in control?

The prayer journals have arrived!

“Lord, loosen my grip on what was... so I can receive what you are doing now.”

This week’s next steps.