Here are some questions based on last Sunday’s sermon text (Matthew 8:1-17), in case they’re helpful to you for personal growth or group discussion…

• [1-4] You’re called “a leper” and cast out of society when your horrific skin disease has come to define your life and identity. You don’t just “have leprosy,” you are “a leper.” In the same way, you don’t just “have sin” or “commit sin,” you are “a sinner,” when your rebellion against God has come to define your life and identity and you are unwelcome in his presence because of your spiritual uncleanness. But Jesus came to cleanse us, to “un-ruin” our lives, to heal our relationship with God, to give us a new life and identity. Can you imagine the feelings of relief, renewal, freedom, and joy that the man with leprosy must have felt when Jesus cleansed him? What do you think it was like for him when Jesus “stretched out his hand and touched him”? Have you experienced something similar in being forgiven and cleansed from your sins and welcome in God’s presence because of Jesus?

• [5-13] The Roman centurion shouldn’t have cared for his lowly servant’s suffering, but he did. He shouldn’t have humbled himself before Jesus, calling a subjugated Jew “Lord” and asking him for help, but he did. He broke social conventions, and seemed to assume that Jesus would be okay with that. He imposed upon Jesus to bless the unworthy and the lowly. And for this Jesus praised his faith in a way that would have offended any Jews who hated Gentiles. Jesus indicated that such people as this centurion would be right at home feasting with him in his kingdom and celebrating the grace of God. Have you participated in social conventions that cause some folks to look down on other folks? What is it about a relationship with Jesus that overturns such social conventions? Have you asked Jesus to help and serve the unworthy, the lowly, the despised (whether this described you or someone else)? Can you imagine being at the feast in Jesus’ kingdom, rejoicing in the grace of God with other misfits and delinquents who don’t deserve to be there?

• [14-17] Peter’s mother-in-law was a nobody with nothing to offer. “Important people” would suggest that Jesus was wasting his time with such insignificant, powerless people. Jesus doesn’t need our service—he serves us first. Jesus doesn’t need us—he loves us. How do you feel about the idea of being a nobody with nothing to offer? Can you believe that Jesus—the Greatest and Most Powerful Person who ever lived—would love such people to the point of laying down his life for us on the cross? What does this say about true greatness and power in God’s kingdom? How does this translate into your own compassion toward other nobodies with nothing to offer?

• FOR THE CHILDREN: Can you think of someone who you would never want to be around, never want a relationship with, never want to help, never want to touch? Do you think Jesus would want a relationship with that person? Why or why not? Do you think Jesus would want a relationship with you? Why or why not?