Sermon Tone Analysis

Big Idea

Big Idea: Jesus blesses the undeserving.

This is what the centurion gets that amazes Jesus.

Everyone else thinks he's so deserving.

He thinks he's an undeserving outsider - but he believes Jesus blesses the undeserving.

[sure, he also acknowledges Jesus' power - but there are only small elements of that which are distinctive.

this can't be what amazes Jesus; it's not the "weight" of the text]

Big Application

Big application: Grasp how big God's grace is.

Think you're deserving and he'll embrace you? nope.

Think you're undeserving and so he’ll leave you? nope.

Jesus doesn’t just want to heal your dear servant, he wants to save undeserving you.

Can you believe that?

Undeserved Blessing

Hook: worthy?

Who is it that our society looks up to?

Who are the important people in our world?

Who do we think is worthy of honour?

Who should be served?

Politicians?

World leaders?

Titans of industry?

No!

Celebs, obvs.

I came across an amazing story which demonstrates this and I just have to share.

Kylie Jenner

Who is this?

Kylie Jenner.

Well done, culturally educated people.

I confess: I actually wouldn’t have known.

But apparently she’s a terribly important celeb, somewhere near the top of the A list.

Do you think there’s actually someone responsible for tracking all the people who are bonafide celebs, figuring out which list they are on and all that?

You know, some sort of celebrity audit process you have to pass before officially becoming a C-list celebrity?

And then some ranking or league, maybe a sort of playoff for promotion to a higher list?

Anyway, she’s apparently on the A-list.

Now celebrities, these are the sort of people that our world thinks are worthy of honour.

The sort of people that should be served.

We should roll out the red carpet for them, right?

And we do.

Hound them with cameras when they go shopping.

And we do.

Worry about what sort of lipstick they put on.

And we do.

But Kylie Jenner is worthy of more than just that.

You see, Kylie had a problem.

Here’s some of an official news article to bring you up to speed:

When Forbes reported that Kylie Jenner, the 20-year-old cosmetic mogul from the Kardashian/Jenner family, was just $100 million shy of becoming the world's youngest self-made billionaire, fans of the reality-TV star banded together … A GoFundMe campaign has been created in Jenner's honor by Josh Ostrovsky, an Instagram celebrity … The campaign description reads: "I don't want to live in a world where Kylie Jenner doesn't have a billion dollars.

We must raise 100 million dollars to help her get to a billion, please spread the word, this is extremely important."

Kylie Jenner, so it seems, is worthy of being a billionaire.

And not just any billionaire, she’s worthy of being the world’s youngest billionaire.

She’s worth it.

Oh yes.

Transition

Who’s worthy?

Who’s significant?

Who’s worth it?

… And what does Jesus have to say about this?

We’re continuing our journey through Luke’s gospel this morning, an ancient biography of Jesus, and today this question of who’s worthy has centre stage.

Just to give you a sense for where we are in the story, if you’re joining us part way through, Jesus has started his ministry in earnest.

He’s been healing, casting out demons, calling disciples, and most recently teaching them how they should live.

We’ve just come out the back of a long section of teaching for his followers, and we’re on to the next stage of the story.

Come with me to Luke 7 and we’re going to read the next section together.

Bibles here, chapters the big number, verses the small one.

Reading: Luke 7:1-10

Worthy!

v2-5

Imagine those Jewish elders coming to ask Jesus for help.

Imagine them planning what they’re going to say when they get to Jesus.

Here’s what that conversation might have been like:

Uh, Jesus, we really want you to help Mr Centurion.

He’s got a serious problem: his servant, someone he values highly, is sick and about to die.

He needs help.

And Jesus, you should help him.

Let me tell you, this guy, he’s worth it.

He’s worthy of your help.

Why?

He’s significant: He’s a centurion.

Do you know what that means?

Key’s in the name.

Cent - hundred.

He’s a commander over 100 Roman soldiers.

He’s got responsibility.

He’s got influence.

He’s got power.

He’s earned it (see, most centurions, so it seems, were promoted from within the ranks).

We’re in this small town of Capernaum, and that’s not a huge place.

1000-1500.

So the dude commanding 100 soldiers here, he’s significant.

But not just that; he’s warm: He love us Jews.

He loves our nation.

He’s not one of those oppressive Roman types, or even just someone who’s disinterested in the whole thing.

He’s on our side - he’s almost one of us.

Surely that’s the sort of person you want to help, Jesus?

But wait, there’s more!

He’s generous: see that rather appealing synagogue over there?

Well, the credit for that baby goes to Mr centurion too.

He’s not just warm words he has for us - he’s ready to put his money where his mouth is.

Oh, and speaking of that, it is worth remembering he’s also rich: yeah, centurions get paid maybe as much as fifty to a hundred times as much as a regular soldier.

That’s how come he could afford a synagogue!

And Jesus, whatever plans you have ahead, you’re going to need money.

Money makes the world go round, you know.