This week we will be focusing on the story of Jesus and the healing of the centurion servant. The centurion was not considered a righteous man, and he knew this.  But he had one simple request for Jesus. He wanted Jesus to heal his servant.

His servant was paralyzed. He knew that if anyone could heal his servant, it was Jesus. Jesus offered to come to his house and heal him, but the man knew he was unworthy of having Jesus come to his house. He knew that if Jesus just spoke, his servant would be healed. Jesus was amazed at his faith and said, “I have not found anyone in Israel with such faith. Go and it will be just as you believed.”

What faith this man had! The centurion was an officer, and he had authority given to him by man. He knew that if he gave an order, it would be done. He also knew that Jesus had authority, but His authority came from God. He knew that all Jesus had to do was speak and his servant would be healed.

Sometimes we forget that Jesus has authority. We forget that there is nothing too big for Him. He has the ability to heal us – not just our physical ailments, but our broken lives, too. He has the authority to forgive whatever mess we have gotten ourselves into. All we have to do is believe. So my question for you as a parent is, “What kind of faith do you have?”

This week’s lesson comes from Matthew 8:5-13. Take a few minutes to read it with your kids this week.

See you all Sunday.

Cars can be the biggest blessing but also a thorn in your side. Cars are awesome. We can make quick errands, drive to the movies, go out to eat, they can help us during emergencies, and they get us to church on Sunday mornings. Cars only become a problem when they don’t work. Nothing is more frustrating than a rushed morning, no breakfast, and then you get to your car and it doesn’t start. My stomach hurts just thinking about it. This big hunk of metal “blessing” is now just a giant paperweight. It now will take time and money to fix, and there isn’t a guarantee that it will work again. It seems to be a gamble whether something else will go wrong, so you’re anxious about going anywhere, afraid it will not start at the grocery store leaving you stranded while all your meat and produce goes bad until someone picks you up.

Cars are not forever, but somehow we forget that. We forget that things are not forever all the time. We seem to rely on not just our cars, but our jobs, money, friends, family and assume those things will never goaway. We are quickly disappointed when those things are gone, and we ask God, why? We get angry and blame him and feel he owes us an explanation. God never promised us that these things would last forever, so why do we have these expectations?

This is an important lesson that we will be focusing on this Sunday. Our kids will learn where God is faithful and the promises that he has made to us. Make sure you go over the memory verse with your kid this week!

I will sing of the tender mercies of the Lord forever! Young and old will hear of your faithfulness.
Psalm 89:1