Free Bible lesson for kids · Ministry in Galilee
The Centurion’s Faith
A Roman centurion’s servant was very sick. The centurion believed Jesus could heal him just by speaking a word, and Jesus marveled at his faith. The servant was healed that same hour.
- Bible passage
- Luke 7:1–10 · Matthew 8:5–13
- Big idea
- Jesus’ word has power everywhere.
- Memory verse
When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
Luke 7:9 (KJV)- Ages
- Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
- Time
- About 45 minutes
- Included, free
- Animated story film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game
The story
In Capernaum, a centurion, an army officer, had a dear servant who was sick and ready to die (Luke 7:1–2). The centurion sent Jewish elders to ask Jesus to come and heal him (Luke 7:3). They told Jesus he deserved help, for he loved their nation and had built them a synagogue (Luke 7:4–5). So Jesus went with them.
As Jesus came near the house, the centurion sent friends to say, “Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof” (Luke 7:6). He asked Jesus to “say in a word, and my servant shall be healed” (Luke 7:7). He knew that when he gave orders, his soldiers obeyed (Luke 7:8). Jesus marveled and said, “I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel” (Luke 7:9). The servant was healed that very hour (Matthew 8:13).
Read it in the Bible: Luke 7:1–10 (KJV)
1Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum. 2And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. 3And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. 4And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: 5For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. 6Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: 7Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. 8For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 9When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 10And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.
Read it in the Bible: Matthew 8:5–13 (KJV)
5And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, 6And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. 7And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. 8The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. 9For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 10When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 11And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 12But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 13And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
Questions to ask
Who was sick?
The centurion’s servant.
What did the centurion ask Jesus to do?
Speak the word only, and his servant would be healed.
What did Jesus say about his faith?
He had not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
What this story teaches
- Jesus’ word has power, even from far away (Luke 7:7, 10).
- Sickness must obey when Jesus speaks (Matthew 8:8, 13).
- Humble faith knows we do not deserve Jesus’ help (Luke 7:6–7).
- Jesus marvels at faith that simply trusts His word (Luke 7:9).
- People from every land can come to God by faith (Matthew 8:11).
Jesus Has All Power
Sickness obeyed Jesus’ word, even from far away, because all power in heaven and on earth belongs to Him.
Matthew 28:18
A 45-minute lesson plan
| 5 min | Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Ask God to grow our faith. |
|---|---|
| 10 min | The story. Play the story film: each verse appears on screen in the King James Version while the scene plays. Pause to ask what happens next. |
| 10 min | Talk about it. Ask the three questions below. Then ask: “Jesus’ word has power everywhere.” What does that mean for us? |
| 5 min | Memory verse. Say Luke 7:9 together, covering one word at a time until the children can say it alone. |
| 10 min | Activity. Younger children color the coloring page while you retell the story; older children do the class sheet (memory-verse fill-in, word search and questions). |
| 5 min | Pray and send home. Pray together and send the sheet home so families can talk about the first question this week. |
- Preschool: keep it short and physical. Act out the story, use a simple prop, and repeat the big idea in one sentence.
- Elementary: let children find the passage in their own Bibles. Ask “who, what, where” questions first, then “why.”
- Preteens: read the verses before and after the passage, and ask how this story fits the whole story of the Bible.
Game time
For kids · game · indoors or out · about 8 minutes
Captain’s Orders
You need: Nothing
- The leader is the centurion. “Go!”: run to the far wall. “Come!”: run back to the leader. “Do this!”: copy the leader’s action. “Attention!”: stand tall and still.
- Last one to obey helps give the next order.
- Speed up as you go.
The centurion knew that Jesus only had to speak a word, and his servant would be healed. Jesus marveled at his faith.
For youth group · game · indoors · about 15 minutes
Build It Blind
You need: Two identical sets of building blocks or cups, a screen or wall to hide one build
- A leader builds a secret shape behind the screen.
- One teen looks at it and describes it from across the room. The builder, who can’t see it, follows only their words.
- Compare the two when time is up, then switch roles.
Jesus healed the servant from a distance, just by speaking a word. His word has power.
Pray
Ask God to grow our faith.