Just Say the Word: The Centurion's Servant
Luke 7:1-10 New Testament PrincipleHumility
A Roman army officer in Capernaum had a servant who was very sick. The town leaders told Jesus, "This man is worthy of Your help." But the officer sent word, "I am not worthy for You to come to my house. Just say the word, and my servant will be healed." Jesus was amazed at his faith, and the servant was healed. When we come to Jesus humbly, we can trust His powerful word.
Humility means seeing that we don't deserve God's help, and trusting Jesus to give it anyway. Jesus has all authority, and He welcomes everyone who comes to Him humbly.
- CreationGod made it
- FallWe broke it
- RedemptionJesus fixes it (this lesson)
- RestorationJesus makes it new
Memory verse
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you.”
1 Peter 5:6 BSB
The Big Story · Redemption
No one is good enough to earn God's help. Jesus came for everyone, even outsiders, and He gives His grace to all who humbly trust Him.
Teacher Guide
This version includes:
- Background and context for the passage
- Hidden in Plain Sight: the detail most people miss
- The Christ Connection: how this story points to Jesus
- A 45-minute class plan and prep checklist
- A map of where it happened
- Object lesson: Just say the word
- Dasch’s Dig Site (bible-times history): Two layers
- A skit to act out the story
- Review game: Officer says
- Pronunciation help, tips for every age, song ideas and a note for parents
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Preschool (ages 3–5)
Jesus can help with just a word!
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 4-minute Bible story written for this age
- 3 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Soldier says, Color the soldier
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, with friends
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
Free preview · Kindergarten – 2nd grade
A Roman army officer had a servant who was very sick. The town leaders said, "He is worthy of Jesus' help." But the officer said, "I am not worthy. Just say the word, and my servant will be healed." Jesus was amazed at his faith. The servant was healed! We can come to Jesus humbly and trust His word.
Memory verse
“Humble yourselves under God's mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you.”
Adapted from 1 Peter 5:6
Start here
Ask, "What does a coach or a teacher do when they want you to do something?" (They tell you.) Say, "Today we'll meet a soldier who gave orders all day long. He knew Jesus could give orders too, even to sickness!"
Bible story 6 min
In the town of Capernaum lived an army officer. He was the boss of 100 soldiers. When he said "Go," they went!
The officer had a servant he loved. One day the servant got very sick. He was about to die.
The officer sent some Jewish town leaders to Jesus. They begged, "Please help him. He is worthy. He loves our people. He built our synagogue!"
The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.
Try an activity
Act it out 10 min
- Choose Jesus, the officer, a leader, a friend and the servant. Everyone else is the crowd.
- Act out the skit.
- Switch so more kids get a turn.
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
3rd – 4th grade
A Roman centurion in Capernaum had a servant who was about to die. The town's Jewish elders told Jesus the centurion was worthy of His help, because he had built their synagogue. But the centurion sent word that he was not worthy, and asked Jesus only to say the word. Jesus marveled at his faith and healed the servant from a distance. Humble faith trusts Jesus' power, not our own goodness.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 8-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Worthy or not worthy?, Officer says
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at school, at home, at church
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
5th – 6th grade
A Gentile centurion who had built Capernaum's synagogue sent Jewish elders to ask Jesus to heal his dying servant. The elders argued that he was worthy, but he sent word that he was not, and asked only for Jesus' word, because he understood authority. Jesus marveled at his faith. Humble faith stops pointing to our record and rests on Christ's authority.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 10-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 6 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Not worthy, but trusting, Under authority
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at school, with friends, online and on screens
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
More lessons on Humility
The same principle in other Bible stories.
The Writing on the WallDaniel 5:1-31King Belshazzar of Babylon threw a huge party. He drank from the gold cups taken from God's temple and praised idols. Suddenly, the fingers of a hand appeared and wrote on the wall! No one could read it, until old Daniel came. Daniel said, "You knew how God humbled King Nebuchadnezzar, but you did not humble yourself." The words meant God had ended the king's rule. That very night, Babylon fell. God is the true King, and He wants us to walk humbly with Him.Old TestamentHumility
In the BeginningThe Tower of BabelGenesis 11:1-9; Genesis 12:1-3People tried to make themselves great without God, but God brought their tower down and began His own plan to bless every nation.Old TestamentHumility
Kings and ProphetsNaaman Is Healed2 Kings 5:1-19Naaman, a proud army commander with a serious skin disease, was healed when he humbly obeyed God and washed seven times in the muddy Jordan River.Old TestamentHumility
Kings and ProphetsGod Chooses David1 Samuel 16:1-13God sent Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint a new king, and instead of the tall older brothers, God chose David, the youngest shepherd, because the LORD looks at the heart.Old TestamentHumility
Make Way for Jesus: John the BaptistMark 1:1-8; John 1:19-34; John 3:26-30God sent John the Baptist to get people ready for Jesus. John lived in the wilderness, wore camel's hair and ate locusts and wild honey. Crowds came to hear him, and people turned from their sins and were baptized. Leaders asked, "Who are you? Are you the Christ?" John said, "No. I'm just a voice getting the way ready. I'm not even worthy to untie His sandals." When Jesus came, John pointed and said, "Look, the Lamb of God!" Later he said, "He must increase; I must decrease." Humility means making much of Jesus, not of ourselves.New TestamentHumility