"Do We Really Believe?"

Here's an instant replay of what happened in worship:

We thought about the ways people have authority in their lives - like the Dog Whisperer has over dogs or like good parents have over toddlers who are throwing tantrums. We have authority in our homes and our jobs. But there are also people who have authority over us.
We saw that, in the story of Jesus and the Centurion's Servant in Matt 8:5-13, this idea of authority is taken to a whole new level. The Centurion, a military commander over 100 men, is the one with the armor and weapons. He is a part of the occupying Roman government, ruling over the Jews. Yet, he greets Jesus by calling him, "Lord." Then he says that Jesus doesn't have to go to his house to heal his servant. He believes that Jesus has the authority to tell the illness to leave, and it will leave. Jesus is amazed at his faith, and Jesus heals the servant.
We read how Jesus also has authority over the wind and waves in Matt 8:23-27. Do we really believe he has that kind of authority? Do we behave like we believe it?
We thought about all the times we don't ask for things, don't pray for things, because we think we are unworthy or our requests are impossible. If we do ask, it's with timidity. But Jesus marveled at the faith of the Centurion who was confident in Jesus' authority, his ability, to rule over illness - even from a distance.
We prayed with boldness, with the faith of the Centurion, for the deepest desires of our hearts.
We celebrated communion, sitting at the table with Jesus.