7 And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the LORD for it; for in its peace you will have peace. Jeremiah 29 “welfare, the universal flourishing of, universal wholeness, complete health, safety and prosperity.”

1 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. 2 Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. Mark 2

3 Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. 4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. Mark 2

5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “ Son, your sins are forgiven you. ” 6 And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7 “ Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone? ” 5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “ Son, your sins are forgiven you. ” 6 And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7 “ Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone? ” Mark 2

8 But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “ Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘ Your sins are forgiven you, ’ or to say, ‘ Arise, take up your bed and walk ’ ? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins ”— He said to the paralytic, 11 “ I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house. ” Mark 2

12 Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “ We never saw anything like this! ” Mark 2

5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “ Son, your sins are forgiven you. ” 6 And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7 “ Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone? ” 5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “ Son, your sins are forgiven you. ” 6 And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7 “ Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone? ” Mark 2

5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “ Son, your sins are forgiven you. ” 6 And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7 “ Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone? ” 5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “ Son, your sins are forgiven you. ” 6 And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7 “ Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone? ” Mark 2

8 But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “ Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘ Your sins are forgiven you, ’ or to say, ‘ Arise, take up your bed and walk ’ ? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins ”— He said to the paralytic, 11 “ I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house. ” Mark 2

Desperate to bring others to Jesus Desperate: 1. Dangerously reckless or violent as from urgency or despair 2. Showing extreme courage; especially of actions courageously undertaken as a last resort 3. Showing extreme urgency or intensity especially because of great need or desire Desperation only comes when there is a recognized need that is beyond our own ability to meet.

12 Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “ We never saw anything like this! ” Mark 2

5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “ Son, your sins are forgiven you. ” 6 And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7 “ Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone? ” 5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “ Son, your sins are forgiven you. ” 6 And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7 “ Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone? ” Mark 2

Jesus saw four men who… CARED

What the world needs today is ministry-based evangelism that flows from the heart of God to a lost world. The ultimate goal of every ministry should be to reach the lost and make disciples for Jesus Christ, or we will fail to reach them at their greatest point of need. But we will never know the magnitude of the problem of hurting people until we became involved in ministry-based evangelism. As we reach out to the hurting as Jesus did, we will be able to reach them for Jesus.

4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. Matthew 11

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Romans 12

14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? James 2

Jesus saw four men who… CARED SHARED

Andrew brings the boy with fish and bread to Jesus What greater compliment could be given than to say, "He brought people to Christ"?

Jesus saw four men who… CARED SHARED WOULD NOT GIVE UP

"Witnessing is that deep-seated conviction that the greatest favor I can do for others is to introduce them to Jesus Christ."

When I was a university student, I was unsuccessfully evangelized by almost every Christian group on campus. My basic response to their preaching was, "How can I believe when I look at the way the church lives?" They answered, "Don’t look at the church, look at Jesus."

I now believe that statement is one of the saddest in the history of the church....People should be able to look at the way we live and begin to understand what the gospel is about.

Are we desperate for… Jesus? beyond comfort, beyond reputation, beyond tradition, beyond looks? enough to risk ridicule, enough to risk failure? to bring the people of Magnolia to Jesus?