Friendship Evangelism

Matthew 9:11-13

11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”12 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

A Friend of Publicans and Sinners

Friendship Evangelism – Leading your Friends to Jesus

Mark 2:1-12 (NKJV)

1And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. 2Immediately 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. 3Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. 4And 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. 5When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” 6And 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?” 8But 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? 9Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? 10But 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.” 12Immediately 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 2:1,2 (NKJV)

1And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. 2Immediately 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.

Matthew 9:37 (NKJV)

37Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.

The world needs Hope

They want Hope

We know the Hope is Jesus

Mark 2:3 (NKJV)

3Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men.

James 2:17 (NKJV)

17Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

What is Faith?

Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)

1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Who is our Hope?

I Peter 1:3 (NKJV)

3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

The Paralytic

Paralysis – The Inability to Move the Body

Mark 2:5,6 (NKJV)

5When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” 6And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts,

Colossians 1:18 (NKJV)

18And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Preeminence

Mark 2:8-12 (NKJV)

8But 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? 9Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? 10But 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.” 12Immediately 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!”

Through faith four men pursued Jesus which was their hope.

They battled the odds and didn’t stop.

They peeled back layers to get to him and as they pursued Him.

And as they pursued Him, He delivered.

God Won’t Fail You