[Mark 1:15]

“The time promised by God has come at least!” He announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”

[Mark 1:45]

“But the man went and spread the word, proclaiming to everyone what had happened. As a result, large crowds soon surrounded Jesus, and he couldn’t publicly enter a town anywhere. He had to stay out in the secluded places, but people from everywhere kept coming to him.”

[Mark 2:1]

“When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home.”

[Luke 5:17]

“One day while Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of religious law were sitting nearby. It seemed that men showed up from every village in all Galilee and Judaea, as well as from Jerusalem…”

[Mark 2:2-12]

“Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them,  four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat.  They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus.

Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”  But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves,  “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”

Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts?  Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”

And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!”

[Galatians 6:2-3]

“Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.”

[James 1:27]

“Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.”

[Hebrews 10:24]

“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.”

[James 2:14-16]

“What good is it dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?  Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing and you say, ‘Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well” – but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?”

[John 13:35]

“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

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