sign in sign up
<<
Home , Decapolis, Raphana

Wake Union Baptist Church “Where the good news of Christ is proclaimed in truth and love” THE LORD’S DAY September 6, 2020 Call to Worship How Great Thou Art 10

Invocation Welcome & Announcements

Scripture Reading Isaiah 35 Bill Monroe Hymn All I Once Held Dear

Children’s Time March (ages 3-6) Morning Prayer

Hymn Hallelujah Square Offertory Prayer

Doxology Praise God, from Whom 253 All Blessings Flow Hymn Oh, for a Thousand 216 Tongues to Sing

Sermon WORTH TALKING ABOUT! Pastor Joel :31-37 Invitation I Have Decided to Follow Jesus 305 Benediction EVENING SERVICE 6:00pm The “” is mentioned only in Matthew and Mark. In Prelude :20 Jesus healed a demoniac after which the man “began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him” Hymn Let Others See Jesus In You 571 (HCSB). Mark 7:31 states that after Jesus went to the region of (1, 4) Tyre and Sidon He went “through the region of the Decapolis” Welcome and Announcements (HCSB). :25 adds no more to our knowledge of these cities. Missionary Jeremiah Brinkman New York Traditionally the Hymn Living For Jesus 282 Decapolis is assumed to be a league of cities (1, 3) that preserved the Message Study in James Pastor Joel stronghold of Greek thought and life in Invitation Near to the Heart of God 295 Palestine and resisted (1, 2) the Semitic influences of the Jews. According Benediction UPCOMING EVEN TS to Pliny, however, it was not a very solid

political alliance. A Greco-Roman theatre in , (the recent view is that it ancient Decapolis city of Philadelphia). DECAPOLIS (Də căp´ ō lĭs) was not even a league Place-name meaning “10 cities.” A group of Greek cities but a geographical region. These cities do seem to have much in referred to in Matt. 4:25; Mark 5:20; 7:31, originally 10 in common; they were centers for the spread of Greco-Roman number but including more cities at a later time (, culture and had no great love for the Jews. They were associated Philadelphia (modern Amman), Canatha, , Pella, with one another closely enough that in some ways they were , , Dion, , and (modern ).) considered as a group, if not as a league. Later sources mention Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary 14 cities in the group. Jesus, in going to the Decapolis shows us that His ministry of Thus the number salvation and the Kingdom was for all men and women who had varied from time to faith in Him. That is a wonderful fact! We can praise the Lord time. that He is not just the Savior for some people but not others. They were Jesus will save anyone who comes to Him. established after the That is worth talking about and sharing with others—no time of Alexander the matter who they are! Jesus ministered to a people and society Great and were (whether the Jews or Gentiles) that couldn’t have been more predominantly Greek different than a biblical culture. We do the same—the message in culture and hasn’t changed! Let’s share the good news that Jesus saves! influence. These cities Colonnade along the main road through the Because Jesus loves you! were scattered south ruins of the ancient Decapolis city of Gerasa Prayer Request Updates and east of the Sea of (modern Jerash) Galilee. Only Our Nation – Protection, Coronavirus victims and those Scythopolis was west of the . named it as healing, and especially grieving over the loss of the greatest of the group. turning to the Lord Jesus. loved ones. Witnessing Sermon Points on Mark 7 Telling others what you know about God 1. An Effective Witness (31-32)

1. Shouldn't I wait to learn more before I start telling my friends about Christ? 2. An Enabling Word (33-35)

3. An Empowered Work (36-37) 2. Why should I tell others what I know about God?

Questions and Concepts Jesus heals a deaf-mute (7:31-37) 3. What's wrong with keeping my faith a secret? 1. Jesus could have healed the deaf-mute instantly with a word. Why do you think He took him aside from the crowd and touched the man's ears and tongue? 4. What is witnessing? 2. Compare the reaction of the people of Decapolis to this miracle with their reaction to the first miracle Jesus performed in that region (5:1-20). What do you suppose accounted for the difference? Answer the Questions above, by looking at the Scriptures below:

• Isaiah 43:10 Lifechange • John 15:27 • Acts 1:8 Continued Ministry • Acts 5:20-21 After taking a roundabout • Acts 18:9-10 way back to Galilee through • Acts 22:14-15 Decapolis (the Ten Cities), • Titus 2:15 Jesus returned to Dalmanutha where Jewish leaders After you’re finished, read the text at the bottom of the page. questioned his authority. From there he want to Bethsaida and on to . Here he talked with

his disciples about his

good news to yourself. Share it! Share yourself. to news good authority and about coming

e e

on you to tell others about him. You don't need to keep th keep to need don't You him. about others tell to you on events. "You are my witnesses," said Jesus. That means God relies relies God means That Jesus. said witnesses," my are "You Bruce B. Barton