Last week I started a 4-part blog about how to be light in a dark world. The principles I’m talking about come from Mark 2.1-12 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%202;&version=51;). The thrust of what I’m saying is that you have to learn to live positively in a world full of ugliness and meanness. First, you have to care for people. Second, you have to believe that Jesus will “save” them from their sins. Next…

3. You can’t get DISCOURAGED. The friends of the paralyzed man did not give up when they faced obstacles. This is the principle of persistence. That means if the person you are inviting to church doesn’t respond the first time, don’t worry about it. You probably didn’t respond the first time you were invited either. Don’t get discouraged.

I’m sure the friends in this story were tempted to be discouraged. Think about it. Jesus and the disciples are finally touring their town. They take their friend to Jesus but then the place was so crowded they couldn’t get it. That would be discouraging.

QUESTION: What discourages you from bringing people to Jesus—from inviting them to church? Fear, right? The fear that people will think you’re a freak.

The truth is that all of us get discouraged some times in our attempts to reach people. Especially when people seem so apathetic, they don’t have any interest. But we cannot, we cannot, we cannot give up! It’s too important!

And check it out! People are interested in God. They are interested in spiritual things. They are searching for truth. They do need life-transformation.

[Part 4 coming on Wednesday]