Decapolis

"Great multitudes of people from Galilee". The fame of his teaching and miracles caused great multitudes to gather from all the region.

"Decapolis". A district containing ten cities east of the Jordan

and the Sea of Galilee.

Notice, in the ministry of Jesus,

1. He was "active". He stayed busy at ministering.
2. He went "where people were". He didn't wait for them to come to church.
3. He went where the "busiest people were"--fisherman, those at work, Simon and Andrew--those preparing to work, James and John--Levi, at his tax table;
4. He went where "worshiping people" were--to the synagogues;
5. He went where "needy people" were.

Jesus was concerned about people. That was his priority. Not rules; not "ministry" - but people.

Teaching & Preaching

1) to teach

1a) to hold discourse with others in order to instruct them,

deliver didactic discourses

2) to teach one

2a) to impart instruction

2b) instill doctrine into one

2d) to explain or expound a thing

Preach

1) to be a herald

1a) to proclaim after the manner of a herald

2) to publish openly something which has been done

There is a great difference between teaching and preaching. Preaching is great. It inspires. It excites. It motivates.

But teaching instructs. It brings maturity and wisdom.

Both preaching and teaching are necessary. Teaching can be dry and tedious, but preaching can be like a 'sugar high'. It gets you excited, but after a short time it wears off.

It is the foolishness of preaching - or proclaiming - that saves people. And that's good for salvation. But for staying power, we need teaching.

Do not neglect instruction and study of God's Word. (SS)

Healing

Say that with me - "healing EVERY disease and sickness"

• various diseases,
• severe pain,
• demon-possessed,
• seizures,
• the paralysed.

. . . he healed them.