Our series this month is entitled ROADS.
According to Word Hippo, there are some 201 words in the English language that are synonyms for the word "road" and the various ways in which it is used. That includes at least 75 which are used to describe a road as we know it.

Acts 8:26

One author has said, "Our lives are a journey. We are all traveling down a road." According to this, the direction of our life can be considered a road.
When you look at the Bible you see some of the words that are used to depict either a physical passage on which we travel or used as a metaphor for progress in one's life journey.

Matthew 7:13-14

In this series we are looking at four different roads that are associated with actual locations in the Bible. Each of these roads represent a journey that Jesus made, a well-known story associated with Him, and life lessons that will help mature us in our faith and usefulness in God's kingdom.

This morning we are looking at The Road to Capernaum. Our text is found in Luke 4:14-32.
We'll look at the passage and have a chance to discuss with those around us what stood out and what you learned.

Capernaum...
-was one of 16 fishing ports on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee. It is located about 2 miles west of the Jordan River inlet
-had a population of about 1,500
-means "village of Nahum", named after a prominent person
-became the center of Jesus' activities in Galilee after moving there (identified as "His own city" in Matthew 9:1)
-was also the home town and business location for Peter, James, Andrew, John, and Matthew

Looking at our story, we can learn some ministry lessons as we walk The Road to Capernaum. The journey would have likely have been a 40 mile trip on dusty paths, rocky trails, and Roman roads.

Jesus walked from Nazareth to Capernaum which would become the center of His life and ministry up until His death some 3 1/2 years later.
-He went from a small village of perhaps 150 people to a city maybe 10 times larger.
-He went from relative obscurity to being the leader of a national movement.
-He went from living a temporal life as a Nazarene, a carpenter, someone's son & sibling, and a Galilean to God's Son, the Messiah, and Savior of the world.

In Luke 4:14-32 we see a number of valuable lessons, but today we'll talk about 5 that are associated with the thought of Ministry.

1. Ministry is RESPONDING to God's purpose for our life.
Luke 4:14a
John 15:16a
Ephesians 2:10

2. Ministry must be done by the EMPOWERING of the Holy Spirit.
Luke 4:14b
Acts 1:8
Ephesians 5:18

3. Ministry that is God-centered will be EXCITING.
Luke 4:14c-21
Acts 13:52

4. Ministry does have moments that are CHALLENGING.
Luke 4:22-29

5. Ministry requires LIVING for a cause greater than ourselves.
Luke 4:30-32