Sermon Notes: “One necessary thing”
Scripture: Luke 10:38-42; John 1:1-18; John 10:10
Big idea: Jesus Christ wants to give us God’s joy and peace. To receive these gifts, we must make time with the Savior our priority.
[Read Luke 10:38-42]
When Jesus was visiting her home, Martha got busy preparing a meal for him and his disciples. Busy Martha became upset that her sister was sitting at Jesus’ feet instead of helping her. When Martha got on Jesus’s case about this, he told her: “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better.”
Martha was doing a good thing, preparing a meal for Jesus. But she was not doing what was best. Jesus wanted her undivided time and attention. But she was giving her Lord “spiritual leftovers” from a busy life.
Who is Jesus Christ?
1. Jesus is God and the Son of God the Father. (John 1: 1-2)
2. Along with God the Father and God the Spirit, Jesus Christ created our world. (John 1:3-5)
3. Jesus came from heaven to earth to live among us. (John 1:14)
4. Jesus’ words were the very words of God. (John 1:17-18)
5. Jesus loves us and gives us eternal life as we follow him. (John 1:12-13)
Who is Jesus to you? What is he worth to you? Is He worth the best portion of your life?
How can busyness keep me from what is best?
Martha was so focused on getting her meal ready, she forgot about the importance of sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening to him and learning from him.
There is a danger in busyness: busyness can distract us and pull us away from God and God’s work in us!
If I am to live a life of wisdom, honesty, right priorities, good choices, joy and peace, I must make time with the Savior my priority!
Are you like Martha, busy with many things, worried and upset about all you have to do?
Will you take time to give God your undivided attention (in prayer, Bible reading and worship) so He can give you His wisdom, self-control, peace and joy to you? How can I receive the abundant life Jesus offers?
Jesus offers abundant life to those who take time to sit at his feet, listen to him, learn of him, and live the way he teaches us to live. He offers us love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22)
How do I receive the abundant life Jesus Christ offers me?
1. Tell Jesus I want to give him my good portion. Anytime I want to make a change in my life, it’s best to bring my plans to God and ask for His help to carry them out.
2. Start small, then work my way up. Setting aside regular time just for God (in prayer, Bible reading and worship) is a big change to make! It usually works best to start with a smaller time goal (like 5 – 10 minutes per day) and work at it until I do it consistently. After that, I can increase the time, if I want.
3. Get encouragement and accountability. It’s hard to consistently make time alone with God when I try to do it on my own! My success goes up when I have a friend or two who is doing this with me, and who can encourage me and keep me accountable to do this.
4. Expect to falter, and plan to persevere. Few people are able to have a quiet time with God every single day, and most Christians struggle to do this. When I am working to make time with God my priority, I need to expect to fail sometimes. I need to plan to get up again when I fall down, and keep going.
5. Share what God does for me with someone else! When you make time with God your priority, you can expect God to do good things in you and through you! Examples: more peace, more patience, better priorities, better perspective, better choices… Tell others what God has done for you, for their encouragement and yours!