Encountering Jesus: The Contrary Sisters
This is the tenth sermon in our series on the Encountering Jesus from Luke. This sermon is ‘The Contrary Sisters’. Preacher: The Rev’d Michael Calder. Bible Reading: Luke 10:38-42
Sermons – St Bart's Anglican Church · The Rev'd Michael Calder
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Show Notes
Sermon & Small Group Resources
This is the tenth sermon in our series on the Encountering Jesus from Luke. This sermon is ‘The Contrary Sisters’. Preacher: The Rev’d Michael Calder. Bible Reading: Luke 10:38-42
DOWNLOAD the Small Group Questions, Going Deeper, and Sermon Transcript (PDF).
Next Steps this Week
BIBLE READING: Luke 10:38-42
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS
CONNECT: How can you reach out to Jesus this week?
WARM-UP
What are some everyday situations that you find yourself in where it’s not good to be distracted?
Read Luke 10:38-40
What are the two different actions that Mary and Martha do?
What do you think may have motivated Martha to go about being busy when Jesus was there?
Is there anything wrong with serving Jesus or doing acts of service? Why or Why not?
How could our good acts of service go wrong or prove to be unhelpful?
What is so remarkable about what Mary was doing?
Are we ever in danger of being too busy with good things that we miss the best thing? Specifically, what can pull you away from spending time with God?
Why do you think Martha appealed to Jesus instead of Mary with her complaint? What response may she have been expecting from Jesus?
Read Luke 10:41-42
How did Jesus respond to Martha’s request?
What sort of things was Martha worried about? Were they bad things?
What is the main thing that is needed? Why is this more important than being busy?
Does this mean that we should drop everything and just read and not worry about doing any acts of service or ministry? Why/why not?
Why do you think Luke placed this passage right after the parable of the Good Samaritan?
How then should we prioritise how we spend time in God’s word and how we serve God on our frontlines? What should drive us into service?
APPLY: What distracts you from hearing God’s word? How could you avoid it or lessen it?
PRAYER
Loving Father, thank you that we can listen to and study your word. Please help us to prioritise this and make time for it in our lives. Give us discernment and wisdom as to when we need to leave good things behind to pursue this best thing. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
GOING DEEPER
On Your Frontline This Week: Where are the places that you spend the most time during the week? What are your current frontlines?
Listen, Watch, and Read:
SERIES Resources:
Scripture Journal: for the Gospel of Luke. For example, https://bit.ly/3A6N9CO
Grow as Families
Each week St Bart’s Kids and CHARGE Youth provides resources for you to use at home. Join the livestream and then spend 30 minutes to work through these together.
Families: Read, Chat, Do, and Pray
High School: CHARGE Discussion Questions
Kids’ Talk: Watch the Kids’ Talk
eBook: Watch the eBook