Receive over Achieve

New Outline

Intro:

A man once moved into a house with a dream of having an apple tree in his backyard.

Tell the story.

They carefully planted a small Honey Crisp apple tree, and dreamed of apple crisp in the fall. But that first year, we had some flowers, but no apples. I was wondering what was going on with the tree and my neighbor told me we needed two apple trees so the bees can properly pollenate the trees, so I added a second apple tree. The next year, we had more flowers, but still no apples. Then, the third year, flowers but no apples. I was frustrated. Later that year I was pulling some weeds from around the base of the tree. The tree is on a hill so as I stood up, I pulled ever so slightly on the trunk of the tree to help me up. Like a cartoon, the entire tree, root ball and all, came up out of the ground.

The problem with the tree wasn’t the fruit. The problem with the tree was the root.

These two messages are all about being rooted in Jesus Christ. Just as a tree’s roots must receive nurturance for the tree to achieve fruit, so we must receive from Christ. This is why we are calling this series, Receive Over Achieve. God is less concerned about us trying to achieve things for Him, rather, God is inviting us to receive from Him.

Make a comment to credit Kyle for the content.

Pray

The Text

Luke 10:38–42 ESV

38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

What did Jesus mean that only one thing is needed?

JO testimony - striving to achieve worldly success via Med School & how i lived ran on the treadmill of success, striving and achievement b/c I was bearing the weight of cultural, facility and even spiritual burdens expectations (to “provide”).

Whether in medicine or ministry - both can have a culture of trying to meet expectations and a culture of achieving. Our doing, can distract us from Jesus. Even when we are doing good things.

Here is what I found out when I moved from medicine into ministry. We are all Martha and we all live in a Martha world. Which actually makes sense in light of the story because Martha is distracted and worried about many things in her service for the Lord!

The story of Martha has nothing to do with an occupation and it has everything to do with an orientation. Martha had an achievement orientation and that is why she missed Jesus invitation. So what are the signs we have an achievement orientation? There are three.

1. Distracted

Luke 10:40 (ESV)

40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”

Distracted by trying to fulfill the cultural expectations of the day:

The text tells us Martha’s distraction was in all the preparations that had to be made. Luke doesn’t tell us the details of what all she was doing. We don’t know how many people she was feeding or all of the things she was preparing. But, what we do know is that Martha would have been experiencing the weight of all the cultural expectations of her day. At this point in history, and still today in Middle Eastern culture, hospitality is an important value. We know from the story this was her house, so she was responsible for hosting people well. Martha was distracted by all of those expectations.

Do you know how true that is for us? Many of us are distracted by the expectations our culture places on us to be busy and to seek after accomplishment. Even in Church culture there can be an implicit expectation that we need to be doing things for the Lord. She was striving to meet the expectation others had on her or the expectations that she had of herself or the expectations she thought others had of her. It doesn’t matter how full or empty our schedules are, the question is not, “how busy are you?” the question is, “is your soul distracted?”

Our soul is distracted when we look to all of the things we are trying to achieve to bring us fulfilment. If Martha could just get all of the preparations completed, then she’s find fulfillment because she hosted Jesus well.

Often we can fall into the belief that if I get an A in this class, if get into that school, if I make that team, if I get the job, if I get a gf/bf, if I can just _____, then i’ll find fulfillment. We know our attitude is focused on that achievement when our soul is distracted away from Jesus and towards all those things we are chasing.

2. Distressed

Luke 10:40 “40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.””

Give examples: don’t you care that i’m alone, stressed, working hard in school, don’t know what to do after graduation, am not starting on the team, am single, etc.

This attitude views God as uncaring. I don’t want to be too hard on Martha, or on us for praying the “Don’t you care” type prayers. Actually, there is some theological grounding for these questions.

These statements presuppose that God is in control and that God is capable of intervening and providing for us what we are asking for or seeking. That is good and it is a correct view of God. God is in control, he is powerful, and he is capable of providing for us in very specific ways. But when we allow ourselves to believe that the object of our achievement is the key to our success, we are looking to something other than God to fulfill us.

The problem isn’t that God doesn’t care what we ask for, it’s that He cares so much, what He wants to give us is better than what we asked for!

Our sense of distress comes when we view God not as the object of our pursuit but the means by which we will achieve that object.

The problem with the question is not just in the implication that He doesn’t care, it’s that we believe if God cared He would do X for us

He would give us a spouse, give us a A, give us a break, restore our parents relationship, heal our broken family, remove the trials from our life

God is not the path to a better life, He is our better life. He is not the one that gives us what we need, He is what we need.

When we are spiritually distressed it is a sign we’ve been pursuing the wrong object.

3. The third indicator of a heart that is in an achievement orientation is one that is: Demanding

Luke 10:40 (ESV)

40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”

For Martha, her achievement attitude had become singularly focused. Her soul is distracted by the pressures she feels to achieve the cultural expectations, she is distressed because she believes God is withhold his provision and help to allow her to accomplish what needs to be done and she now views her sister, Mary, as the source of all problem and the singular solution.

We fall into a “Tell her to help me” mindset when we become singularly focused.

What do you tell God to make happen?

Grade, job, relationship, break (thanksgiving, Christmas), etc

To all of this distracted, distressed, and demanding Jesus responds in deep kindness.

God’s response

Martha, Martha

Luke 10:41 (ESV)

41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,

One thing

Luke 10:41–42 (ESV)

41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Jesus didn’t say Martha was wrong. He says, “Mary has chosen what is better.”

What did she choose? Luke 10:39 “39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching.” To sit at the feet of Jesus? That’s better than getting the house ready for our guests? The problem for you and I, who are prone to live a lifestyle of achieving is that we struggle to believe that that which God wants to give us is better than that which we pursue.

I suggest to you that this is the statement we don’t know if we believe to be truth. Do we really believe Mary chose what is better? In our Martha world, we think what Martha is choosing is really good. We don’t know if what Mary chose is better because we don’t understand what Mary chose. She is just sitting there.

The phrase “at the Lord’s feet” is a term that was used for students who were under the teaching or a Rabbi. Which was a place in Jewish culture only reserved for the men. So while Martha was upholding the culturally expectations of the day, Mary was pushing against them. Her being at Jesus feet was counter-cultural. While I don’t want us to miss that Jesus was very welcoming of women and challenged the cultural norms of the day, that isn’t the focus of this story. The focus of the story is that she listened.

Which doesn’t seem that remarkable. A lot of people were listening to Jesus. I’m sure Martha was listening as she was working on the food, hundreds of people, thousands of them in crowds had been listening to Jesus. Why was her listening any different?

Context

Here is some context. One chapter earlier Luke tells a collection of stories that makes this point. On the Mountain of Transfiguration, Jesus was transformed into a glorified state in front of a few of his disciples and in the midst of this amazing moment, God the Father speaks to them, audibly, and says: A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” Luke 9:35

Luke 9:35 ESV

35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!”

Then, a few stories later, still in Luke 9, Jesus is predicting his own death to his followers for a second time and he says this: “Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.” But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it. Luke 9:44-45

Luke 9:44–45 (NLT)

44 “Listen to me and remember what I say. The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies.” 45 But they didn’t know what he meant. Its significance was hidden from them, so they couldn’t understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.

So all of the disciples missed that Jesus had to die. Jesus told them, multiple times, but they missed it. Why? Because, like Martha, they were distracted, distressed, and demanding. They saw Jesus as a means to bring about their vision. They saw Jesus as the ticket to their success. The things they wanted, the things they believed needed to be achieved were the things they expected Jesus to bring to them.

Except for one disciple. Mary. Let me read you a story from John 12 about Mary.

John 12:1–8 ESV

1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

How did Mary know?

She listened. She listened unlike the others. She really listened. She didn’t come to Jesus with her list of demands, with her vision for her life and her vision for Jesus ministry. She came to Jesus and listened to His Words and sought to understand His ways. How can we be like Mary?

Listen

To listen is not simply to hear. But it is to hear, and obey. To hear and understand. To take in what God is communicating to us and allow it to change us. It is to come to God and begin with His Word, not our wants.

I long for us to be people who aren’t distracted, distressed, or demanding, but who actively and intently listen to God.

In other words, before we can achieve anything for God, we must first receive from Him. What we receive is His Word.

Practically, how do we do that? We must make time to listen each day. We are to take time each day to listen. But how do we listen? We are to listen like Mary. Listen for what God is up to, ask Him to show you who He is and what He is doing. I am convinced many of the most profound spiritual moments in our life will come in the midst of the normal, everyday experiences. So make time each day to listen, to truly listen to God.

How:

Posture, hands open

Another practical way we can listen is to ask, “God, what is your word saying to my situation?”

Conclusion

If our hearts are in a orientation of achieving, God’s invitation is for us to receive.

We receive, by listening.

By listening, we receive His Word.

There have been seasons where under stress i cry out “God, just tell me what you want me to do!”

It wasn’t until I listened to Him, I was able to put off all the cultural and family expectations to “provide” that i was then able to step into God’s calling for my life.

God wants us to listen! To hear his word, to be transformed by His word. If we are to produce fruit and achieve and to live the life He’s called us to we must first receive from us.

The challenge will be choosing to believe that that which He wants to give us is greater than that which we are seeking to attain.

Intentionally change the orientation of your heart this week away from achieving and into receiving, how, by listening to God and His Word.

JO Outline

Felt Need/Problem: We’re too busy doing/achieving

Solution: We’re invited to receive.

Main Idea: Jesus doesn’t demand we achieve for him, but Jesus invites us to receive his grace and his call to follow him. Receiving the achievement that Christ already won for us and imputes to us.

Intro:

busy working at home

ministry season soph year (doing for God)

chaotic puzzle? find the missing piece

Pose a question/Hook: Some of us know we are called to sit at the feet of Jesus and yet, we get stuck living like Martha. Why is it that we struggle to slow down and be with Jesus?

Pray

Have someone read the text

Luke 10:38–42 ESV

38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Martha: Achieving - Doing

Luke 10:40 (ESV)

40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”

Luke 10:41 (ESV)

41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,

Many of us are busy, have busy schedules. Ppl say all the time, how are you? good, just busy.

Some of our business can even be for Christian ministries!

But the problem isn’t busyness. Further, some of us are producers, we love to achieve things and be productive. But why cant’ we slow down? Why do we miss “the good portion” time and time again?

Why couldn’t she slow down?

Find value / worth in what we do.

Football story? got cut

2. We are uncomfortable with ourselves and with God - slowing down feels awkward

3. We think do first, be second. We believe the lie that if I do it now, then i can rest and slow down

4. We elevate doing for Jesus above being with Jesus.

“If the devil cannot make us bad, he will make us busy.” - Corrie ten Boom

What’s the solution? Is it to become like Mary?

God isn’t trying to make you more Type B if you’re Type A. He’s not trying to take away who He’s made you to be, but He is trying to give you something. Something that can be only found in Him. What is he giving us?

Luke 10:42 (ESV)

42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

The solution isn’t doing less. The solution is learning to identify that which is most important. (?) recieve?

Luke 10:41–42 (ESV)

41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

“good portion” - gift /receive

Kyle’s Outline

This series will be how we personally and corporately can embrace a posture of receiving from Christ instead of trying to achieve things for Jesus in our own strength.

October 15: Luke 10:38-42

Jesus doesn’t demand we achieve for him, but Jesus invites us to receive his grace and his call to follow him. Receiving the achievement that Christ already won for us and imputes to us.

1. The achieve (not receive) mindset:

1. Our worth comes from what we do

2. Obligations are a burden

3. Do first, so I’ll have time to be

4. Distracted away from Jesus by what is to be done

2. The receive mindset:

1. “I am not my performance.”

2. Obligations are opportunities to learn from Jesus

3. Once we know who we are, we know what to do

4. Distracted by Jesus from what else could be done

3. Do we really believe Jesus is the only thing needed? (Luke 10:42)

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Philemon, Letter To

PHILEMON, LETTER TO One of four so-called Prison Letters attributed to the Apostle Paul (the others are Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians). Philemon is Paul’s shortest letter (only 335 words in Greek) and the only one that he sends to an individual rather than to an entire church. The letter addresses Philemon concerning his runaway slave, Onesimus, who apparently became a Christian through Paul’s ministry (Phlm 10). Philemon appears to have hosted the church at Colossae, since that is where Paul sends Onesimus (Phlm 2; Col 4:8–9).