At His Feet

[The Text]

Luke 10:38–42 NLT

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

[Introduction]

Box breaker illustration (1st half) mading it a chore - task - detailed, to get to Jesus.

[Who is in the room?]

long-term christians, families struggling, poverty, affluent humble.

[WHY is it hard for us to get to the solution Jesus offers?]

distraction & busyness, relying on our own understanding: doubt & questions, care about what others think, self-righteousness & righteous acts

Although active, practical service to God is essential and good, our first and most important priority is love and devotion to Jesus, expressed simly in time spent with him — worshiping, listening and learning from his Word. Are we so busy doing the Lord’s work that we do not take time to enjoy the Lord’s presence? Are we do busy supposedly doing things for God that we do not take time to be with God?

Fire Bible commentary

[Preaching Agenda / Proclamation]

Jesus just wants YOU.

We make it too complicated - how we set up our lives

(Main Idea to get across, transformation/wrestling/decision:”now I need to do business with God”):

Everything else falls into place when you’re all in in your relationship with him.

(finances — family relationships — work conflict — working/serving in your calling — depression — anxiety — how to live a life of meaning — answers to big questions and hard decisions.)

You can’t get the promises of Jesus without following the way of Jesus.

It takes practice: 1 min of awkward silence - what was taking up your mind and focus? We have to learn Jesus’ upside-down, counterculture ways to truly sit at his feet. (Mary was a woman sitting witht he men to LEARN - counter-cultural)

[JESUS, WHAT is the solution you are giving in this text? ]

Jesus is just wants you to trust that all he really wants is your heart.

It might not be easy, but it is simple.

Isaiah 55:8–9 NLT

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

In these 3 stories: How to shift our perspective

[HOW do we get from the problem to the solution? Jesus solves it - how this time?]

Re-prioritize. The greatest commandment. Recognize our true need (depravity, sinful, need or savior, don’t know everything)

Luke 10 set up: religion expert/spiritual leader: what do I have to DO to go to heaven. Trying to trick him

Luke 10:27–28 NLT

The man answered, “ ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”

HOW TO RE-PRIORITIZE / LOOK THROUGH THE LENS OF JESUS

1. Change how you pray

Mary & Martha:

How we pray: Luke 10:40

Lazarus:

How we pray: John 11:21-22, 32-33 (when not your time or your way, for something better, for his glory, to strengthen your faith)

2. Look for the main point, not the main event.

Mary & Martha:

The main point, not the main event: Luke 10:41-42

Lazarus:

The main point, not the pain event: John 11:4, 25

Annointing:

self-righteousness/judgemental: John 12:4-5, 7-8

3. Change the way you see Jesus:

Lazarus:

Jesus with all the negative emotions: John 11:33 (he did not CAUSE the death, but he used it)

This is GOD

You’re made in his image (emotional)

4. Worship your heart out

heart, mind, soul, strength

1. with gratitude (v1-2)

2. sacrificially (v3 “expensive”)

3. extravagantly (v3)

4. in humility (v3 “feet with her hair”)

Preaching Agenda / Proclamation

(Main Idea to get across, transformation/wrestling/decision:”now I need to do business with God”):

Jesus just wants YOU.

Everything else falls into place when you’re all in in your relationship with him.

You have to make room for him.

[Leave them with: “I want to know Jesus and read the Bible more.”]

when you spend time at his feet, you notice things like “at his feet” x3

[What does the Holy Spirit want to highlight?]

GOD cares deeply for you, weeps with you, is angry at what torments you.

John 11:32–43 NLT

When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled. “Where have you put him?” he asked them. They told him, “Lord, come and see.” Then Jesus wept. The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!” But some said, “This man healed a blind man. Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying?” Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.” Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!”

[How does God ask us to respond to this?]

at his feet: ...

2nd half of box-breaker story

“Here is where I lay it down Every burden, every crown This is my surrender Here is where I lay it down Every lie and every doubt This is my surrender

“Shake up the ground of all my tradition Break down the walls of all my religion

“Your way is better And I will make room for You To do whatever You want to”

S&S 1min - spend time to just sit at his feet

RESPONSE

How do you need to worship?

confession? gratitude? giving something up? getting on your knees? extravagantly? in humility - outside of your comfort zone?

Prayer teams and worship… but first.

SALVATION

pray

celebrate

as we sing, worship how God is leading you, just obey.