Open Hearts, Open Hands: Being Available for God's Work

Slides

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1vSbipazhBcFG-1NE1jeMt8XK6klQJ1y4WLGCzA9LZYo/edit?slide=id.p11#slide=id.p11

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Official Definition: Scheduling my priorities for for the desires of God and Others.

The Big Questions we are going to answer today!

Am I putting the love of God and the love of others first in my life?

Can I do without or become tired to help others in need?

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Let’s look at question 1 and I will tell you a little story about two women named Martha and Mary. Jesus was traveling, when they entered a village and a woman named Martha welcomed Jesus into her house.

According to Luke Chapter 10 Martha had a lot to do.

I imagine she was cleaning, preparing meals, maybe hiding the laundry or an untidy room.

Maybe she was running food from kitchen to table and not letting things burn?

Think about what your parents do when a guest is about to arrive at your house. They clean up everything so that their house looks nice and neat

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She had the son of God in her house, and she wanted to make sure everything was perfect. She was “distracted by her many task.”

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Now Martha had a sister named Mary. Mary was not helping at all. She was not setting the table, helping move tables and chairs, cooking. Nothing. She was instead sitting at Jesus’ feet listening.

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Martha comes in and asked Jesus, “Don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand…..”

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Jesus says, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken from her.”

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Have you ever been so focused on a task, work, school, anything that you kind of forget what is happening all around you?

You can’t see because you are staring at a list of things that have to be accomplished. But you forget Why it has to be done.

Martha was so focused on making sure everything was getting done for her guest, that she may have forgotten who exactly her guest was.

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She had Jesus, the son of God, sitting in her house, and she was too busy dealing with earthly things, that she didn’t just let herself stop and be available for what Jesus was there for.

He was there to be WITH her. To serve her, not the other way around.

NOW

Chaplain Chris is not saying you don’t have to do chores. I am not saying you shouldn’t clean your room before you have a guest over. I am saying that you need to remember why you are doing those things and when the time comes, stop and be there in the moment.

What is the point of planning these events, these assemblies or chapels, if you get so focused on making sure that everything is perfect and forget the REASON you are here?

We are here to love one another. We are here to grow with one another. We are here to find a little rest in a very crazy world.

I will share another story about two men that Jesus encountered on the road both of which were to follow Jesus.

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In Luke 9 57-62 it says that Jesus told a man to “Follow me.” and he replied, first let me go bury my father.

Sounds fair, but Jesus told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.”

Jesus isn’t being heartless here. He is very clear in his word that the love of God has to be your number one priority in life. Going and spreading the news of Jesus has to be your number one priority.

Family is incredibly important.

Jesus is asking us to create more family for the kingdom of heaven by going and spreading the good news.

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Now, the second man said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me go and say good-bye to those at my house.’ Seems reasonable again right?

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But Jesus said to him, “No one puts his hand on the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

He is saying to plow a straight line, to do the work of God you can’t be looking back at the world, you have to keep your eyes forward toward the work he is placing in front of you.

Otherwise

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You have to stay focused, you have to keep looking forward.

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Finally, the last story I will share. Comes from Mark 10:17-22.

A young man comes to Jesus and ask what he must do to inherit eternal life.

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Jesus then shares again the 10 commandments.

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The man says, I have kept all these things!

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Jesus says then you lack one thing, go and sell all you have and give to the poor and you will have treasures in heaven. Then come, follow me.

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But he was dismayed by this demand, and he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.

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The rich man could have given up heaven and eternal salvation for his xbox one, fancy bikes, cars, or money. He said he was willing. He said he was available, until it made him uncomfortable.

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Available means you need to be ready to answer the call when it happens and it means you need to ensure you are living by Jesus’ words…

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John 13:34–35 “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

But Chaplain Chris, how? How can I do this? I am just a kid!

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CLC Comes back

Prayer

The Source Story

Mary and Martha

Luke 10:38–42 “While they were traveling, he entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet and was listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.” The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.””

The Rich Young Ruler

Mark 10:17–22 “As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; do not defraud; honor your father and mother.” He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these from my youth.” Looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, “You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” But he was dismayed by this demand, and he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.”

Luke 9:57–62 “As they were traveling on the road someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus told him, “Foxes have dens, and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Then he said to another, “Follow me.” “Lord,” he said, “first let me go bury my father.” But he told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.” Another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me go and say good-bye to those at my house.” But Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.””