Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
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Are you busy?
Yep.
Just this week I was meeting with someone on Thursday afternoon and I remember telling them I hadn’t had a chance to sit down at my desk since Monday.
3 straight days of services, pastoral visits, and diocesan meetings made for one busy man.
Combined with the looming threat of 3 days away for Clergy conference this week coming, and the thought that I should try and enjoy my public holiday and day off so I can celebrate my birthday with my family… Busy busy busy!
And it’s not just me that’s busy.
So are you.
Many of us have probably answered the question, how are you going?
With something along the lines of not too bad, but really busy!
Busy-ness Iis expected in our 21st century, ultra connected life.
And of course the danger of busy-ness is you do lots, but never anything of significance.
Worse still you do lots but you miss out on what’s best.
In a world of busy-ness, Jesus has some advice and encouragement for us in our reading today doesn’t he, Luke 10:42: “..Few things are needed - or indeed only one...”.
More on what to make of that statement in a moment but first:
Context
For most of this chapter, Jesus has been teaching us what it means to be one of his followers.
A disciple.
Back in Luke 9:57-62, Jesus taught about the cost of being one of his followers.
It requires complete dedication and surrender to God.
Focus must be on Jesus first.
Then we had the sending of the 72 from Luke 10:1-24.
When we follow Jesus, we are sent out to introduce others to him.
We are called to be disciple making disciples.
Of course the reason following Jesus is worth giving our full devotion too, and the reason telling others about him, even if it means rejection is worth it is because Jesus brings salvation.
And there is nothing better than that.
You’ll remember when the 72 returned from their mission they were pretty happy with how cool it was that demons would submit to them!
But Jesus responds saying:
Rejoice in your salvation!
And when we understand how much it is God loves us that he’d send his only Son to die for us.
So that we could recieving eternal life.
We respond to God’s love by loving others.
As we round out chapter 10 with this story of Mary and Martha we’ve come to see haven’t we, that:
Disciples of Jesus are devoted servants of God and the world.
They love God and they love their neighbours.
They do this by following Jesus and sharing his news with others.
And that sounds like a lot of work!
We’re going to be very busy serving Jesus, doing stuff!
Which is why I think Luke rounds out this section with this story of the sisters.
Martha and Mary
Martha opens her home to Jesus (Luke 10:38)
It seems that Jesus comes in and starts to teach (Luke 10:39).
Mary, Marth’s sister decideds to listen to Jesus’ words (Luke 10:39).
But Martha, having invited Jesus round, has to get dinner ready (Luke 10:40).
There’s lots to be done!
You can imagine Martha looking over at Mary and being rather frustrated!
And her frustration reaches it’s tipping point, persumably she’s just burnt the main because she was so busy focussing on the entre and the table setting, that she goes to Jesus and says (Luke 10:40):
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!”
And Jesus’ response is rather interseting isn’t it?
Because we might expect him to say.
Good point Martha.
Sorry we’ve all been a bit distracted by all this spiritual stuff, there’ll be time for that later, let’s get on with making sure everything’s sorted for dinner and then we can get to what I had to say later.
But that’s not what Jesus says is it?
Instead he says:
Jesus responds to Martha tenderly.
The doubling up of Martha indicates the presencey of caring emotion.
This is not a cold hearted rebuke, but a loving gentle correciton.
And notice Jesus isn’t concered about what she’s been doing, but her attitude.
It’s not that she’s been running around getting stuff done, but that she’s been worried and upset about many things, when few things are needed - or indeed only one.
Jesus is saying to Martha, you’ve got your priorities wrong!
Jesus says, “Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her.”
Mary has chosen to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to him.
This is primary.
To all the disciples and the readers of Luke’s gospel he’s saying, your number one priority has got to be me.
Listening to Jesus, learning from Jesus, dwelling with Jesus.
This comes first.
Then comes the activity of the kingdom!
Because when we sit at the feet of Jesus, and enjoy his love.
It is then we are truly able to be the devoted disciple making, neighbour loving people he calls us to be.
Because we become like who we hang out with.
Ever seen that old married couple who after 50+ years of marraige have started to look similar and talk similar?
That’s what time together does.
Or when your children start parroting back the things you say to them.
Time together.
Or another group of people?
I notice when I spend time with Army people in the bush, I can become very direct in my language because that’s how every speaks.
Time together.
We become like who we hang out with, and so to be a person who loves God and loves our neighbour, as Jesus models so perfectly in his life and ministry, then we need to spend time sitting at Jesus’ feet.
We need to be like Mary.
Making the main thing the main thing.
Sitting at Jesus’ feet
So how can you and I make sure we’re spending time with Jesus?
That we’re sitting at his feet, dwelling with him, listening to him, learning from him?
Because guess what...
No matter who you are, no matter what you do, the best thing you can do is to have your soul fed by Jesus.
We’ve got to make this our first priority in the midst of the craziness of life.
Here’s some suggestions:
Make Church a priority
Don’t come if you can, let as little else get in the way.
Join a prayer triplet or small group and make it a priority
Find one or two people and commit to meeting up to pray together
Join one of our small groups to feed on God’s word with other Christians.
Commit to regular prayer
Figure out how to be more devoted to prayer in your own life.
Create space in your house?
Build a routine?
Go for a walk?
Join us on Monday mornings from November.
Read your bible regularly
Get a plan
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