Have You Chosen the Good Part?

May be seated.

Before I get started. How about a sound check? If everybody hear me? Is that a yes baby? Yes, they got it. It's a lot of work to try to get this stuff to work, right? I'm barely can open my phone and read it. So Not my cup of tea. Show me, we got to to scriptures that I found to be very similar in content and I sure am with you this morning. Now you're going to see it in a different translate. I hope it doesn't mess you up cuz I'm reading from the new King James and this is our normal reading. So you might listen to my voice so you might want to watch the words but they're very close. The first reading today is from the Old Testament book of Genesis and we're in the 18th chapter and we are doing verses 1 through 10 a

Another Warning by the term is trees of mamre, as he was sitting in the tent Door, In the Heat of the day. So, we looked at his eyes and looked and behold three men were standing by him. Nobody saw them, he ran from the 10th door, to greet them and you bow down. To the ground and he said my Lord. If I have now found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. Please little little water, be brought wash your feet and rest yourselves under the tree. And I will bring you a morsel of bread. So that you may refresh your hearts. Then after that, you may pass by, as much as you will come to your servant. They said, do as you have said, So, Abraham hurried into the tent to share and said, quickly make three measures of fine meal needed and make cakes and Abraham ran to the Herd podcast. Gave it to a young man and he hastened to her parent.

so, he took butter and milk, the cat switch, and repaired, and set it before then, And he stood by them under the tree as they hate. Then they said to him, where is Sarah your wife? So, he said here, and the tent and he said, I will certainly return to you, according to the time of life and behold.

This is the reading of the Old Testament.

Our Gospel is found in Luke. and,

It's a verse that I'm sure we've all heard many many times and it's about the Martha and Mary with Jesus visiting Martha's home in Bethany, it's in Loop 10. I'm beginning of verse 38 to 42.

That was it happened. As they went that, he entered a certain Village and a certain woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. She had a sister called Mary who also sat in Jesus's feet and heard his word. Martha was distracted with much serving and she approached him and said, Lord, do you not care? That my sister has left me to serve a loan. Super Color to help me. Jesus answered and said to her Martha. Martha. You're worried and troubled about many things, but one thing is needed, And Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her. This is the gospel of Our Lord. Thanks be to God.

Two distinct verses of scripture. The first one was 4,000 years ago. The second one was two thousand years ago. How about if we talkin about it today and let's see what it does to you. And I today I'm not French boy. I won't have 25 scriptures in my brain. I'm lucky to remember 10K. Age has its virtues and that's what they tell me. Anyhow, I just seem to lose brain cells. I can understand Genesis Genesis 18. We have our dear friend, Abraham.

Abraham took would be known today as a better. One day went from in the desert from Waterhole to Waterhole. They hired to find water for their families and for their Chief, in their cows and their goats, they needed to find brain. So they were wondering, if they were Wanderers, who the desert different seasons and everything like that. But at this time, they're in a place called mamre. What you say, Oasis. And it's the heat of the day. In the Heat of the day in the desert, the folks stop what they're doing and they go into their tents to get out of the extreme heat. And I was thinking it might as well be Florida. I got a roof going to Two Doors Down and I walked out to walk the dog in other day and the guys are getting off the roof at 1 and they didn't go back up for an about an hour and a half. I heard they're back to work but it was so hot. They had to get down and refresh themselves to mind his own business but there was blood all over him. And suddenly, you're the word suddenly. There were three men. It doesn't say that he saw them in the distance walking to them, it doesn't say that they knew him. It just says that there were three men that appeared to him.

Now in the desert, and the better one people, if if you're out there and you come through one of their Oasis, they greet you with open arms. They will offer the Traveller water wash their feet. Maybe some cheese and some bread for their heart and then wish them on their way. And that's what Abraham did. He went out and greeted them and what did he say? He said, let me give you a morsel. Let me give you a little water. Let me give you a little. But what did he do?

He's 90 years old. Can you see him running to the fields?

What's it called? Blowing this way down, going this way, and he's running in the fields to get the fatted calf, to give it to one of the service to get it prepared.

There was an error, making bread and trying to get everything for the cakes for them. Butter needs to be done the training needed to be done. We have to do a feast. What changed? What thing? I don't see. Pete running through a field with his bare doing that. It's too nice and trim but I think Abraham will head up blowing their you know what changed? Theologians call this the office, which is God appearing.

When Abraham approached them, he had no doubt in his heart that God was there with him. And during that time a covenant was established between Abraham and God. I remember growing up in the church and I heard that to anybody was only in the Garden of Eden. God Appears in many ways and many times through scripture and then this one important moment, God appeared to Abraham after the service and not one of those people came up to me and said, can you imagine what it would take to get a fresh cow skin? It clean it, cook it, get it ready for a meal. There was no microwave. So, you know, they didn't have a Long, John Silver's down here or Winn-Dixie over here to get this and everything from scratch. This is a long time, they were there in the presents. Of Abraham.

I didn't read 10, MB.

They said I've got something for you, Abraham. Can be said, your wife Sarah's going to get pregnant and have a baby in 90 years old.

So, how would you respond? Does anyone here in here actually 90? Please anybody in 90, would you love to have a kid at 90? We got a hand. I know that though.

God's promises are always met. And with his Old Testament reading, we hear that God is giving Abraham the Covenant that he and his wife were never able to have and that was the child.

There's never an end to God's grace and God's love. It doesn't happen when we're in our teens or 20s or 30s or 40s or 50s. That can happen when we're ninety.

Amen. Pull up Segway into the New Testament. We have Morrison Mary. There's another guy missing here. Zachariah Martha's probably what she's the head of the household. No question about that. She might have been married. Her husband might have died. We don't know. She was fairly well off. She had a home. Her brother resided, with her and marry her younger sister resided with her. These were devout Jews, that, when they heard Jesus, for the first time became Christians. They love Jesus and Jesus loves them. We should find three times in the scriptures that these these girls are mentioned But every single time they're mentioned, we have Mary at the feet of Jesus.

We have the Mary that was pouring the oil on him, we have the Mary that was wiping, the tears on his feet and we have the Mary at the feet of Jesus here.

Martha. On the other hand is the Practical one. Martha saw Jesus. At the door, ran out the greeting and knew immediately she had to get to work, just like Abraham did. But listen, it doesn't say this in that scripture but how many people did Jesus bring with him? One, two, three, four, five 12:15, Scholarship says, there could be as many as 85 traveling, with Jesus that day. 85 whose house will hold 85 guests and want to eat in an hour and a half.

The Winn-Dixie is no Publix. No.

Martha took it seriously that she needed to make sure that her Lord had food water and able to rest along with all the disciples and all of the people that were there, sat at the feet of Jesus. She wanted to hear what Jesus had to say.

I think that's what we have in the church today. We have Mary's and Martha's been included. By the way, you know, whether you're a Mary or Martha, okay? The church wouldn't function, without Martha's. For you, see, we have Martha's that are serving in the choir, we have Martha's that are serving in the ushers. We have people work in the AV in the sound. We have people that are helping cooking cookies and and bringing them to us. After the service. We have, Martha's are working. All types of ways in this church. And without the Martha's It would be a very different Church. What it.

What about the marriage?

We have Jesus saying, Martha Martha. Martha Martha. What do you think? Jesus meant by that. I have a feeling that Jesus knew the end was coming.

And he wanted Martha and Mary. Here is words.

The memories of our church are so important. Their prayer warriors they teach Sunday school They work with the homeless, they work with the one they work in areas that most of us. Really don't like working in. But sometimes been married for. So involved in the work of scripture and care, they forget to come up for air. On the other hand, we have Martha's that love to work and they work so hard because we don't have enough Martha's. Most of the time, I think they say 20% would be an average of a church that actually do the work and the rest sit and enjoy the fruits, but those Martha's at times, get burnt out. They get resentful.

They did frustrated.

And that's where that's where Arthur was today. And its story. She was saying, oh my God, I need some help, Jesus, please tell Mary to help me.

Was he admonished thing, Martha? I don't think so, but if it flipped over, what if Mary was there, Does BJ's. Martha making all the noise of the pots and pans? I can't hear you. Jesus.

I Think Jesus would have wanted Martha. Stop. I don't want to eat. The cardia balance. We tend to be in churches, busy.

There's a lot that happens in a church and most people unless they get back with the back in there with a kitchen and all of the stuff, the lawn in the painting and everything goes on in this place, don't really understand the, the volunteerism that is used in a church such as Eastminster.

Trouble answers that we're missing out on the main thing.

And the main thing, what? What? Martin Luther told us, many, many years ago, his secretary came to in the morning and said, Martin, we have a full calendar day, there is just too much work to do. We need to get you started now, and Martin Luther says you're right. I'm going to take the first 4 hours in prayer and supplication to see where God wants me to day.

Where does God want you today?

the berries kind of know that cuz they're more into the scripture and more into nurturing But the Martha's sometimes gets so busy, they don't have time to stop and smell the roses, and they burn out.

The Martha's in our church or many.

But Martha's tend to not stop. From busy. The prayer.

How do we balance that as a church?

How about a meal?

How about stopping, and having a meal.

I think that's what Jesus did do. You want to go all the way in the Book of Revelation? for chapter 28, verse Jesus says, if you hear my voice at your door, open it And if you open your door, I will come in. And seeing you and you feed me.

Busy.

It will destroy a church. It will destroy a business. It will destroy your insides. We must have a balance, we are called to be the hands and feet of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We are his witness here on Earth and whether you were a Mary or Martha, you have to have time to be in the presence of the Lord. and when you're in that time, like your captive audience now, You have an opportunity to hear through whoever speaking the holy spirit that is present in this place, the Beautiful music that comes from a choir. The words, the Liturgy, the prayers, you have an opportunity to be, not busy.

To reflect. And get renewed every General. I so you can go out this week. Refreshed and renewed.

but remember, whether you're a Martha or a Mary You need to stop.

You need to take that break in the afternoon when it's so hot. You need to have a meal. And you need to invite our Lord and savior.

When you do that.

Martha's won't feel so stressed.

Daenerys. Hopefully, we'll come up for air and sea. They need to help the Martha's.

For you see, we're all in it together.

This is the kind of a message that I taught in seminary for 6 weeks. For the six weeks, this one text because it's all kinds of ways you can look at it. But we're in search for a new pastor. We are seeking God. What is going to help us get the next 75 years going?

We need our Martha's. We need our Mary's. We need to understand those things.

and God said,

I'm still down.

Let's take the time to relax.

What you busy?

Let's hear you were, let's sit at the feet of Jesus.

What's the weather? Mary talk to us about the reading she's doing or the work that they're doing. Atlanta, refresh us. Martha's that are always busy. It's least we think we're busy. We are busy. But within Eastminster, we have Group of people in here that are so dedicated.

So loved what they do here to help each and every one of us. What is a pastor? I sit in an office and I hear things that you don't hear. And frustrations that you don't hear and worries that you don't hear.

God says, let's have a meal.

Let's have a meal. Stop the busy work. Stop thinking you can do every and all things without me.

We are not a country club. We are the church. Christ Is Our Redeemer. Christ, directs Us in everything that we do.

We celebrate communion once a month together. Which horse was after the Last Supper.

A church functions when everybody is healthy.

God said to Abraham, let's see.

I'll make a covenant with you. Jesus said that. Thank you for so much that you do for me. But today this day, I need you to hear.

Are you hearing the Lord in your daily life? Are you hearing what God has called you to be?

That's our. Opportunity. To hear the Holy Spirit talk to us. Greta's.

And say, hey, let's pause. It's going to bite to eat. Let's hear The Beautiful music from his choir. Let's hear the hearts of all you sitting here. Greeting each other with a love in the Peace of Christ. And

Dawn, the dial there is going out that door and serving This morning at 9, we were having this that was talking with everybody and suddenly, we had a wind come through and all of my notes went into the Indian River, kind of thing.

So, three or four people jumped up and started getting all the papers that were flying around. The perfect time to say, be still.

What's today?

When it gets so rough and tumble that you think you're not going to make it? Our Lord and savior says Be Still. I am with you.

You don't have to do this alone.

Step back.

Have a communion meal with the Lord. I think you'll feel better. I think we'll all feel better.

Jesus said that the When I leave you, I'm going to send you the comforter.

Have you experienced the comforter this week?

There are two I can experience the comforter. As much as I'm trying cuz I'm so overloaded.

Jesus play, walk this Earth and said, hey let's have a bite to eat. Spectrum time. I want to talk to you today.

Remember the Martha's and Mary's in this congregation for they make us whole But please don't allow any of them to be burn out because we can't hear their need. God call each of us to be part of this thing. We call service. What is your part in this thing? We call service. What has God called you to be? That's the question for you, this morning. But don't do it on your room.

Invite Jesus. San Jose.

Southern meal.

Amen.

My next.