March 2, 2025

Luke 10:38-42

First Things First

Sunday Sermons

In a world that glorifies much-ness, many-ness, productivity and busyness, are we missing what matters most? When Jesus visited Martha and Mary, one was distracted, worried and bothered with her hospitality and preparations, the other was sitting close to Jesus, listening to His Word. How does their story reflect the way our own hearts can be at times? Are we prioritizing productivity over presence, service over surrender? Join us as we explore the dangers of distraction, the delights of devotion, and the call to put first things first—listening to God’s Word, sitting at the feet of Jesus.

Speaker

Jim Thomas

Series

The Gospel According to Luke

Go to Series

Scripture

Luke 10:38-42

Topics
Growth & Discipleship Spiritual Disciplines Worship

Sermon Notes

Disciples of Jesus will…

1. Beware the dangers of distraction

  • Duty-bound
  • Disgruntled
  • Disruptive
  • Demanding

2. Enjoy the delights of devotion

  • Proximity to Jesus – sitting as His feet
  • Priority of the Word of God – delighting in His teaching
  • Pleasing to God – choosing what is better
  • Promises of God – trusting His faithfulness

“Distraction is the primary spiritual problem in contemporary culture. Frankly, when we are perpetually distracted, we are unable to discern the “kol Yahweh,” the voice of the Lord.”
Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth

“You can’t get second things by putting them first; you can get second things only by putting first things first.”
C. S. Lewis, “First and Second Things” from God in the Dock

“God wants worshipers before workers; indeed the only acceptable workers are those who have learned the lost art of worship.”
A. W. Tozer, That Incredible Christian

“Martha thinks she’s serving Jesus by giving him a meal. But Jesus clarifies that he’s the one serving the real food—and Mary is right to sit at his table.”
Rebecca McLaughlin, Jesus Through the Eyes of Women: How the First Female Disciples Help Us Know and Love the Lord

“The whole art of life, I sometimes think, is the art of knowing what to leave out, what to ignore, what to put on one side. How prone we are to dissipate our energies and to waste our time by forgetting what is vital and giving ourselves to second and third rate issues. Now, says Paul, here you are in the Christian life, you are concerned about difficulties, about oppositions and about the contradictions of life. What you need is just this: the power to concentrate on that which is vital, to leave out everything else, and to keep steadily to the one thing that matters.”
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, The Life of Joy

“I have so much to do (today) that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.”
Martin Luther, Table Talk

Discussion Questions

  • How do you relate to Martha’s focus on service vs Mary’s choice to listen at Jesus’ feet? Which approach do you naturally lean toward in your spiritual life and daily responsibilities?
  • Can you think of a time when you had to choose between doing & listening?
  • What can we do to avoid distraction and prioritize what Jesus called “the good part”?

Songs, Readings & Prayer

Songs

“And Can It Be” by Thomas Campbell, Dan Galbraith and Charles Wesley
“King Forevermore (God The Uncreated One)” by Aaron Keyes and Pete James
“It Was Finished Upon That Cross” by Jonny Robinson, Nigel Hendroff, and Rich Thompson
“Here Is Love Vast as the Ocean (Everlasting Praise)” Music: Robert Lowry, Words: William Rees, tr. William Edwards, Add. Words, Music and Arrangement by Matt Boswell and Kristyn Getty, Orch. by John Langley and Paul Campbell
“The Lord Almighty Reigns” by Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, Matt Boswell, and Matt Papa
 “Doxology” by Thomas Ken and Louis Bourgeois

All songs are used by Permission. CCLI License #2003690

Call To Worship: At The Cross

Most merciful God, thank You for sending to us Your Son, Jesus. We remember this day His redeeming death, that we might stand forgiven at the cross. Thank You for sending to us Your Son, Jesus, to whom we belong, in life and in death. He bore our infirmities and carried our sorrows. Most holy God, thank You for sending to us Your Son, Jesus, who became sin for us and suffered the punishment due to us, that we might stand forgiven at the cross. In the name of our Lord Jesus, amen.

Confession:

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against You this day, in thought, word, and deed; by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole hearts; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us, that we may delight in Your will, and walk in Your ways, to the glory of Your Name. Grant to Your people pardon and peace, that in Your great mercy, we may be forgiven all our sins, and serve You with a quiet and contrite heart. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, amen.

Classic Prayer: John Wesley, 1703-1791

O LORD God Almighty, Father of angels and men, We praise and bless your holy name for all your goodness and loving kindness to humanity. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and for your unceasing generosity to us throughout our lives; But above all, we bless you for your great love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ. We bless you for bringing us safe to the beginning of a new day. Grant that this day we fall into no sin, Neither run into any kind of danger. Keep us, we pray, from all things hurtful to body or soul, and grant us your pardon and peace, So that, being cleansed from all our sins, We might serve you with quiet hearts and minds, and continue in the same until our life’s end, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. Amen.

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