Monday night (08/03/15) when we peered into Martha and Mary's home (Luke 10:38-42) we found Martha busily preparing for the 72 guests that came with Jesus AND we found Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus.
Most of us could relate to the burden Martha felt with all of these "unexpected" guests.
We learned what was required of the women of the house to prepare for the Sabbath on Friday BEFORE SUNDOWN - the day when no work could be performed
- clean the house top to bottom, prepare all meals for Friday and all meals for the Sabbath - provide clean tunics for all to wear - fill ceremonial jugs with water for washing - fill all lamps with oil and make ready for 72 GUESTS!!! I don't know about you - but I sure could use a hand with all of that work.
But Jesus told Martha, when she tried to encourage Him to rebuke Mary for not helping her, 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
So . . . come along with us . . . as we learn to have a "Mary Heart in a Martha World" - to learn "what is better" and what "will not be take away" from us.
Assignment for the week:
- Read all of Luke 10
- Read Chapters 1 and 2 in your book
- Answer week 2 study questions in your workbook pages 5 - 11
- Review the Teaching Outline I presented to you in the class (I have posted it below for those who weren't in class) which tells us what was happening before the 72 arrived at Martha and Mary's doorstep.
- Complete introductory pages 1 - 4 in your workbook
(Luke 10:3, 10-11, 16, 17)
I. Concentration: on how dusty rejections can be.
1. “Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.” (v.3)
2. “But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.’ “ (v.10-11)
3. “He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me. (v.16)
4. The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” (v.17)
II. Meditation: on preparing the way for Jesus.
1. Jesus chose 72 disciples to send ahead of Him to villages, towns and cities to prepare the way for Him; these new followers were as innocent and defenseless as lambs against those who could be cruel and malicious like wolves.
2. When people headed into Israel it was customary to wipe dust off their feet from the outside areas; here Jesus means that the town that rejects them will be defiled as having no relationship with God by rejecting the message about the Kingdom of God.
3. There’s no hidden message here - these people were His agents, His representatives – whoever rejected them, rejected Jesus and His Father.
4. The disciples were overjoyed at how they had been received –they had nothing to fear from the power of darkness; even from the demons who knew of Jesus by name!
III. Revelation: on being the messenger for Jesus.
1. Like the disciples, we are called by Jesus to go out and prepare the way for Him – to spread the Good News – to show what He is like through our own testimony.
2. We need to be able to determine when we are wasting our time with those that will not break out of their stubbornness and argumentative ways; dust ourselves off; walk away.
3. We are called on to plant the seeds with non-believers, to bring them to Christ, but if they reject us they need to also be aware that they could also be rejecting God.
4. As children of God, He goes with us wherever we go.
IV. Application: As a Christian, I need to:
1. Joyfully spread the gospel telling others how wonderful it is to be a child of God; use my own testimony when it is appropriate; let others know there is hope for all of us – none are too broken or too damaged to be God’s children.
2. Make the best use of my time left here on earth; reach out to as many people as I can using the gifts God has graciously given to me; know when it is time to walk away – recognize the difference between genuine doubt and those who debate as a hobby.
3. Continue in the ministries allowing me to reach out to the most down-trodden.
4. Thank God every day for His continual presence, love, grace and mercy.