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Introduction

In this episode, we explore the biblical story of Martha and Mary in Luke 10:38-42, to understand the importance of prioritizing the Lord in our lives. We’ll break down the passage, draw practical applications, and discuss how we can prioritize the Word, pray to the Lord, and prefer the good portion in our daily lives.

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1. Prioritize the Word (Luke 10:38-40a)

• Background & Providence of God (v38):
  • Jesus visits Martha, Mary, and Lazarus in a poor village.
  • The distractions of life, no matter if it’s wealth or poverty, can prevent us from focusing on the Lord.
• Contrasting Prioritization (v39-40a):
  • Mary: Sat at the feet of Jesus, listening to His teaching, leading to transformation. In this passage, the term listening is written in the imperfect tense, which hints at a future change. When we listen to the Lord, he transforms our hearts and minds. Romans 12:2
  • Martha: Started listening but became distracted with secular concerns.
  • Who do you most identify with, Mary or Martha?
• Application:
  • If we are not careful, we will prioritize worldly activities over God’s Word in our lives.
  • Instead, we must emphasize making God's Word a priority, especially if we desire to make wise decisions (Psalm 111:10).

2. Pray to the Lord (Luke 10:40b-41)

• The Heart of the Issue (v40b):
  • Martha’s problem is not that Mary’s lack of assistance, but that she feels the entire weight of her circumstances as if they are her’s alone to bear. In Christ, we are never alone to bear the weight of our burdens on our own (1 Peter 5:7).
  • Even in frustration, Martha's discussion with the Lord demonstrates the importance of communicating with God.
• Jesus Ministers to Martha (v41):
  • Jesus gently corrects Martha, highlighting her anxious and troubled heart.
  • What we see is that prayer isn’t meant to change God, but to change us and align us with His will (John 16:13).
  • Application:
  • When we pray, even in frustration, God hears our prayers and ministers to us. Therefore, we must remain vigilant in prayer.

3. Prefer the Good Portion (Luke 10:42)

• Let God Lead Us, Not Our Worries (v42):
  • Mary chose to be lead by Jesus. Martha chose to be lead by her world concerns.
• The Necessity (v42):
  • Jesus emphasizes the need to choose the good portion—Himself and His Word.
  • Practical application: Preferring Christ leads to eternal rewards versus the temporary issues of the world
• Grace Leads to Obedience (v42):
  • If we look back at this passage, we see God’s grace prompts us to choose Him and His ways. The encounter between Jesus and Martha was not an accident, but divine intervention initiated by God.
  • Eternal security and peace in Jesus as our good portion.
• Good Portion Guaranteed:
  • Choosing Jesus leads to eternal, unshakeable rewards (Philippians 3:12-13).

Scripture References:
Luke 10:38-42, Romans 12:2, Psalm 111:10, 1 Peter 5:7, John 16:13, Philippians 3:12-13

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Introduction
In this episode, we dive deep into the classic parable of the Good Samaritan and explore what it means to be a good neighbor. We discuss the importance of loving others as ourselves, regardless of our personal preferences or biases.

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Key Topics Discussed

1. Choosing Neighbors and Loving Them
   • How often do we get to choose our neighbors? Should our feelings about our neighbors be influenced by their actions or background?
   • As Christians, we are called to love our neighbors as ourselves, a principle that transcends personal preference.
2. The Lawyer’s Question and Jesus’ Response
   • Wrong Motive, Right Question (Luke 10:25-28)
   • The lawyer tests Jesus with a question about eternal life.
   • Jesus responds by guiding the lawyer to reflect on the Scriptures
   • The Law: It shows our need for a Savior rather than a means to justify ourselves.
3. Understanding the Parable of the Good Samaritan
   • Wrong Motive, Right Answer (Luke 10:29-37)
   • The lawyer’s desire to justify himself versus Jesus’ teaching through the parable.
   • The Good Samaritan illustrates that true neighborliness involves compassion and action.
4. Good Neighbor Takeaways
   • Self-Reflection: The key question is not whether others are good neighbors to us but whether we are good neighbors to them.
   • Seeing Jesus: The parable mirrors our own spiritual condition and highlights Jesus as the ultimate Good Neighbor who offers us salvation and compassion.

Scripture References

• Luke 10:25-37 – The Parable of the Good Samaritan
• Deuteronomy 6:5 – “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”
• Leviticus 19:18 – “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
• Psalm 139:23-24 – A prayer for God to search our hearts and lead us in the way everlasting.
• Ephesians 2:1 – “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins…”

Key Takeaways

• The Fruit of Being Born Again: Genuine love for God and others is a reflection of true faith.
• Good Neighbor Principles: We should be like the Good Samaritan, showing compassion and love regardless of who the other person is or what they can offer us.
• Jesus as the Ultimate Good Neighbor: Jesus embodies the ultimate act of love and mercy, offering us salvation and inviting us to extend that same grace to others.

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June 23, 2024

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1. Working for the Lord (v17)
   • When walking in the name, character, and instruction of Christ, believers will accomplish many works for the Kingdom of God. This begs the question: What should be the source of our joy?
   • The 72 disciples were filled with joy because of the work they accomplished in the Lord's name. In John 15:5, we learn that apart from Christ, believers can do nothing. What brings you joy?
2. Authority of the Lord (v18-19)
   • Since Christ has delegated authority to believers and has conquered sin and death, believers serve the Lord from a place of victory.
   • Jesus has given power to his followers to overcome opposition from the evil one. Through Christ, believers have the ability to escape temptation (1 Cor 10:13) and are given help when facing doubt (Matt 9:24). However, our enemy are not other people inside or outside the church, but the evil spiritual forces at war against the Kingdom of God (Eph 6:12).
   • Jesus instructed his disciples that nothing would hurt them. However, this does not mean that Christ's followers will not suffer at times. Throughout scripture, we learn that God often accomplishes his will in a broken world through suffering. Read about Joseph in Genesis, Paul and Silas in Acts 16, or the crucifixion of Christ. Believers must remember that nothing can harm our eternal status as sons and daughters of God through Christ (John 1:12, Eph 1:13-14).
3. The joy of the Lord (v20)
   • To understand the true source of our joy, we must consider the fullness of this passage and all of Scripture. Our position as reconciled to God the Father through God the Son is based on the work of Christ Jesus, not ours. Our power to overcome the attacks of the enemy is bestowed upon us from the Son, not from ourselves.
   • We must guard our hearts against placing our joy in the wrong areas. Where we place our joy can lead to where we place our identity. If our joy is in the works, our identity will soon follow. However, if our joy is anchored in the person of Christ, then our identity will also be centered on Him.
   • Therefore, Jesus is the source of our joy, not our achievements or work.
   • If Jesus is the source of our joy and our identity, then no matter the successes or failures, emotions or feelings, joy in him alone will sustain us.

• Is Christ Jesus the cause for your rejoicing?