Audio from Associate Pastor Josh Carpenter on Sunday morning March 10th, 2019.
These sermon notes are made available through the YouVersion free Bible app.
https://www.bible.com/events/579225
○How many of us would say: I wish I had more time for ________________?
○When you ask someone, "How's life been?" What is the number one response? Busy.
○Being able to say "I'm so busy" has become a point of pride. Being busy = Being Valuable
○I wish I had time for the important things that I value.
2 Peter 1:3 NIV
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
○If we believe God has given us everything we need to live out His plan for our lives, we must also believe He has given us the time we need.
○We make time for the things that are most important to us.
○So often we allow good things, or even unimportant things to get in the way of the most important things.
Busy doesn't mean best.
Luke 10:38 NIV
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.
○Jesus is in town. Martha is hospitable and invites Jesus over. This is a good thing! But something takes away from this moment for Martha...
Luke 10:39-40 NIV
39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. 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!”
○Can you identify with Martha? How often do we allow the urgent to take precedence over the important.
○Was it good to prepare for Jesus' stay? Yes. Was it the most important thing to do? No. Her sister, Mary, had it right.
Luke 10:41-42 NIV
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.”
○Have you ever been, or are currently in a similar situation with Jesus in your life?
○We have everything we need for an incredible relationship with Christ, but we’re distracted by everything else we’ve made so important.
○We can be full time with life’s concerns, but part time with Jesus’ concerns.
Getting Practical:
○What's one thing we can do to turn this ship around?
Do less, better.
Our idea of fixing an area of lack: add something new to our plate. Go further under the water.
Our lives might be full of ‘good things’ but we’ve left little time for the best things.
Luke 14:28 NIV
28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?
○How can we not be bogged down with more to do for the sake of doing, but do what we can with better results?
○What about spending time with our kids?
○Nurturing our relationship with our spouse?
○Reading God's word?
Getting Practical:
○Whats the most important question I can ask myself?
Has my relationship with God been the most important thing?
Matthew 6:33 NIV
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
○For God to have His way in our lives, our marriages, in raising our kids, in our careers; we seek Him first.
○So how would you answer that question? Is your relationship with God the greatest thing?
For your week:
Take a look at this 7 day reading plan, dealing with the pace of life.
Thanks for being with us today.
If you feel like you've made time for what's good (or not so good) and not for what's best- a decision made today can be a game changer for your life.
We're here to pray for you and walk with you. You can send in a prayer request on our website as well: www.thechurchofjoy.org/prayer. There are so many great opportunities to plug in at Joy.
If you feel that Joy isn't the home for you, we are happy to help you find where God wants to plant you. We're all on the same team and we want God's kingdom come and His will be done, in and through your life!