This week, in our Luke series, we are reflecting on the account of Mary and Martha. Today, let’s briefly consider how we can sit at Jesus’ feet and learn from Him.
‘As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 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!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”’ (Luke 10:38-42)
Lesson: To sit at Jesus’ feet requires our developing practices of hearing Him in His Word.
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It was Socrates who said, ‘The unexamined life is not worth living.’ Many of us go from day to day with examining ourselves before God and in the mirror of His Word and this is a practice that needs to be developed by each of us. As we get older, we develop practices for achieving different things. Over the years I’ve learned to talk, walk, run, read, write, be more polite, play the guitar etc. Likewise, as we go on in the Christian life we learn skills and practices by which we can sit at Jesus’ feet and learn from Him.
How could you and I better sit at Jesus’ feet so as to listen to Him? What part of the Bible will you read? When? Where? Jesus wants to teach us. He’s made it clear that this is important to Him and so He will help all who will humble themselves to be a disciple.
Response
To sit at Jesus feet requires our hearing Him in His Word. If you’re not sure what to do, how about choosing to read one of the gospels and go through the following steps:
i. Pray that Jesus would speak to you. For example, David prayed:
‘Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.’ (Psalm 119:18)
ii. Read a short passage - Limit this to a section that’s short enough for you to be able to give sufficient focus to it.
iii. Worship God for what it says about Him.
iv. Pray regarding the things that it teaches you to do, or for an attitude you are to take.
v. Be consistent to do this each day.
COMMUNITY GROUP NOTES AND STUDY
1. Notices
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.
Please ensure that the members of your group are aware and familiar with using the daily devotionals, which are accessed in Church News, the Teaching button on the website and are now available on the major podcast platforms.
2. Icebreaker
How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week and how has this helped you?
3. Worship together
Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.
4. Study and pray together
Our message from our series in Luke on Sunday, based upon Mary and Martha from Luke 10:38-42. This narrative follows on from The Parable of the Good Samaritan, and I trust that we can see the similarities between the Samaritan and Martha; Luke, it seems, does this as a balance to teach us that practical love is very important, but it’s vital that our practical love and service flow out of our devotional life. Luke uses this narrative to, again, emphasise the need to listen to Jesus.
Please read Luke 10:38-42, and discuss:
Did God speak to you about anything specifically from Sunday’s message?
What does Jesus reveal as the most important thing for every one of us?
Let’s review a few ways that Luke has already been emphasising listening to Jesus; read: Luke 6:49, 8:15, 8:18, 8:21, 9:35. Why is listening to Jesus so important?
What distractions and less important things distract you from sitting at Jesus’ feet in prayer and the Word?
What’s your current devotional habit? When, where and what do you do? Or, what plan would you like to start? (Using our Come to Jesus Daily Devotionals, would be a helpful addition).
SIV - Why will following Mary’s exam