2. The Helper

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42 NLT
You didn’t go to church, you went to work.

2: The Helper

Reflects God’s heart for service

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” MARK 10:45 NLT
Motivation: To feel loved
Need: To be needed
Focus: Needs of others
Core sin: Pride
Avoids: Own needs
Fear: Being unworthy
Underlying Emotion: Shame (ashamed of having needs)

How a 2 needs to be real:

With Self

It’s good to serve God and my family
Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. ROMANS 12:11 NLT
I must also spend time with God and my family
Watch how my pride affects the way I see myself and others
You have been deceived by your own pride! OBADIAH 1:3 NLT

With Others

Declare that I have needs and that’s ok
Learn to ask for help
Learn to confess the sin of pride

With God

Who I am comes from God’s love, not from what I do
God will help if I ask
O LORD, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help. PSALM 86:5 NLT

How to love a 2:

Notice and thank them for their service
Have them name one thing you can do for them
Invite them over when you don’t need something done
Ask them to stop and tell you how their time with God and family is going

Community Group Discussion Guide

  1. Name someone who has helped you in your life and talk about what made their help so special to you.
  2. Read Luke 10:38-42. Do you tend to prioritize relationships (like Mary) or getting things done (like Martha)? How can you manage the tension between the two?
  3. When you help others, to what extent are you motivated by guilt, shame or a desire to be loved? To what extent are you motivated by Jesus’ heart or instructions?
  4. Read Obadiah 1:3. What makes pride (having an excessively high opinion on one’s importance) so deceptive and difficult to see in ourselves?
  5. In what specific ways has pride kept you from asking for help or seeing your own needs? What can we do to help?
  6. In what practical ways can you do a better job of thanking the “Helpers” in your life for their self-sacrificing work?

Personal Reflection Guide

Find a quiet place where you can be still. Read through Luke 10:38-40, imagining what each character might have felt during this story. What do you think Martha would have experienced if she had returned to her work? What do you think she would have had to understand to allow herself to rest and simply be with Jesus, knowing that he loved her more than her work? As you reflect on your own life, how do you manage the tension between spending more time with God and getting things done? How can you embrace the idea that God loves you more than he appreciates what you do? As you move through your week, set aside a few minutes every day to explore this way of being with him.

My Notes