As they continued their travel, Jesus entered a village. A woman by the name of Martha welcomed him and made him feel quite at home. She had a sister, Mary, who sat before the Master, hanging on every word he said. But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. Later, she stepped in, interrupting them. “Master, don’t you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a Hand.” The Master said, “Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it’s the main course, and won’t be taken from her.” LUKE 10:38-42 MSG
It’s easy to get worked up about nonessentials
The Master said, “Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. …” LUKE 10:41 MSG
It’s hard to agree on what is essential
But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. Later, she stepped in, interrupting them. “Master, don’t you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand.” LUKE 10:40 MSG
Some things are important but not essential!
Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” LUKE 12:13-14 NIV
Only Jesus truly understood the essentials
One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it’s the main course, and won’t be taken from her.” LUKE 10:42 MSG
Jesus gave us two essentials:
• The Great Commandment
• The Great Commission
One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” MATTHEW 22:35-40 NLT
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” MATTHEW 28:18-20 NLT
The Essentials:
• Love God
• Love People
• Live on mission
My Notes
Personal Reflection Guide
Find a quiet place and ask God to calm your thoughts and emotions. When you are ready, think about the two essentials that Jesus gave: loving God and others, and the great commission. What are your thoughts and feelings as you reflect on these essentials? Think about Mary and Martha and Jesus telling Martha that Mary had made the better choice in how she spent her time at that moment. How can obeying this teaching keep you from being pulled away by non-essentials? Ask God to reveal if you are hearing in the wrong direction, that He would lead you and correct you. Picture what loving God with all your heart, soul, and mind looks like in your life. Describe what you see. Close your time by asking God to enable you to arrange your schedule in order for you to listen to each sermon in this series on the essentials. Pray He will better equip you to participate in making disciples in all the nations.
Discussion Questions
- We all have essential and non-essential things that are in our lives. How has holding too tightly on to the non-essentials impacted your relationships?
- Busyness pulls us away from the essentials. What pulls you away, and where does that lead you to?
- Read Matthew 22:35-40 NLT and Matthew 28:18-20 NLT. What has made these essentials challenging in your life?
- It’s so much easier to be a “good person” than it is to be obedient. What obstacles get in the way of you sharing specifically about Jesus as the one true God in a world that has so many “gods”?
- NEXT STEPS: This series is essential; commit to attending each week of this series (both listening to the sermons to be inspired, and attending community group so you can experience real change).
- Sometimes we can trade our comfort for God's calling. If you are ready to step out and start your own group, you can begin that conversation with your campus team by going to sandalschurch.com/groups and choosing "Start a New Group.”
