INTRODUCTION:

In his 1A 2015 book, First Things First, management guru Stephen Covey and his fellow authors asked this
penetrating question: “What is the one activity that you know if you did superbly well and consistently would
have significant positive results in your personal life?”

They then go on to pose that same question with regards to professional and work life. And then they ask this
follow-up question:

1B “If you know these things would make such a significant difference, why are you not doing them now?”

I want to ask you to think about those same questions as they pertain to your relationship with Jesus.

TS: Perhaps others would answer, 1C OT which means 1D OVERTIME

2A What is the one activity that you know if you did superbly well and consistently would have significant
positive results in your walk with Jesus?

I want you to think about that for a moment and then I am giving you some time to write down your answer.

Now that you’ve written down that answer, let me ask the same follow up question:

2B If you know that one thing would make such a different difference in your walk with Jesus, are you doing it
on a consistent basis? And if you are not, why not?

TS: to answer such question, let’s hear from our Lord Himself,

TITLE: 3A ONE THING

TEXT:
3B Luke 10:42 ESV
“but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

HIGHLIGHT 3C but one thing is necessary

The word “distracted” means to be drawn away, driven about mentally, over-occupied. Very
literally, it means to be pulled and dragged in different directions. Martha’s distraction leads to a
sense of aloneness and self-righteousness, to self-focus and questions about Jesus’s care.

Luke 10:40 ESV

But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you
not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”

Martha’s distraction leads to ROT

 Robed joy of service – Martha asks, “Do you not care…?”

 Oppressive – Martha defends her place: “My sister has left me to serve alone.” – we
oppose those who do not do the same.
 Tantrums – Martha flat out says to Jesus, “Tell her to help me.”
 Desperation – Martha attempts to control the situation—and Jesus—with her comment
about being alone.
 Martha’s distracted serving led her to a place she did not want to go. Martha surely regrets the
way she speaks to Jesus. We hear him lovingly acknowledge the state of her heart when with
tender repetition Jesus says, “Martha, Martha.” Jesus invites her to consider a way of serving that
is without distraction or self-righteousness. In Martha’s mind, she seems to have no choice but to
serve alone with much worry.

Jesus reminds her that she does have a choice. Martha can spend time doing the one “needed”
and “necessary” thing from which all else flows.

TS: WHY ROT WHEN YOU CAN REST

4A Luke 10:39 ESV

And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to His teaching.

HIGHLIGHT 4B who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to His teaching

TS: what does this gesture imply? 4C REST

HIGHLIGHT 4D who sat is a picture of 4E Relaxation

 When we sit, we are in a relaxed position - and what need there is for every one of the Lord’s servants to
know how to relax - physically, mentally and, above all, spiritually!
 It is well known that the secret of good health, peace and power in body, mind and soul is found in
the art and practice of relaxation. This is true with regard to our bodies and our minds, and it is also
true with regard to our souls.
 Do you have the right amount of rest and relaxation like this in relation to your spiritual life and needs?

HIGHLIGHT 5A who sat at the Lord's feet is a picture of 5B Expectation (UMAASA)

• Who says we need revival? we need to sit at the feet of Jesus and hear His word.
• Who says we need unity? we need to sit at the feet of Jesus and hear His word.
• Who says we need to win struggles? we need to sit at the feet of Jesus and hear His word.
• Who says we need to reach the world? we need to sit at the feet of Jesus and hear His word.

HIGHLIGHT 6A who sat at the Lord's feet and listened is a picture of 6B Sincere Attentiveness

ALTERNATELY TRANSITION
HEAR LISTEN
Ear Heart
Act of function Act of love
Receive Respond

HIGHLIGHT 7A who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to His teaching is a picture of a 7B True seeker

As we sit before the Lord, we are a TRUE SEEKER of His

7C We see His FACE. Try to picture David as he sat before the Lord and spoke to Him, and Mary as she sat at
Jesus’’ feet and listened.

• When we sit before Him it is to worship Him,

• to recognize His greatness, His glory and His grace; and
 • when we look at Him we are changed into His likeness. Compare Psalm 34:5 with 2 Corinthians 3:18.

7D We hear His WORD. Of course, as David and Mary sat at His feet they spoke to Him, but the most
important fact is that He spoke to them.

Our greatest need is to hear what He has to say to us, Why?

7E Psalms 85:8 CSB

I will listen to what God will say; surely the Lord will declare peace to his people, his faithful ones, and not let
them go back to foolish ways.

7F We receive His grace. King David did (1 Chronicles 17 tells us!). And Mary did –- read Luke 10:38-42!
And Paul did –- look up 2 Corinthians 12:7-9, and see what he says there!

8A 2 Corinthians 9:8 ESV

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you
may abound in every good work.

HIGHLIGHT 8B all grace

HIGHLIGHT 8C all sufficiency in all things
HIGHLIGHT 8D all times

PSALM 27:4 TPT

Here’s the one thing I crave from God, the one thing I seek above all else: I want the privilege of living with
him every moment in his house, finding the sweet loveliness of his face, filled with awe, delighting in his glory
and grace. I want to live my life so close to him that he takes pleasure in my every prayer.

ALTAR CALL: ONE DESIRE BY HILLSONG (CHORUS TO BRIDGE)