Finding Balance: Presence and Service in Faith

Today’s gathering invited us to pause from our busyness and reflect on the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42. In a world that constantly pulls us in many directions, it’s easy to identify with Martha—distracted, worried, and feeling the weight of responsibility. Yet, Jesus gently redirects Martha, and us, to the “one thing needed”: being present to Him. This is not a condemnation of service or action, but a call to examine the state of our hearts as we serve. Are we motivated by love and presence, or by anxiety and a need for recognition?

Hospitality, a central virtue in our faith, is not just about doing for others, but about how we hold space for Christ and one another. Martha’s mistake was not her service, but her shift in focus—from welcoming Jesus to centering her own frustrations. We, too, can fall into this trap, making our acts of service about ourselves rather than about Christ or those we serve.

Through a story of a silent retreat gone awry, we saw how our judgments and expectations can blind us to the needs and stories of those around us. True community and true hospitality require us to look beyond our own discomfort and preferences, to see others as Christ sees them, and to recognize that everyone is carrying unseen burdens. When we do this, we discover that the “wrong” community is often the perfect one for our growth, revealing our own hearts and teaching us compassion.

The artwork on today’s bulletin captured this tension: Mary reaching for Jesus in faith, Martha reaching for Mary in service, and Jesus embodying both. We are not called to choose between being and doing, but to integrate both—faith and works, contemplation and action. When our service flows from presence with Christ, loving and serving become one seamless act.

As we go forth, may we remember that Christ has no body now on earth but ours. Our hands, our feet, our eyes are the means by which His compassion and blessing reach the world. Let us choose the better part: to be present to Christ in all we do, and to let our loving service become an act of worship.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. The heart of hospitality is not in the tasks we perform, but in the attention we give to our guest—Christ Himself. When our service becomes self-focused, we lose sight of the sacredness of welcoming Jesus into our midst. True hospitality shifts the focus from ourselves to the presence and needs of others, mirroring God’s generous love. [41:37]
• 2. Jesus’ gentle correction of Martha is not a rebuke of her busyness, but an invitation to examine the state of her heart. Distraction and worry can creep in even when we are doing good things, pulling us away from the “one thing needed”—being present to Christ. Our spiritual health depends on our ability to center ourselves in His presence, even amid activity. [42:50]
• 3. Our judgments of others often reveal more about our own hearts than about those we judge. Like the retreatant who was frustrated by her companions, we can be blinded by our expectations and miss the hidden struggles and gifts of those around us. Compassion grows when we look beyond our own needs and truly see the people God has placed in our lives. [52:54]
• 4. The story of Mary and Martha is not about choosing between action and contemplation, but about integrating both. Faith and works, prayer and service, are meant to flow together. When we serve out of a deep connection with Christ, our actions become an extension of our worship, and our worship fuels our service. [54:39]
• 5. We need each other—doers and contemplatives, hands that serve and hearts that pray—to become the fullest expression of Christ in the world. In Christ, the lines between being and doing blur, and loving service becomes indistinguishable from prayer. Our calling is to let our lives be so rooted in Christ’s presence that every act becomes a blessing. [56:40]
  ** [56:40]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [02:00] - Announcements and Community Life
• [07:30] - Building Update and Stewardship
• [11:20] - Stories from the Nursery: Treasured Tales
• [15:16] - Lighting the Christ Candle and Opening Prayer
• [23:50] - Prayers for the Church Family
• [30:56] - Scripture Reading: Luke 10:38-42
• [32:36] - The Challenge of Distraction
• [33:40] - Relating to Mary and Martha
• [36:34] - Martha’s Hospitality and Frustration
• [40:11] - The Heart of Hospitality
• [42:50] - Jesus’ Response to Martha
• [45:37] - The Silent Retreat Story
• [52:54] - Lessons in Community and Compassion
• [53:48] - Choosing the Better Part
• [54:39] - Integrating Faith and Works
• [56:40] - We Need Each Other: The Body of Christ
• [57:49] - Loving Service as Worship
• [58:48] - Refocusing Our Priority
• [62:05] - Benediction and Sending Forth

Small Group Bible Study Guide: Mary & Martha—Choosing the Better Part

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### Bible Reading

Luke 10:38-42 (ESV)
Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 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.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

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### Observation Questions

1. According to the passage, what was Martha doing when Jesus visited, and how did she respond to Mary’s actions?
2. What does Jesus say to Martha about her worries and distractions?
3. In the sermon, what were the two mistakes Martha made when she brought her complaint to Jesus? ([41:37])
4. How did the artwork on the bulletin visually represent the tension between Mary and Martha? ([54:39])

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### Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Jesus gently correct Martha instead of rebuking her for serving? What does this reveal about Jesus’ priorities for his followers? ([42:50])
2. The sermon says Martha’s mistake was not her service, but her shift in focus. What does it mean to shift from welcoming Jesus to centering our own frustrations? ([41:37])
3. In the story about the silent retreat, what did the speaker learn about judging others and the nature of true community? ([52:54])
4. How does the integration of “being” (like Mary) and “doing” (like Martha) reflect a healthy spiritual life? ([54:39])

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### Application Questions

1. Can you think of a recent time when you were “distracted by many things” while trying to serve God or others? What was the effect on your attitude or relationships? ([42:50])
2. When you serve—at church, at home, or in the community—what usually motivates you: love and presence, or anxiety and a need for recognition? How can you tell the difference in your own heart? ([41:37])
3. The sermon described how our judgments of others often reveal more about ourselves than about them. Is there someone you’ve been judging or frustrated with lately? What might you be missing about their story or burdens? ([52:54])
4. The story of the silent retreat showed that the “wrong” community can be the perfect one for our growth. Have you ever been in a group or situation that felt uncomfortable, but ended up teaching you something important about yourself or others? ([52:54])
5. The artwork showed Mary reaching for Jesus and Martha reaching for Mary, with Jesus embodying both. In your own life, do you tend to lean more toward “being” (contemplation) or “doing” (action)? What would it look like to integrate both this week? ([54:39])
6. The sermon ended with the reminder that “Christ has no body now on earth but ours.” What is one specific way you can be Christ’s hands, feet, or eyes to someone in need this week? ([57:49])
7. When you feel pulled in many directions, what helps you refocus on “the one thing needed”—being present to Christ? Is there a practice or habit you want to try or return to? ([58:48])

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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for hearts that are both attentive to Christ’s presence and willing to serve others with love, not anxiety. Ask God to help each person see and respond to the needs of those around them with compassion and grace.