WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.219 So glad you're here. And I have a question for you. Are you offended if I call you ladies? 00:00:04.560 --> 00:00:13.540 ! That is a southern thing for sure. Ladies? Okay. I always wonder about that. The other thing I want to say, we have some lovely Collins in this room. 00:00:16.539 --> 00:00:29.839 So if you cannot see me, do me a favor. Pull your chairs out. Go ahead and move them. Actually, for just a minute, stay at your table and then you can relocate. You can turn around. You're going to be doing some things at your table for a few minutes. 00:00:30.359 --> 00:00:39.579 But after that, when I call us back together, feel free to relocate to where you can see. Because the worst thing is trying to see a speaker when there's a column in your face. 00:00:40.240 --> 00:00:50.640 So I am thrilled that you're here. Thank you for coming and being a part of this event. I was telling my table, I said, this is my jam. This is my jam here. 00:00:50.640 --> 00:01:02.880 First of all, I love events and I love working with teams. But probably the thing that, if it is not at the top of my list, it is at the top two of my list, is teaching women. 00:01:02.880 --> 00:01:07.019 And so I'm super, super excited to be able to teach you today and to share with you. 00:01:07.780 --> 00:01:11.780 So we're going to be looking at Martha and Jesus and the story of discipleship. 00:01:11.980 --> 00:01:14.780 And to get us started, I'm going to have you do something around your tables. 00:01:15.040 --> 00:01:19.980 The first thing I want you to do is I want you to, as a group, I want you to talk about what is discipleship to you. 00:01:19.980 --> 00:01:25.800 And then the second thing that you're going to do is you're going to read Luke 10, 38 through 42 together. 00:01:25.980 --> 00:01:28.719 This is the story that Martha is most famous for. 00:01:29.159 --> 00:01:36.439 So you're going to read that together. And based on that passage, I'm going to ask you to paint her portrait. 00:01:37.060 --> 00:01:41.219 What do you see in her story? Who is she? Draw a picture of who she is. 00:01:41.240 --> 00:01:42.680 And then we'll share some of those things. 00:01:42.960 --> 00:01:47.120 So go ahead and take a few minutes around your table and do that. 00:01:47.120 --> 00:01:50.520 So what is discipleship to you? And then paint a portrait of Martha. 00:01:59.480 --> 00:02:04.060 Well, I would absolutely love for a few of you just to share your portrait of Martha. 00:02:04.340 --> 00:02:05.700 Let's hear what you came up with. 00:02:06.460 --> 00:02:07.719 Whoever wants to be brave. 00:02:09.080 --> 00:02:10.980 She loves Jesus and she wants to serve. 00:02:11.439 --> 00:02:13.240 She loves Jesus and she wants to serve. 00:02:13.920 --> 00:02:15.319 Can I get an amen? 00:02:15.319 --> 00:02:15.599 Amen. 00:02:17.120 --> 00:02:20.159 What else? 00:02:20.800 --> 00:02:22.219 What's your portrait of her? 00:02:23.259 --> 00:02:24.120 Say it one more time. 00:02:24.340 --> 00:02:25.719 She had the gift of hospitality. 00:02:26.120 --> 00:02:27.800 She had the gift of hospitality. 00:02:28.219 --> 00:02:30.340 So she's just trying to do what she's gifted to do, right? 00:02:34.840 --> 00:02:36.759 Sometimes she gets overwhelmed. 00:02:37.780 --> 00:02:39.680 Yeah, sometimes she gets overwhelmed. 00:02:39.840 --> 00:02:42.300 Now, I'm sure that never happens to any of us in this room. 00:02:42.300 --> 00:02:42.379 Amen. 00:02:42.379 --> 00:02:49.719 She is bold and she is honest. 00:02:49.719 --> 00:02:50.120 Yeah. 00:02:51.120 --> 00:02:51.840 She is hurting. 00:02:52.259 --> 00:02:53.379 She is hurting. 00:02:54.060 --> 00:02:57.819 I think she has a deep sense of responsibility because it's her house. 00:02:58.219 --> 00:02:58.519 Yes. 00:02:58.599 --> 00:03:01.319 She has a deep sense of responsibility because it's her house. 00:03:01.319 --> 00:03:08.979 She was willing to be corrected. 00:03:09.739 --> 00:03:10.060 Yeah. 00:03:10.180 --> 00:03:11.280 She was willing to be corrected. 00:03:11.599 --> 00:03:14.079 At least we think so because we don't really know the rest of the story. 00:03:14.319 --> 00:03:14.840 The whole story. 00:03:15.699 --> 00:03:15.879 Yeah. 00:03:15.879 --> 00:03:16.000 Yeah. 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:17.400 Yeah. 00:03:18.900 --> 00:03:22.819 Well, one of the reasons I wanted to do that, I wanted to see if anybody, maybe at your table, 00:03:22.939 --> 00:03:23.900 somebody said this. 00:03:23.979 --> 00:03:26.180 Did anybody put down that she was a disciple of Jesus? 00:03:26.180 --> 00:03:27.180 No. 00:03:27.180 --> 00:03:28.180 No. 00:03:31.540 --> 00:03:32.439 Guess what? 00:03:34.840 --> 00:03:41.099 That is not uncommon because often we don't think about Martha as a disciple. 00:03:42.099 --> 00:03:44.240 We think of her as a servant. 00:03:45.920 --> 00:03:49.260 And, you know, if we do that with Martha, guess what? 00:03:49.300 --> 00:03:51.400 We're going to do that with ourselves as well. 00:03:53.500 --> 00:03:55.379 So we could go home after that right there. 00:03:57.020 --> 00:04:00.080 So instead, let me pray for us and then we'll jump into this passage. 00:04:00.560 --> 00:04:02.960 Father God, I praise you and I worship you this day. 00:04:03.040 --> 00:04:04.540 And I thank you that you brought us together. 00:04:04.680 --> 00:04:07.439 It is an honor and it's a privilege to be able to study your word. 00:04:07.920 --> 00:04:12.180 We ask, Lord, that you would speak to our hearts and that you would give us a bigger picture of who Martha is 00:04:12.180 --> 00:04:14.219 and what it means to actually be a disciple. 00:04:14.700 --> 00:04:20.259 We ask that you would pour out your spirit upon this place and that you would be glorified and honored above all else 00:04:20.259 --> 00:04:24.759 and we would walk away from here changed, that we would walk away from here different 00:04:24.759 --> 00:04:26.300 because we have been with you. 00:04:26.819 --> 00:04:28.199 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:04:28.199 --> 00:04:28.339 Amen. 00:04:30.240 --> 00:04:41.139 So, like I said, her story is about discipleship, but we often miss the bigger story because we're so focused on that one part of her story. 00:04:41.860 --> 00:04:47.419 And in Luke 10, Martha receives this unexpected visit from Jesus and his entourage. 00:04:47.420 --> 00:04:53.620 Now, if it were only Jesus who were showing up at Martha's door, this would not have been that big of a deal. 00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:59.700 But we know from the scriptures that any time Jesus traveled, he had a group of people with him. 00:05:00.040 --> 00:05:00.960 I mean, just think about it. 00:05:00.960 --> 00:05:01.879 He had 12 disciples. 00:05:02.640 --> 00:05:04.259 There were women who traveled with him. 00:05:04.500 --> 00:05:10.220 And we also know from the Gospels that other disciples traveled with him who were not called the 12. 00:05:10.220 --> 00:05:17.400 So, can you imagine opening your door and seeing this crowd of people there? 00:05:17.880 --> 00:05:23.060 Well, what's interesting, if you notice in the scripture, is that Jesus didn't knock on her door and say, 00:05:23.140 --> 00:05:24.380 Martha, can I come stay with you? 00:05:25.980 --> 00:05:28.000 Martha said, would you come stay with us? 00:05:29.060 --> 00:05:30.340 Come stay with us. 00:05:30.860 --> 00:05:34.560 And so, Jesus is going to do exactly what Martha tells us. 00:05:34.560 --> 00:05:38.480 So, when he arrives in Bethany, Martha opens her home to him. 00:05:39.139 --> 00:05:42.639 And this likely means, because it's her house, that she's the older sibling. 00:05:43.220 --> 00:05:46.319 So, she's the older sibling of Lazarus and Mary. 00:05:46.720 --> 00:05:49.780 And she strikes us as this take-charge person, right? 00:05:49.899 --> 00:05:51.939 I mean, how many of us can identify with her? 00:05:52.759 --> 00:05:54.360 Probably a lot, right? 00:05:54.899 --> 00:06:00.740 So, she strikes us as this take-charge person, which is typical behavior of a firstborn, right? 00:06:01.019 --> 00:06:02.319 That's usually how they think. 00:06:02.319 --> 00:06:08.579 So, she kicks into hostess mode, and she begins to prepare this meal for Jesus and his disciples. 00:06:09.040 --> 00:06:13.439 And Luke's description of the incident strikes every chord within us as women. 00:06:14.219 --> 00:06:14.959 Here she is. 00:06:15.019 --> 00:06:17.360 There is a lot of work to do, and she finds herself alone. 00:06:18.939 --> 00:06:21.459 How many times do we find ourselves in that situation? 00:06:22.439 --> 00:06:24.740 So, her sister Mary is nowhere to be found. 00:06:25.420 --> 00:06:26.959 I'm the youngest of four sisters. 00:06:27.819 --> 00:06:30.120 Trust me, I understand this story on a deep level. 00:06:30.120 --> 00:06:32.680 I really do. 00:06:32.759 --> 00:06:34.100 I would probably have been the Mary. 00:06:35.920 --> 00:06:41.620 But her sister is nowhere to be found until she realizes that Mary is actually with Jesus. 00:06:42.620 --> 00:06:49.399 And she is hanging out with him, or as Luke tells us, that she is sitting at the Lord's feet, listening to his teaching. 00:06:49.399 --> 00:06:55.979 So, Martha, I think, tolerates this until she can't. 00:06:56.659 --> 00:07:02.759 I imagine her in the kitchen thinking, well, I'll just bang some pots and pans, and maybe that'll get Mary's attention. 00:07:03.899 --> 00:07:05.399 And then she'll come in and help. 00:07:05.839 --> 00:07:08.939 And no matter what she was doing in that kitchen, nothing was working. 00:07:08.939 --> 00:07:12.959 And so, like I said, she tolerated until she couldn't. 00:07:13.420 --> 00:07:15.420 And then she goes out to confront. 00:07:16.079 --> 00:07:21.079 Now, I don't know if it struck anybody else, but it struck me as interesting that she doesn't confront Mary. 00:07:22.120 --> 00:07:23.199 Who does she confront? 00:07:23.199 --> 00:07:25.740 Jesus, absolutely. 00:07:26.560 --> 00:07:30.680 So, in a moment of frustration, she says to him, and I picture this. 00:07:30.740 --> 00:07:33.599 I don't know that this is what happened, but I picture her walking into that room. 00:07:33.779 --> 00:07:34.959 Not walking, marching. 00:07:36.639 --> 00:07:40.300 Marching into that room, hands on hips, and saying to Jesus, 00:07:40.659 --> 00:07:45.579 Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? 00:07:46.219 --> 00:07:48.120 Tell her, then, to help me. 00:07:48.120 --> 00:07:57.100 In a moment of frustration, what she's doing is she is spewing accusation and critical words that are directed at Jesus. 00:07:58.160 --> 00:07:58.879 There we go. 00:08:00.240 --> 00:08:03.240 The room comes to a screeching halt is the way I see this happening. 00:08:03.480 --> 00:08:04.360 Now, we don't know this. 00:08:04.620 --> 00:08:05.660 Luke doesn't say that. 00:08:06.139 --> 00:08:09.459 But I'm pretty sure if somebody walked into a room where there are a lot of people, 00:08:09.579 --> 00:08:13.500 and that one person is getting in the face of Jesus, 00:08:14.680 --> 00:08:16.259 that everything stops. 00:08:16.259 --> 00:08:18.620 Everything comes to a halt. 00:08:19.159 --> 00:08:24.339 And I also imagine that every eye that was before fixed on Jesus, 00:08:24.699 --> 00:08:27.139 now gets fixed on her. 00:08:28.639 --> 00:08:30.139 So, there she stands, 00:08:30.699 --> 00:08:33.500 as every eye in the room is looking at her. 00:08:34.240 --> 00:08:35.580 Can you imagine how she felt? 00:08:36.879 --> 00:08:37.939 Sure, you can. 00:08:38.620 --> 00:08:39.600 You have been Martha. 00:08:40.399 --> 00:08:42.899 I mean, which one of us hasn't done what Martha did, 00:08:43.000 --> 00:08:45.120 allowed our frustration to get the better of us? 00:08:45.120 --> 00:08:49.639 And say something that we wish we could take back immediately? 00:08:50.980 --> 00:08:54.200 And felt ourselves go beet red from shame and embarrassment. 00:08:54.200 --> 00:08:56.919 If you haven't had that experience, praise God for you. 00:08:56.980 --> 00:08:58.100 I've had it more than once. 00:09:00.399 --> 00:09:01.600 But there she stands. 00:09:01.740 --> 00:09:05.379 And she probably, as she's looking at these people who are with Jesus, 00:09:05.379 --> 00:09:09.240 she sees this shock and disbelief on their face. 00:09:09.700 --> 00:09:12.000 And here's why, that I make this conclusion. 00:09:13.240 --> 00:09:15.820 Who speaks to Jesus like this? 00:09:17.960 --> 00:09:19.840 Well, I'll tell you who speaks to Jesus this way. 00:09:20.360 --> 00:09:22.759 Someone who has a deep personal relationship with him. 00:09:23.460 --> 00:09:26.399 Someone who believes that he can take it and he will not leave her. 00:09:26.399 --> 00:09:29.539 That's who she is. 00:09:31.360 --> 00:09:34.919 We think that Jesus is mad at her. 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:38.419 I don't think so, and I'm going to show you why. 00:09:38.980 --> 00:09:41.000 So after she talks to Jesus this way, 00:09:41.519 --> 00:09:45.720 we know that Jesus says to her something. 00:09:45.720 --> 00:09:49.019 And he uses two words to compel her to look at him. 00:09:49.160 --> 00:09:52.100 Because I would almost guess that she's looking at everybody looking at her. 00:09:52.600 --> 00:09:53.740 And then all of a sudden he says, 00:09:53.960 --> 00:09:54.560 Martha, Martha. 00:09:56.259 --> 00:09:59.560 Now, I don't know how you hear him say to her, 00:09:59.680 --> 00:10:00.320 Martha, Martha. 00:10:01.360 --> 00:10:04.440 But it's probably a reflection of how you think he would speak to you. 00:10:06.379 --> 00:10:08.240 If you think he's disappointed in you, 00:10:08.300 --> 00:10:10.399 you're going to hear disappointment in his voice. 00:10:10.800 --> 00:10:12.259 If you think he loves you, 00:10:12.320 --> 00:10:13.940 you're going to hear love in his voice. 00:10:13.940 --> 00:10:16.060 So whatever it is, 00:10:16.140 --> 00:10:17.620 whatever tone he used with her, 00:10:17.820 --> 00:10:20.100 I believe at that point she looks straight at him. 00:10:20.760 --> 00:10:22.660 And the question that we have to ask is, 00:10:22.840 --> 00:10:23.740 what did she see? 00:10:24.600 --> 00:10:26.360 What did she see in his eyes? 00:10:27.420 --> 00:10:29.240 Did she see condemnation? 00:10:30.340 --> 00:10:33.200 Did she see disapproval? 00:10:33.880 --> 00:10:35.040 Did she see judgment? 00:10:35.620 --> 00:10:36.800 Did she see shame? 00:10:37.680 --> 00:10:40.140 Well, we know from Scripture that the answer to that is no. 00:10:40.240 --> 00:10:41.680 That is not what she saw. 00:10:41.679 --> 00:10:46.939 But how many times do we as Christ followers think that that's how Jesus is looking at us? 00:10:48.199 --> 00:10:50.279 You're falling short, therefore. 00:10:52.519 --> 00:10:57.059 But the reason that we know that Jesus did not look at her that way 00:10:57.059 --> 00:10:59.359 is he knew that he was going to the cross. 00:11:00.059 --> 00:11:03.620 And he knew that he would die and take her judgment and her condemnation. 00:11:03.819 --> 00:11:05.959 He didn't have to judge and condemn her in that moment 00:11:05.959 --> 00:11:08.240 because he was going to take it for her. 00:11:08.240 --> 00:11:11.060 So he wasn't going to look at her that way. 00:11:11.399 --> 00:11:13.899 So I think when she looks at his, 00:11:14.159 --> 00:11:15.299 into his eyes, 00:11:15.360 --> 00:11:17.379 what she sees is the love of a master 00:11:17.379 --> 00:11:18.960 who's willing to teach 00:11:18.960 --> 00:11:22.460 a rebellious and frustrated disciple. 00:11:23.560 --> 00:11:25.419 So give her a break, right? 00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:27.139 Because Jesus did. 00:11:28.460 --> 00:11:29.000 So Jesus, 00:11:29.379 --> 00:11:30.120 and here's the point, 00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:32.139 Jesus now has Martha 00:11:32.139 --> 00:11:34.259 right where he wants her. 00:11:34.259 --> 00:11:36.299 Because where has she been up to this point? 00:11:37.980 --> 00:11:41.360 In the kitchen or whatever it would have been at that time. 00:11:42.240 --> 00:11:43.559 She's in there serving him 00:11:43.559 --> 00:11:47.240 and now she is at the place that he's always wanted her to be. 00:11:47.639 --> 00:11:49.519 She is right there with him. 00:11:51.240 --> 00:11:53.600 And he doesn't treat her as she should have been treated. 00:11:54.860 --> 00:11:57.720 Instead, he treats her like a disciple who needs to be taught. 00:11:58.480 --> 00:12:00.000 We may use the word correction, 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:02.480 but if we put it in the context of discipleship, 00:12:02.820 --> 00:12:04.500 discipleship does involve correction. 00:12:05.080 --> 00:12:05.899 But at the same time, 00:12:05.960 --> 00:12:07.759 discipleship is that God recognizes 00:12:07.759 --> 00:12:08.700 we need to be taught 00:12:08.700 --> 00:12:10.740 because we don't fully understand 00:12:10.740 --> 00:12:12.139 what it means to walk with Jesus. 00:12:13.220 --> 00:12:15.019 And so we are always learning. 00:12:16.440 --> 00:12:17.200 And he says to her, 00:12:17.259 --> 00:12:17.940 Martha, Martha, 00:12:18.299 --> 00:12:21.700 you're anxious and troubled about many things, 00:12:22.259 --> 00:12:24.000 but only one thing is needed. 00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:29.279 So anytime you see God using repetition in the Bible, 00:12:29.980 --> 00:12:31.639 we know to pay attention to that, right? 00:12:31.980 --> 00:12:34.360 And so when he uses somebody's name twice, 00:12:34.600 --> 00:12:36.519 it's as if God is saying, 00:12:36.740 --> 00:12:37.659 I need you to pay attention 00:12:37.659 --> 00:12:39.480 because what I'm getting ready to say to you 00:12:39.480 --> 00:12:41.539 is very important. 00:12:42.960 --> 00:12:44.480 And so Jesus says, 00:12:44.899 --> 00:12:45.519 Martha, Martha. 00:12:46.659 --> 00:12:50.940 And just as Martha's rant at Jesus 00:12:50.940 --> 00:12:53.259 revealed a close relationship 00:12:53.259 --> 00:12:54.299 between her and Jesus, 00:12:54.620 --> 00:12:57.259 the fact that he repeats her name twice like that 00:12:57.259 --> 00:12:59.240 reveals that he has an intimate knowledge 00:12:59.240 --> 00:13:00.139 of who she is. 00:13:01.200 --> 00:13:02.100 He knows her. 00:13:02.919 --> 00:13:03.879 He sees her. 00:13:04.419 --> 00:13:05.700 He understands her. 00:13:06.539 --> 00:13:08.439 And what she needed in that moment 00:13:08.439 --> 00:13:11.259 was she needed to be pulled out of that world 00:13:11.259 --> 00:13:12.899 that she was living in. 00:13:13.319 --> 00:13:14.980 And we know that world, right? 00:13:15.539 --> 00:13:17.620 Anxious, busy, distracted. 00:13:19.379 --> 00:13:22.100 So he teaches her that there is a better way 00:13:22.100 --> 00:13:23.980 by explaining to her what is happening. 00:13:24.820 --> 00:13:26.639 And that's how Jesus works with us. 00:13:27.279 --> 00:13:28.360 He doesn't say, 00:13:28.480 --> 00:13:30.080 okay, I want you to go read this Bible verse 00:13:30.080 --> 00:13:31.680 and fix yourself. 00:13:33.000 --> 00:13:33.659 No, he says, 00:13:33.740 --> 00:13:35.340 let me explain to you what's going on here 00:13:35.340 --> 00:13:36.220 in your own heart, 00:13:36.740 --> 00:13:38.500 in your own mind, 00:13:38.639 --> 00:13:39.800 in your own life. 00:13:40.180 --> 00:13:41.399 Let me help you. 00:13:42.080 --> 00:13:42.680 So he says, 00:13:42.759 --> 00:13:45.240 you're anxious and troubled about many things. 00:13:45.240 --> 00:13:47.740 Now, troubled means disquieted. 00:13:48.279 --> 00:13:48.899 In other words, 00:13:49.200 --> 00:13:52.659 she has lost her sense of peace. 00:13:53.399 --> 00:13:54.519 So she's disquieted. 00:13:55.019 --> 00:13:57.060 And I'm pretty sure we all understand 00:13:57.060 --> 00:13:58.500 what that feeling looks like. 00:13:59.180 --> 00:13:59.519 Trust me, 00:13:59.580 --> 00:14:00.680 planning a women's event, 00:14:00.919 --> 00:14:02.360 there are lots of opportunities 00:14:02.360 --> 00:14:03.759 to be disquieted. 00:14:05.060 --> 00:14:06.600 The other thing that he says to her 00:14:06.600 --> 00:14:07.779 is you are anxious. 00:14:08.480 --> 00:14:09.600 And when you're anxious, 00:14:09.779 --> 00:14:10.460 you're distracted. 00:14:10.460 --> 00:14:12.519 And when we're distracted, 00:14:12.820 --> 00:14:14.740 we're being drawn away from Jesus. 00:14:15.639 --> 00:14:15.940 All right? 00:14:16.440 --> 00:14:18.519 So the next time you feel distracted, 00:14:19.060 --> 00:14:19.600 recognize, 00:14:19.780 --> 00:14:20.040 wait a minute, 00:14:20.120 --> 00:14:22.259 this is all designed to draw me away from him. 00:14:22.639 --> 00:14:24.080 And what I actually need to do 00:14:24.080 --> 00:14:25.440 is to go to him. 00:14:25.960 --> 00:14:27.160 Isn't it a good thing 00:14:27.160 --> 00:14:28.460 that she walked out of that kitchen 00:14:28.460 --> 00:14:29.800 and marched into that room? 00:14:30.480 --> 00:14:32.019 Because she put herself right where 00:14:32.019 --> 00:14:34.379 she could actually hear from him. 00:14:35.460 --> 00:14:37.519 Now, this is where Scripture gets interesting. 00:14:37.620 --> 00:14:38.420 I love God's Word. 00:14:38.419 --> 00:14:40.620 So at the beginning of Luke 10, 00:14:41.419 --> 00:14:42.959 Jesus sends out 72 disciples 00:14:42.959 --> 00:14:43.860 into the towns 00:14:43.860 --> 00:14:45.019 that he would soon visit. 00:14:45.939 --> 00:14:46.620 And interestingly, 00:14:46.860 --> 00:14:48.860 he gives them a set of guidelines 00:14:48.860 --> 00:14:51.059 of what to do once he gets there. 00:14:51.339 --> 00:14:52.879 So in Luke 10, 5 through 7, 00:14:53.000 --> 00:14:55.059 and this is right before our story of Martha 00:14:55.059 --> 00:14:56.659 here at the end of Luke 10, 00:14:57.240 --> 00:14:58.500 this is what Jesus says. 00:14:59.139 --> 00:15:00.339 When you enter a house, 00:15:00.439 --> 00:15:00.959 first say, 00:15:01.339 --> 00:15:02.779 peace to this house. 00:15:03.459 --> 00:15:05.159 If a man of peace is there, 00:15:05.860 --> 00:15:08.000 your peace will rest on him. 00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:09.779 If not, 00:15:10.080 --> 00:15:11.379 it will return to you. 00:15:12.440 --> 00:15:13.580 Stay in the house, 00:15:13.679 --> 00:15:14.620 eating and drinking, 00:15:15.139 --> 00:15:17.799 whatever they give you. 00:15:19.379 --> 00:15:20.559 And right after this, 00:15:20.620 --> 00:15:21.799 Jesus shows up 00:15:21.799 --> 00:15:23.240 at Martha's house. 00:15:23.700 --> 00:15:25.159 He extends peace to Martha, 00:15:25.539 --> 00:15:27.220 but she can't receive it. 00:15:28.820 --> 00:15:29.419 And 00:15:29.419 --> 00:15:32.179 Jesus actually had a lesser demand 00:15:32.179 --> 00:15:33.460 of Martha 00:15:33.460 --> 00:15:34.639 than she had of herself. 00:15:34.639 --> 00:15:37.480 Because I see it this way 00:15:37.480 --> 00:15:38.019 all the time. 00:15:38.600 --> 00:15:39.360 He could take 00:15:39.360 --> 00:15:40.919 how many loaves of bread 00:15:40.919 --> 00:15:41.899 and how many fish 00:15:41.899 --> 00:15:43.159 and feed 15,000? 00:15:43.779 --> 00:15:44.220 Martha, 00:15:44.340 --> 00:15:45.299 this is not a big deal 00:15:45.299 --> 00:15:45.879 for Jesus. 00:15:47.259 --> 00:15:47.939 All right. 00:15:48.600 --> 00:15:49.179 I mean, 00:15:49.199 --> 00:15:50.340 I think based on this 00:15:50.340 --> 00:15:50.960 Luke 10, 00:15:51.139 --> 00:15:52.299 5 through 7 passage, 00:15:52.299 --> 00:15:53.100 I think this is what 00:15:53.100 --> 00:15:53.819 Jesus is saying. 00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:55.279 I'm happy with whatever 00:15:55.279 --> 00:15:56.319 you put before me. 00:15:56.600 --> 00:15:57.279 PB and J 00:15:57.279 --> 00:15:58.799 works for me. 00:15:58.799 --> 00:16:01.439 So, 00:16:01.639 --> 00:16:02.279 sadly, 00:16:02.439 --> 00:16:03.259 instead of enjoying 00:16:03.259 --> 00:16:03.939 being with Jesus, 00:16:04.120 --> 00:16:05.819 she is easily drawn away. 00:16:06.219 --> 00:16:06.939 And we have to ask 00:16:06.939 --> 00:16:07.399 the question, 00:16:07.559 --> 00:16:07.859 why? 00:16:08.959 --> 00:16:09.219 I mean, 00:16:09.259 --> 00:16:10.240 we always attribute it 00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:10.719 to the fact that 00:16:10.719 --> 00:16:12.000 she has so many people 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:12.679 at her house. 00:16:13.379 --> 00:16:14.299 But that's not 00:16:14.299 --> 00:16:15.339 what's going on here. 00:16:16.019 --> 00:16:16.959 The reason that 00:16:16.959 --> 00:16:18.079 she's drawn away 00:16:18.079 --> 00:16:18.659 from Jesus 00:16:18.659 --> 00:16:19.620 is because of 00:16:19.620 --> 00:16:20.599 expectations. 00:16:24.599 --> 00:16:26.099 Cultural expectations, 00:16:26.500 --> 00:16:27.719 gender expectations, 00:16:27.720 --> 00:16:28.899 and misguided 00:16:28.899 --> 00:16:29.879 or perceived 00:16:29.879 --> 00:16:30.820 expectations. 00:16:32.180 --> 00:16:32.700 Culturally, 00:16:33.420 --> 00:16:34.700 hospitality was a 00:16:34.700 --> 00:16:35.560 high value 00:16:35.560 --> 00:16:36.340 in her culture. 00:16:36.899 --> 00:16:37.220 So, 00:16:37.320 --> 00:16:37.980 if you were opening 00:16:37.980 --> 00:16:38.519 your home 00:16:38.519 --> 00:16:39.120 and sharing a 00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:39.940 communal meal 00:16:39.940 --> 00:16:40.440 with someone, 00:16:40.600 --> 00:16:41.180 it had great 00:16:41.180 --> 00:16:41.779 significance. 00:16:42.700 --> 00:16:43.460 It was an invitation 00:16:43.460 --> 00:16:44.379 to share life 00:16:44.379 --> 00:16:45.080 and do fellowship 00:16:45.080 --> 00:16:45.860 together. 00:16:46.700 --> 00:16:47.060 So, 00:16:47.139 --> 00:16:47.639 there's a cultural 00:16:47.639 --> 00:16:48.580 expectation of her. 00:16:48.860 --> 00:16:49.620 There's a gender 00:16:49.620 --> 00:16:50.259 expectation. 00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:53.240 She defined herself, 00:16:53.700 --> 00:16:54.560 if not primarily, 00:16:55.620 --> 00:16:57.340 almost always. 00:16:57.720 --> 00:16:59.160 As a woman, 00:16:59.500 --> 00:17:00.820 I have got to be 00:17:00.820 --> 00:17:01.740 a good hostess. 00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:03.500 In her culture, 00:17:03.620 --> 00:17:04.100 that was what 00:17:04.100 --> 00:17:04.900 they valued. 00:17:05.700 --> 00:17:05.940 And so, 00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:06.440 she has this 00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:07.579 gender expectation. 00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:08.640 And then, 00:17:08.700 --> 00:17:09.140 she has this 00:17:09.140 --> 00:17:09.860 misguided 00:17:09.860 --> 00:17:10.980 or this perceived 00:17:10.980 --> 00:17:12.100 expectation of 00:17:12.100 --> 00:17:12.579 herself. 00:17:16.180 --> 00:17:17.220 And her perception 00:17:17.220 --> 00:17:17.779 of this, 00:17:18.140 --> 00:17:19.100 is what she believed 00:17:19.100 --> 00:17:19.680 about Jesus 00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:20.720 is what he expected 00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:21.200 from her. 00:17:21.200 --> 00:17:24.539 what she perceived 00:17:24.539 --> 00:17:25.539 about Jesus 00:17:25.539 --> 00:17:27.299 is what he expected 00:17:27.299 --> 00:17:27.779 from her. 00:17:29.160 --> 00:17:29.299 So, 00:17:29.319 --> 00:17:30.160 Martha's complaint 00:17:30.160 --> 00:17:30.960 about Mary 00:17:30.960 --> 00:17:31.740 was that she 00:17:31.740 --> 00:17:32.580 wasn't fulfilling 00:17:32.580 --> 00:17:34.340 this cultural, 00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:35.840 this gender, 00:17:36.400 --> 00:17:37.240 and this perceived 00:17:37.240 --> 00:17:38.019 expectation. 00:17:38.700 --> 00:17:39.420 Tell her 00:17:39.420 --> 00:17:41.340 to help me. 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:42.580 Tell her to get 00:17:42.580 --> 00:17:43.080 in that kitchen 00:17:43.080 --> 00:17:44.100 and do women's work. 00:17:45.700 --> 00:17:46.360 How'd you like 00:17:46.360 --> 00:17:46.960 that southern 00:17:46.960 --> 00:17:48.000 slang there? 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:50.500 But Jesus 00:17:50.500 --> 00:17:51.180 says to Martha, 00:17:51.559 --> 00:17:52.160 only one thing 00:17:52.160 --> 00:17:52.640 is needed 00:17:52.640 --> 00:17:53.460 or one thing 00:17:53.460 --> 00:17:54.160 is necessary. 00:17:54.400 --> 00:17:54.779 In the Greek, 00:17:54.839 --> 00:17:55.619 it actually says, 00:17:55.960 --> 00:17:56.420 one thing 00:17:56.420 --> 00:17:57.299 is of necessity. 00:17:58.640 --> 00:17:59.039 So, 00:17:59.140 --> 00:17:59.599 we need to hear 00:17:59.599 --> 00:18:00.299 this message 00:18:00.299 --> 00:18:01.380 that Jesus 00:18:01.380 --> 00:18:02.299 is saying to us 00:18:02.299 --> 00:18:02.880 as women, 00:18:03.279 --> 00:18:04.160 there is one thing 00:18:04.160 --> 00:18:04.720 that is needed. 00:18:05.779 --> 00:18:06.339 And when we get 00:18:06.339 --> 00:18:07.180 the order straight, 00:18:07.420 --> 00:18:08.180 the other things 00:18:08.180 --> 00:18:08.980 will fall in place. 00:18:10.220 --> 00:18:10.940 The one thing 00:18:10.940 --> 00:18:11.400 that is needed 00:18:11.400 --> 00:18:12.259 is to be with him 00:18:12.259 --> 00:18:13.039 and to learn to him 00:18:13.039 --> 00:18:14.180 and not be defined 00:18:14.180 --> 00:18:15.500 by the expectations. 00:18:15.500 --> 00:18:16.299 Boy, 00:18:17.559 --> 00:18:18.599 if we can do that, 00:18:18.740 --> 00:18:19.460 hallelujah. 00:18:20.819 --> 00:18:21.160 Right? 00:18:22.200 --> 00:18:22.720 You see, 00:18:22.799 --> 00:18:24.000 Martha's lesser mistake 00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:25.279 was rebuking Jesus. 00:18:25.539 --> 00:18:26.380 Her bigger mistake 00:18:26.380 --> 00:18:27.039 was being drawn 00:18:27.039 --> 00:18:28.000 away from him. 00:18:28.960 --> 00:18:29.599 And I think 00:18:29.599 --> 00:18:30.079 we can all 00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:30.960 understand that. 00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:31.680 How many times 00:18:31.680 --> 00:18:32.940 have we been so busy 00:18:32.940 --> 00:18:33.920 that we don't get 00:18:33.920 --> 00:18:34.440 to spend time 00:18:34.440 --> 00:18:34.839 with Jesus 00:18:34.839 --> 00:18:35.579 and then later 00:18:35.579 --> 00:18:35.900 we're like, 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:36.759 I wish I hadn't 00:18:36.759 --> 00:18:37.940 left this rod 00:18:37.940 --> 00:18:38.500 be in my time 00:18:38.500 --> 00:18:38.859 with you. 00:18:40.759 --> 00:18:41.200 So, 00:18:41.359 --> 00:18:42.099 Jesus goes on 00:18:42.099 --> 00:18:42.539 and he says, 00:18:42.640 --> 00:18:43.259 Mary has chosen 00:18:43.259 --> 00:18:43.920 a good portion 00:18:43.920 --> 00:18:44.900 which will not 00:18:44.900 --> 00:18:46.200 be taken from her. 00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:47.720 Now, 00:18:48.600 --> 00:18:50.060 he is not saying 00:18:50.060 --> 00:18:50.700 to Martha, 00:18:51.240 --> 00:18:52.039 you need to be 00:18:52.039 --> 00:18:52.900 like Mary. 00:18:53.779 --> 00:18:54.800 God didn't create 00:18:54.800 --> 00:18:55.660 Martha to be Mary 00:18:55.660 --> 00:18:56.440 and he didn't create 00:18:56.440 --> 00:18:57.360 Mary to be Martha. 00:18:58.480 --> 00:18:59.600 What he is saying 00:18:59.600 --> 00:19:00.380 to her is, 00:19:00.519 --> 00:19:01.160 you need to be 00:19:01.160 --> 00:19:01.880 with me. 00:19:02.940 --> 00:19:04.279 That's the one thing. 00:19:04.500 --> 00:19:05.779 Not be like your sister. 00:19:06.600 --> 00:19:07.960 Be with me. 00:19:09.400 --> 00:19:09.640 And so, 00:19:09.720 --> 00:19:10.720 Luke ends this story 00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:12.460 without telling us 00:19:12.460 --> 00:19:13.420 anything about 00:19:13.420 --> 00:19:14.360 Martha's response. 00:19:15.120 --> 00:19:15.360 I mean, 00:19:15.400 --> 00:19:16.519 it's just done. 00:19:18.880 --> 00:19:20.000 And we have to realize 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:20.819 that that's intentional 00:19:20.819 --> 00:19:21.779 because the Spirit of God 00:19:21.779 --> 00:19:22.600 is inspiring him 00:19:22.600 --> 00:19:23.160 to write. 00:19:23.960 --> 00:19:24.640 It's intentional. 00:19:24.819 --> 00:19:25.920 It's not an accident. 00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:27.120 It's intentional 00:19:27.120 --> 00:19:28.380 because this is 00:19:28.380 --> 00:19:29.740 only a small part 00:19:29.740 --> 00:19:30.720 of Martha's story. 00:19:31.600 --> 00:19:32.519 She has a much 00:19:32.519 --> 00:19:33.340 bigger story. 00:19:33.740 --> 00:19:34.480 And we have to ask 00:19:34.480 --> 00:19:34.880 the question, 00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:35.100 well, 00:19:35.100 --> 00:19:35.980 what does he want us 00:19:35.980 --> 00:19:37.180 to understand from this? 00:19:38.299 --> 00:19:39.519 And this is at the heart 00:19:39.519 --> 00:19:40.360 of what I believe 00:19:40.360 --> 00:19:41.380 women's discipleship 00:19:41.380 --> 00:19:42.160 is to be about. 00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:44.420 We are to disciple 00:19:44.420 --> 00:19:46.100 women as disciples 00:19:46.100 --> 00:19:47.740 first and roles 00:19:47.740 --> 00:19:48.940 second. 00:19:49.940 --> 00:19:50.980 We are to disciple 00:19:50.980 --> 00:19:52.480 women as disciples 00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:54.160 first and roles 00:19:54.160 --> 00:19:54.700 second. 00:19:55.400 --> 00:19:56.340 Jesus is teaching 00:19:56.340 --> 00:19:57.500 Martha to prioritize 00:19:57.500 --> 00:19:58.600 discipleship over 00:19:58.600 --> 00:19:59.900 everything else. 00:20:00.460 --> 00:20:01.440 Even the traditional 00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:02.420 role that she has 00:20:02.420 --> 00:20:03.000 in her culture 00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:03.660 and the way that 00:20:03.660 --> 00:20:04.920 she proves her value 00:20:04.920 --> 00:20:05.720 and her worth 00:20:05.720 --> 00:20:07.120 to other people, 00:20:07.120 --> 00:20:08.020 to God, 00:20:08.380 --> 00:20:09.040 and especially 00:20:09.040 --> 00:20:09.700 to herself. 00:20:09.700 --> 00:20:10.140 discipleship. 00:20:10.539 --> 00:20:10.660 Right? 00:20:12.019 --> 00:20:12.779 These things 00:20:12.779 --> 00:20:13.559 may be important. 00:20:14.059 --> 00:20:14.680 I'm not saying 00:20:14.680 --> 00:20:15.640 they aren't important. 00:20:16.140 --> 00:20:16.900 But they must 00:20:16.900 --> 00:20:17.720 bow the knee 00:20:17.720 --> 00:20:19.600 to discipleship 00:20:19.600 --> 00:20:20.360 because being with 00:20:20.360 --> 00:20:21.660 Jesus and learning 00:20:21.660 --> 00:20:22.259 from him 00:20:22.259 --> 00:20:23.299 is what we are 00:20:23.299 --> 00:20:23.960 called to do. 00:20:25.779 --> 00:20:26.840 Martha is a disciple. 00:20:27.640 --> 00:20:27.940 You, 00:20:28.120 --> 00:20:28.880 if you know Jesus, 00:20:29.080 --> 00:20:29.960 you are a disciple. 00:20:30.779 --> 00:20:31.559 So Mary is sitting 00:20:31.559 --> 00:20:32.460 at the feet of Jesus 00:20:32.460 --> 00:20:33.340 and listening to 00:20:33.340 --> 00:20:34.100 what he's teaching. 00:20:34.700 --> 00:20:35.279 And Jesus says 00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:36.279 that she's chosen 00:20:36.279 --> 00:20:37.759 a good portion. 00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:38.599 Well, 00:20:38.599 --> 00:20:39.240 isn't that an 00:20:39.240 --> 00:20:40.000 interesting phrase, 00:20:40.079 --> 00:20:40.680 a good portion? 00:20:42.420 --> 00:20:43.599 Because he understands 00:20:43.599 --> 00:20:44.180 if you choose 00:20:44.180 --> 00:20:44.779 the good portion 00:20:44.779 --> 00:20:45.099 first, 00:20:45.180 --> 00:20:45.859 the other portions 00:20:45.859 --> 00:20:47.160 will fall into place. 00:20:48.400 --> 00:20:49.180 But it's when 00:20:49.180 --> 00:20:49.700 we choose 00:20:49.700 --> 00:20:50.660 the other portions 00:20:50.660 --> 00:20:53.099 and we neglect 00:20:53.099 --> 00:20:54.019 the good portion 00:20:54.019 --> 00:20:55.579 that we end up 00:20:55.579 --> 00:20:56.039 like Martha 00:20:56.039 --> 00:20:56.619 in the kitchen 00:20:56.619 --> 00:20:57.240 frustrated. 00:20:59.980 --> 00:21:00.900 But Jesus says 00:21:00.900 --> 00:21:01.680 this is not going 00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:02.599 to be taken from her 00:21:02.599 --> 00:21:03.599 because any amount 00:21:03.599 --> 00:21:04.299 of time that we 00:21:04.299 --> 00:21:05.039 spend with him 00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:05.960 is an investment 00:21:05.960 --> 00:21:07.180 in who we are. 00:21:07.759 --> 00:21:08.859 And he has promised 00:21:08.859 --> 00:21:09.500 it won't be taken 00:21:09.500 --> 00:21:10.039 from you. 00:21:10.619 --> 00:21:11.319 In fact, 00:21:11.480 --> 00:21:13.039 it's going to bear 00:21:13.039 --> 00:21:14.240 fruit in your life. 00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:15.700 And so Jesus 00:21:15.700 --> 00:21:16.579 is teaching Martha 00:21:16.579 --> 00:21:17.640 to shift her priorities 00:21:17.640 --> 00:21:18.500 and to sit with him 00:21:18.500 --> 00:21:19.240 and to listen. 00:21:19.500 --> 00:21:20.519 He is inviting her 00:21:20.519 --> 00:21:21.460 to be a disciple. 00:21:22.220 --> 00:21:23.000 Now the next time 00:21:23.000 --> 00:21:23.940 that we see Martha 00:21:23.940 --> 00:21:25.059 and Jesus together 00:21:25.059 --> 00:21:26.000 is in John 11. 00:21:27.460 --> 00:21:28.619 And in John 11, 00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:30.279 it's the story 00:21:30.279 --> 00:21:32.740 of Lazarus dying. 00:21:33.299 --> 00:21:34.160 If you remember 00:21:34.160 --> 00:21:35.000 that story, 00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:37.940 John tells us, 00:21:38.299 --> 00:21:39.019 and he's the one 00:21:39.019 --> 00:21:40.099 who finishes the story 00:21:40.099 --> 00:21:40.539 of Martha, 00:21:40.640 --> 00:21:41.480 it's not Luke, 00:21:41.819 --> 00:21:42.680 but John tells us 00:21:42.680 --> 00:21:43.740 in John 11.5 00:21:43.740 --> 00:21:45.400 that Jesus loved Martha 00:21:45.400 --> 00:21:48.039 and her sister 00:21:48.039 --> 00:21:49.440 and Lazarus. 00:21:49.779 --> 00:21:50.960 But isn't it interesting 00:21:50.960 --> 00:21:52.500 that he is specifically 00:21:52.500 --> 00:21:53.599 telling us 00:21:53.599 --> 00:21:54.779 Jesus loved Martha 00:21:54.779 --> 00:21:56.539 because what he is seeing 00:21:56.539 --> 00:21:57.960 is telling about 00:21:57.960 --> 00:21:58.900 their relationship. 00:21:58.900 --> 00:22:01.700 So when Lazarus 00:22:01.700 --> 00:22:02.280 becomes ill, 00:22:02.360 --> 00:22:02.920 Mary and Martha 00:22:02.920 --> 00:22:03.540 send to Jesus 00:22:03.540 --> 00:22:04.140 and say, 00:22:04.460 --> 00:22:05.100 the one you love 00:22:05.100 --> 00:22:06.480 is sick. 00:22:06.940 --> 00:22:07.900 Come heal him. 00:22:08.240 --> 00:22:08.820 And of course, 00:22:08.940 --> 00:22:10.259 if you've read the story, 00:22:10.360 --> 00:22:10.840 then you know 00:22:10.840 --> 00:22:12.400 that Jesus delayed 00:22:12.400 --> 00:22:13.180 two days, 00:22:13.420 --> 00:22:13.980 which meant 00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:14.580 by the time 00:22:14.580 --> 00:22:15.180 he actually got 00:22:15.180 --> 00:22:15.860 to Bethany, 00:22:16.280 --> 00:22:17.140 Lazarus had died. 00:22:18.320 --> 00:22:21.759 And when Martha 00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:22.740 hears that Jesus 00:22:22.740 --> 00:22:23.660 has actually made 00:22:23.660 --> 00:22:24.320 it to Bethany, 00:22:24.560 --> 00:22:25.340 she takes off 00:22:25.340 --> 00:22:26.040 and she goes out 00:22:26.040 --> 00:22:26.580 to meet him. 00:22:27.040 --> 00:22:27.800 And the first thing 00:22:27.799 --> 00:22:28.779 that she says to him, 00:22:28.899 --> 00:22:29.259 and again, 00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:30.039 you see the intimacy 00:22:30.039 --> 00:22:30.919 of the relationship 00:22:30.919 --> 00:22:32.279 in this comment. 00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:33.659 Lord, 00:22:33.740 --> 00:22:34.519 if you had been here, 00:22:34.639 --> 00:22:35.159 my brother 00:22:35.159 --> 00:22:36.099 would not have died. 00:22:37.599 --> 00:22:38.899 But then she says this, 00:22:39.419 --> 00:22:40.279 but I know 00:22:40.279 --> 00:22:42.339 that even now 00:22:42.339 --> 00:22:44.039 God will give you 00:22:44.039 --> 00:22:45.200 whatever you ask. 00:22:45.980 --> 00:22:46.559 Now the rest 00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:47.039 of the story 00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:47.500 tells us 00:22:47.500 --> 00:22:48.240 that she was not 00:22:48.240 --> 00:22:49.019 expecting Jesus 00:22:49.019 --> 00:22:50.019 to raise Lazarus 00:22:50.019 --> 00:22:50.619 from the dead. 00:22:50.619 --> 00:22:51.440 That's not what 00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:51.960 she's thinking 00:22:51.960 --> 00:22:52.659 at this point. 00:22:53.079 --> 00:22:54.119 So don't misunderstand 00:22:54.119 --> 00:22:54.899 her words. 00:22:55.399 --> 00:22:56.740 The point that John 00:22:56.740 --> 00:22:57.279 is making 00:22:57.279 --> 00:22:58.359 you that is this, 00:22:58.619 --> 00:22:59.420 that in the midst 00:22:59.420 --> 00:23:00.180 of crisis, 00:23:01.019 --> 00:23:02.899 Martha's impressing 00:23:02.899 --> 00:23:03.799 him with her faith. 00:23:04.420 --> 00:23:05.059 But even, 00:23:05.420 --> 00:23:05.980 but I know 00:23:05.980 --> 00:23:06.980 that even now, 00:23:07.399 --> 00:23:08.559 God will give you 00:23:08.559 --> 00:23:09.899 whatever you want. 00:23:10.740 --> 00:23:11.220 In other words, 00:23:11.240 --> 00:23:11.599 she's saying, 00:23:11.680 --> 00:23:11.879 Jesus, 00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:13.079 I believe in you 00:23:13.079 --> 00:23:14.279 even though this 00:23:14.279 --> 00:23:15.160 bad thing has happened. 00:23:16.680 --> 00:23:17.079 Well, 00:23:17.180 --> 00:23:17.740 that sounds like 00:23:17.740 --> 00:23:18.220 a disciple, 00:23:18.359 --> 00:23:18.539 right? 00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:20.500 And the other thing 00:23:20.500 --> 00:23:21.259 that this tells us 00:23:21.259 --> 00:23:21.859 is we don't see 00:23:21.859 --> 00:23:22.460 any shame. 00:23:22.960 --> 00:23:23.379 We don't see 00:23:23.379 --> 00:23:24.920 any condemnation here. 00:23:25.420 --> 00:23:25.960 Martha and Jesus 00:23:25.960 --> 00:23:26.740 are okay, 00:23:27.240 --> 00:23:27.740 right? 00:23:28.579 --> 00:23:29.940 And what happened 00:23:29.940 --> 00:23:30.600 in Luke 10 00:23:30.600 --> 00:23:31.880 does not define her. 00:23:32.579 --> 00:23:33.480 It was forgotten. 00:23:33.920 --> 00:23:34.960 And in a moment 00:23:34.960 --> 00:23:35.500 of crisis, 00:23:35.500 --> 00:23:36.840 we see her true character. 00:23:37.059 --> 00:23:37.920 And is it not true 00:23:37.920 --> 00:23:38.539 that in a moment 00:23:38.539 --> 00:23:38.940 of crisis, 00:23:38.940 --> 00:23:39.799 we see ours? 00:23:42.140 --> 00:23:42.920 And so, 00:23:43.100 --> 00:23:43.799 we see that she's 00:23:43.799 --> 00:23:44.900 a woman of great faith. 00:23:45.759 --> 00:23:46.700 And Jesus treats her 00:23:46.700 --> 00:23:47.120 as that. 00:23:47.559 --> 00:23:48.519 Because what happens 00:23:48.519 --> 00:23:49.380 from here on out, 00:23:50.220 --> 00:23:50.480 this is, 00:23:50.660 --> 00:23:51.039 this is, 00:23:51.200 --> 00:23:51.420 again, 00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:52.079 I'm always saying 00:23:52.079 --> 00:23:52.840 this is so interesting. 00:23:52.839 --> 00:23:53.919 But this is where 00:23:53.919 --> 00:23:54.679 it gets interesting. 00:23:55.959 --> 00:23:56.899 In the midst of grief, 00:23:57.359 --> 00:23:58.240 one of the saddest 00:23:58.240 --> 00:23:59.579 experiences of her life, 00:24:00.159 --> 00:24:00.919 he teaches her. 00:24:02.819 --> 00:24:03.939 And he says to her, 00:24:05.220 --> 00:24:06.159 your brother will 00:24:06.159 --> 00:24:07.179 rise again. 00:24:08.159 --> 00:24:08.819 And Martha answered, 00:24:08.959 --> 00:24:10.299 I know he will rise again 00:24:10.299 --> 00:24:11.159 in the resurrection 00:24:11.159 --> 00:24:12.079 of the last day. 00:24:12.779 --> 00:24:13.720 Faith statement 00:24:13.720 --> 00:24:14.179 right there. 00:24:14.259 --> 00:24:14.659 I know 00:24:14.659 --> 00:24:15.819 there's this plan. 00:24:16.339 --> 00:24:17.480 He will rise again. 00:24:18.199 --> 00:24:19.319 And Jesus said to her, 00:24:19.619 --> 00:24:20.279 the thing that he had 00:24:20.279 --> 00:24:21.619 not said to anyone else, 00:24:21.619 --> 00:24:22.479 at least recorded 00:24:22.479 --> 00:24:23.039 in scripture, 00:24:24.039 --> 00:24:24.959 I am the resurrection 00:24:24.959 --> 00:24:25.519 and the life. 00:24:25.599 --> 00:24:26.459 He who believes in me 00:24:26.459 --> 00:24:27.699 will live even though 00:24:27.699 --> 00:24:28.379 he dies. 00:24:28.819 --> 00:24:30.099 And whoever lives 00:24:30.099 --> 00:24:31.000 and believes in me 00:24:31.000 --> 00:24:31.699 will never die. 00:24:31.939 --> 00:24:33.099 Do you believe this? 00:24:36.639 --> 00:24:37.359 And then, 00:24:37.459 --> 00:24:38.179 she makes a statement 00:24:38.179 --> 00:24:39.299 that very few people 00:24:39.299 --> 00:24:40.919 make before the cross. 00:24:41.659 --> 00:24:42.500 She says to him, 00:24:42.619 --> 00:24:43.459 I believe that you 00:24:43.459 --> 00:24:44.059 are the Christ, 00:24:44.159 --> 00:24:45.019 the Son of God 00:24:45.019 --> 00:24:45.599 who is coming 00:24:45.599 --> 00:24:46.319 to the world. 00:24:47.879 --> 00:24:48.359 Martha 00:24:48.359 --> 00:24:49.959 is not just a servant. 00:24:49.960 --> 00:24:51.980 She is a disciple 00:24:51.980 --> 00:24:52.940 of Christ. 00:24:53.840 --> 00:24:54.819 So after talking 00:24:54.819 --> 00:24:55.559 with Martha, 00:24:56.279 --> 00:24:57.640 Jesus spends time 00:24:57.640 --> 00:24:58.980 with Mary. 00:24:59.840 --> 00:25:01.059 And Mary says 00:25:01.059 --> 00:25:01.660 the same thing, 00:25:01.720 --> 00:25:02.420 if you had been here, 00:25:02.500 --> 00:25:03.259 my brother would not 00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:03.740 have died. 00:25:04.299 --> 00:25:05.140 But this reaction 00:25:05.140 --> 00:25:06.120 to Mary is different. 00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:07.240 His reaction to Mary 00:25:07.240 --> 00:25:07.660 is different. 00:25:08.180 --> 00:25:09.180 He doesn't talk to her 00:25:09.180 --> 00:25:10.100 about the resurrection. 00:25:11.100 --> 00:25:11.400 Why? 00:25:12.460 --> 00:25:13.100 Because she didn't 00:25:13.100 --> 00:25:13.500 need that. 00:25:14.600 --> 00:25:15.680 What Mary needed 00:25:15.680 --> 00:25:16.400 in that moment 00:25:16.400 --> 00:25:17.019 was comfort. 00:25:17.680 --> 00:25:18.480 His presence. 00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:19.799 And so, 00:25:20.420 --> 00:25:20.960 he asks, 00:25:21.039 --> 00:25:22.299 where is Lazarus buried? 00:25:22.700 --> 00:25:23.539 And then he weeps. 00:25:23.980 --> 00:25:24.799 He weeps with Mary 00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:25.319 because that's what 00:25:25.319 --> 00:25:25.960 Mary needs. 00:25:26.740 --> 00:25:28.339 He knows us so well. 00:25:29.440 --> 00:25:30.480 We think he can't 00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:31.360 understand what 00:25:31.360 --> 00:25:32.079 we're going through 00:25:32.079 --> 00:25:33.019 or what we feel. 00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:34.339 He's like, 00:25:34.579 --> 00:25:35.519 I understand you 00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:36.039 better than you 00:25:36.039 --> 00:25:36.960 understand yourself. 00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:39.900 So he weeps 00:25:39.900 --> 00:25:40.480 with Martha. 00:25:41.480 --> 00:25:41.779 You know, 00:25:41.839 --> 00:25:42.640 the same question, 00:25:42.740 --> 00:25:43.559 two different responses. 00:25:43.860 --> 00:25:44.519 Weeps with Martha. 00:25:45.000 --> 00:25:45.799 Teaches Martha 00:25:45.799 --> 00:25:47.079 as a disciple, 00:25:47.079 --> 00:25:48.319 here's what you need 00:25:48.319 --> 00:25:48.879 to understand. 00:25:49.000 --> 00:25:49.960 Do you believe this? 00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:52.099 And once again, 00:25:52.220 --> 00:25:53.159 we see him inviting 00:25:53.159 --> 00:25:54.159 Martha to come 00:25:54.159 --> 00:25:55.359 and spend time with him 00:25:55.359 --> 00:25:56.619 and to listen 00:25:56.619 --> 00:25:57.199 and to learn 00:25:57.199 --> 00:25:57.839 because that is 00:25:57.839 --> 00:25:58.859 what a disciple does. 00:25:59.439 --> 00:26:00.099 And so he uses 00:26:00.099 --> 00:26:00.939 discipleship, 00:26:01.039 --> 00:26:01.500 believe it or not, 00:26:01.579 --> 00:26:02.720 to reframe 00:26:02.720 --> 00:26:03.759 the loss 00:26:03.759 --> 00:26:04.879 of her beloved brother 00:26:04.879 --> 00:26:06.079 in the way 00:26:06.079 --> 00:26:06.619 that she thinks 00:26:06.619 --> 00:26:07.220 about death. 00:26:08.039 --> 00:26:09.119 And at that moment, 00:26:09.839 --> 00:26:11.699 Martha needed that. 00:26:12.019 --> 00:26:13.000 She didn't need 00:26:13.000 --> 00:26:14.339 what Mary needed. 00:26:14.339 --> 00:26:16.879 But what did she need? 00:26:16.959 --> 00:26:17.759 What was he actually 00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:18.439 offering her? 00:26:19.720 --> 00:26:20.720 And for all the thinkers 00:26:20.720 --> 00:26:21.279 in the room, 00:26:21.379 --> 00:26:22.179 this is where you might 00:26:22.179 --> 00:26:23.079 want to say hallelujah 00:26:23.079 --> 00:26:24.000 because you'll get it. 00:26:24.439 --> 00:26:25.419 She needed theology 00:26:25.419 --> 00:26:26.659 to encourage her faith. 00:26:27.699 --> 00:26:28.480 She needed something 00:26:28.480 --> 00:26:30.259 that she could hold on to. 00:26:31.299 --> 00:26:32.359 And Jesus gave her that. 00:26:32.919 --> 00:26:34.119 She needed a new way 00:26:34.119 --> 00:26:35.159 to think about death. 00:26:35.740 --> 00:26:36.299 And I don't know 00:26:36.299 --> 00:26:37.139 if you've lost anyone. 00:26:37.240 --> 00:26:38.119 I've lost two sisters 00:26:38.119 --> 00:26:39.099 and both of my parents 00:26:39.099 --> 00:26:39.819 at this point. 00:26:40.119 --> 00:26:40.859 And when you walk 00:26:40.859 --> 00:26:42.559 through that type of loss, 00:26:42.559 --> 00:26:44.359 you begin to think 00:26:44.359 --> 00:26:45.000 about death 00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:45.460 and you begin 00:26:45.460 --> 00:26:46.319 to think about 00:26:46.319 --> 00:26:47.899 what does this mean, 00:26:48.039 --> 00:26:48.259 Jesus? 00:26:48.519 --> 00:26:49.399 How are you involved 00:26:49.399 --> 00:26:50.059 in this? 00:26:51.179 --> 00:26:51.759 And so that's 00:26:51.759 --> 00:26:52.700 what's happening here. 00:26:53.940 --> 00:26:56.059 And he was reminding her, 00:26:56.279 --> 00:26:56.519 Martha, 00:26:56.960 --> 00:26:58.099 because you're a disciple, 00:26:58.480 --> 00:26:59.039 right now, 00:26:59.179 --> 00:27:00.960 you feel incredibly insecure. 00:27:01.460 --> 00:27:02.139 But I am here 00:27:02.139 --> 00:27:02.819 to tell you 00:27:02.819 --> 00:27:03.759 that your identity 00:27:03.759 --> 00:27:04.339 is safe 00:27:04.339 --> 00:27:05.019 and your security 00:27:05.019 --> 00:27:05.559 is safe 00:27:05.559 --> 00:27:06.740 because you're mine. 00:27:07.659 --> 00:27:08.679 You don't have 00:27:08.679 --> 00:27:09.879 to be with Lazarus 00:27:09.879 --> 00:27:11.119 for you to be safe. 00:27:11.119 --> 00:27:13.519 So as the story continues, 00:27:13.759 --> 00:27:14.479 Jesus, we know, 00:27:14.579 --> 00:27:15.279 goes and he stands 00:27:15.279 --> 00:27:16.179 in front of the tomb 00:27:16.179 --> 00:27:17.419 where Lazarus is buried 00:27:17.419 --> 00:27:18.619 and he tells the people 00:27:18.619 --> 00:27:19.659 to remove the stone 00:27:19.659 --> 00:27:21.439 because he's getting ready 00:27:21.439 --> 00:27:22.399 to raise Lazarus. 00:27:22.979 --> 00:27:23.979 And Martha says 00:27:23.979 --> 00:27:24.959 that he has been 00:27:24.959 --> 00:27:26.099 in there for days 00:27:26.099 --> 00:27:26.679 and there's going 00:27:26.679 --> 00:27:27.539 to be a bad odor. 00:27:28.099 --> 00:27:29.019 Now, I'm not, 00:27:29.339 --> 00:27:30.299 I don't know a whole lot 00:27:30.299 --> 00:27:31.079 of the King James 00:27:31.079 --> 00:27:32.339 version of the Bible, 00:27:32.599 --> 00:27:33.539 but this is my favorite 00:27:33.539 --> 00:27:34.479 verse in the King James. 00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:35.759 He's stinking. 00:27:38.699 --> 00:27:39.879 I mean, there you go. 00:27:41.119 --> 00:27:42.419 The next time 00:27:42.419 --> 00:27:43.359 you're having a bad day, 00:27:43.479 --> 00:27:44.419 you can say to Jesus, 00:27:44.879 --> 00:27:45.439 he stinketh. 00:27:51.439 --> 00:27:52.439 But Jesus says 00:27:52.439 --> 00:27:52.959 back to her, 00:27:53.079 --> 00:27:53.359 Martha, 00:27:53.559 --> 00:27:54.459 did I not tell you 00:27:54.459 --> 00:27:55.259 that if you believed 00:27:55.259 --> 00:27:55.719 you would see 00:27:55.719 --> 00:27:56.639 the glory of God? 00:27:58.139 --> 00:27:59.459 He isn't discounting 00:27:59.459 --> 00:28:00.059 her grief. 00:28:00.219 --> 00:28:01.539 He isn't rebuking her 00:28:01.539 --> 00:28:02.299 for lack of faith. 00:28:02.379 --> 00:28:03.519 He's discipling her 00:28:03.519 --> 00:28:05.299 in the midst of it. 00:28:06.019 --> 00:28:06.719 Here's what you need 00:28:06.719 --> 00:28:07.359 to understand. 00:28:07.479 --> 00:28:08.239 Do you believe this? 00:28:08.240 --> 00:28:09.779 And once again, 00:28:09.880 --> 00:28:10.720 there is no response 00:28:10.720 --> 00:28:11.200 for Martha. 00:28:11.819 --> 00:28:12.640 John doesn't tell us 00:28:12.640 --> 00:28:13.400 what she says 00:28:13.400 --> 00:28:14.079 at that point. 00:28:14.380 --> 00:28:15.700 Instead, he tells us 00:28:15.700 --> 00:28:16.480 that Jesus raised 00:28:16.480 --> 00:28:17.259 Lazarus. 00:28:17.900 --> 00:28:19.059 But what we know 00:28:19.059 --> 00:28:20.120 because of the conversation 00:28:20.120 --> 00:28:21.440 is where is she? 00:28:22.140 --> 00:28:23.880 Right there with Jesus, 00:28:24.039 --> 00:28:24.819 right by his side, 00:28:25.140 --> 00:28:26.059 where he's wanted her 00:28:26.059 --> 00:28:26.599 all along. 00:28:27.339 --> 00:28:28.660 We have one more story 00:28:28.660 --> 00:28:29.799 of Martha in John 12. 00:28:30.559 --> 00:28:31.880 And it's at a dinner 00:28:31.880 --> 00:28:32.680 that was being given 00:28:32.680 --> 00:28:33.779 in honor of Jesus. 00:28:34.019 --> 00:28:34.740 And John finishes 00:28:34.740 --> 00:28:35.620 Martha's story 00:28:35.620 --> 00:28:36.680 with two words. 00:28:37.380 --> 00:28:37.940 Just two. 00:28:39.099 --> 00:28:40.180 Six days before 00:28:40.180 --> 00:28:40.819 the Passover, 00:28:41.019 --> 00:28:42.200 Jesus arrived at Bethany 00:28:42.200 --> 00:28:43.380 where Lazarus lived, 00:28:43.480 --> 00:28:44.400 whom Jesus had raised 00:28:44.400 --> 00:28:45.019 from the dead. 00:28:45.500 --> 00:28:46.920 Here, a dinner was given 00:28:46.920 --> 00:28:47.940 in Jesus' honor. 00:28:48.980 --> 00:28:50.240 Martha served. 00:28:51.779 --> 00:28:52.859 So her story 00:28:52.859 --> 00:28:53.839 has come full circle, 00:28:53.960 --> 00:28:54.200 right? 00:28:54.940 --> 00:28:56.160 We're back where we started. 00:28:56.980 --> 00:28:58.240 But everything 00:28:58.240 --> 00:28:59.200 has changed. 00:29:00.579 --> 00:29:02.000 You don't see her anxious. 00:29:03.140 --> 00:29:04.980 You don't see her distracted. 00:29:05.700 --> 00:29:06.680 You see a sense 00:29:06.680 --> 00:29:07.480 of peace in her. 00:29:08.120 --> 00:29:09.100 And the reason for that 00:29:09.100 --> 00:29:10.820 is because she prioritized 00:29:10.820 --> 00:29:11.620 discipleship 00:29:11.620 --> 00:29:13.480 even over her grief. 00:29:14.500 --> 00:29:15.220 And so again, 00:29:15.340 --> 00:29:16.120 the question for us is 00:29:16.120 --> 00:29:17.700 how is this connected to us? 00:29:18.120 --> 00:29:19.380 And why is this important 00:29:19.380 --> 00:29:20.360 for us personally? 00:29:20.700 --> 00:29:21.920 Does it have any bearing 00:29:21.920 --> 00:29:22.960 on our lives today? 00:29:24.019 --> 00:29:24.460 Well, 00:29:24.700 --> 00:29:26.580 I think the point 00:29:26.580 --> 00:29:27.140 is this. 00:29:27.640 --> 00:29:28.060 Jesus, 00:29:28.220 --> 00:29:28.779 the same does, 00:29:28.880 --> 00:29:30.080 comes at his feet, 00:29:30.700 --> 00:29:31.799 learn from him 00:29:31.799 --> 00:29:32.339 and recognize 00:29:32.339 --> 00:29:33.319 that our identity 00:29:33.319 --> 00:29:34.539 is first and foremost 00:29:34.539 --> 00:29:36.599 as a disciple of Christ. 00:29:37.460 --> 00:29:38.139 And as we think 00:29:38.139 --> 00:29:39.240 about women's discipleship 00:29:39.240 --> 00:29:39.899 here at Trinity, 00:29:40.700 --> 00:29:41.059 honestly, 00:29:41.200 --> 00:29:42.180 I don't have a grand vision 00:29:42.180 --> 00:29:43.039 to give you today. 00:29:43.159 --> 00:29:43.779 I wish I did. 00:29:43.879 --> 00:29:44.299 I don't. 00:29:45.159 --> 00:29:46.119 But here's what I know. 00:29:46.919 --> 00:29:48.000 What I know is this. 00:29:48.059 --> 00:29:48.680 We are called 00:29:48.680 --> 00:29:49.579 to disciple women 00:29:49.579 --> 00:29:51.200 as disciples of Christ first 00:29:51.200 --> 00:29:54.180 and based on their roles second. 00:29:54.819 --> 00:29:56.039 There's an order to this. 00:29:56.039 --> 00:29:59.159 We are called 00:29:59.159 --> 00:30:00.099 to encourage one another 00:30:00.099 --> 00:30:00.879 to come and sit 00:30:00.879 --> 00:30:01.740 at the feet of Jesus 00:30:01.740 --> 00:30:02.399 and to listen 00:30:02.399 --> 00:30:03.379 and to learn from him. 00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:05.200 We're called 00:30:05.200 --> 00:30:07.099 in this ministry 00:30:07.099 --> 00:30:08.079 to encourage 00:30:08.079 --> 00:30:09.399 one another 00:30:09.399 --> 00:30:10.659 to define yourself 00:30:10.659 --> 00:30:11.819 based on who you are 00:30:11.819 --> 00:30:12.920 not what you do. 00:30:14.960 --> 00:30:15.859 Here's the thing. 00:30:17.099 --> 00:30:18.539 Identity is never based 00:30:18.539 --> 00:30:19.879 on how others see us 00:30:19.879 --> 00:30:20.920 but it's always based 00:30:20.920 --> 00:30:22.299 on how we see ourselves 00:30:22.299 --> 00:30:24.420 through the eyes of Jesus 00:30:24.420 --> 00:30:25.079 and the gospel. 00:30:26.039 --> 00:30:26.859 And we may think 00:30:26.859 --> 00:30:27.539 everybody else 00:30:27.539 --> 00:30:28.480 is telling us 00:30:28.480 --> 00:30:29.039 who we are. 00:30:30.079 --> 00:30:30.519 No. 00:30:31.000 --> 00:30:31.740 We're telling us 00:30:31.740 --> 00:30:32.319 who we are. 00:30:34.420 --> 00:30:34.899 So, 00:30:35.180 --> 00:30:36.180 in this ministry 00:30:36.180 --> 00:30:36.819 I hope and pray 00:30:36.819 --> 00:30:38.339 that we will be able 00:30:38.339 --> 00:30:39.379 to encourage one another 00:30:39.379 --> 00:30:40.019 and say 00:30:40.019 --> 00:30:41.200 don't allow your life 00:30:41.200 --> 00:30:42.099 and your responsibilities 00:30:42.099 --> 00:30:43.379 distract you from Jesus. 00:30:44.240 --> 00:30:45.000 Trust that he will 00:30:45.000 --> 00:30:46.019 make a way for all. 00:30:47.519 --> 00:30:48.259 Trust that if you 00:30:48.259 --> 00:30:49.619 prioritize the good portion 00:30:49.619 --> 00:30:51.819 he gives you enough 00:30:51.819 --> 00:30:52.779 in that good portion 00:30:52.779 --> 00:30:55.519 to do all the other things. 00:30:56.039 --> 00:31:00.119 there will be enough 00:31:00.119 --> 00:31:00.859 for your family 00:31:00.859 --> 00:31:01.879 your career 00:31:01.879 --> 00:31:03.139 your education 00:31:03.139 --> 00:31:04.259 and your blank 00:31:04.259 --> 00:31:05.740 whatever that blank is. 00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:06.180 Right? 00:31:06.859 --> 00:31:07.680 If you come 00:31:07.680 --> 00:31:08.480 and you learn from me 00:31:08.480 --> 00:31:09.059 Jesus says 00:31:09.059 --> 00:31:10.399 it will not be taken 00:31:10.399 --> 00:31:10.940 from you. 00:31:12.319 --> 00:31:13.359 It will grow 00:31:13.359 --> 00:31:14.539 and it will transform you 00:31:14.539 --> 00:31:15.180 into the person 00:31:15.180 --> 00:31:16.079 that I created you 00:31:16.079 --> 00:31:16.960 to be all along. 00:31:17.740 --> 00:31:18.279 You know what? 00:31:18.420 --> 00:31:19.740 Jesus never told 00:31:19.740 --> 00:31:21.159 Martha to stop serving. 00:31:21.160 --> 00:31:24.000 He just put it 00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:24.700 in a perspective 00:31:24.700 --> 00:31:25.620 that if you want 00:31:25.620 --> 00:31:26.380 to be the best servant 00:31:26.380 --> 00:31:26.920 you can be 00:31:26.920 --> 00:31:29.160 I have to be your priority. 00:31:33.580 --> 00:31:33.980 Well, 00:31:34.220 --> 00:31:34.640 we know 00:31:34.640 --> 00:31:35.840 based on Romans 8 29 00:31:35.840 --> 00:31:36.660 that God has a plan 00:31:36.660 --> 00:31:37.259 for every one 00:31:37.259 --> 00:31:37.880 of our lives 00:31:37.880 --> 00:31:39.620 and that plan is 00:31:39.620 --> 00:31:40.600 for those God foreknew 00:31:40.600 --> 00:31:42.400 he also predestined 00:31:42.400 --> 00:31:43.279 to be conformed 00:31:43.279 --> 00:31:43.779 to the image 00:31:43.779 --> 00:31:44.380 of his son 00:31:44.380 --> 00:31:46.000 that he might be 00:31:46.000 --> 00:31:46.640 the firstborn 00:31:46.640 --> 00:31:48.040 among many 00:31:48.040 --> 00:31:49.040 brothers and sisters. 00:31:49.039 --> 00:31:50.440 So God's goal 00:31:50.440 --> 00:31:51.299 for each one of us 00:31:51.299 --> 00:31:51.799 in this room 00:31:51.799 --> 00:31:52.440 is to make us 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:53.019 like Jesus 00:31:53.019 --> 00:31:53.940 and the only way 00:31:53.940 --> 00:31:55.200 that we can be made 00:31:55.200 --> 00:31:55.879 like Jesus 00:31:55.879 --> 00:31:57.200 is to spend time 00:31:57.200 --> 00:31:58.139 with Jesus. 00:31:59.200 --> 00:32:00.440 It's not complicated 00:32:00.440 --> 00:32:02.200 and yet it is. 00:32:03.460 --> 00:32:03.899 Again, 00:32:04.440 --> 00:32:05.299 when I think about 00:32:05.299 --> 00:32:06.279 women's discipleship 00:32:06.279 --> 00:32:06.680 here's where 00:32:06.680 --> 00:32:07.639 I'm going to encourage us. 00:32:08.659 --> 00:32:09.139 Together, 00:32:09.539 --> 00:32:10.519 as sisters in Christ 00:32:10.519 --> 00:32:11.619 as disciples of Jesus 00:32:11.619 --> 00:32:12.579 we want to help 00:32:12.579 --> 00:32:12.960 each other 00:32:12.960 --> 00:32:13.680 recognize that 00:32:13.680 --> 00:32:14.700 our first and foremost 00:32:14.700 --> 00:32:16.159 identity 00:32:16.159 --> 00:32:17.379 is as his disciple. 00:32:17.380 --> 00:32:19.940 We want to be women 00:32:19.940 --> 00:32:21.060 who live and work 00:32:21.060 --> 00:32:21.500 and serve 00:32:21.500 --> 00:32:22.480 from that identity 00:32:22.480 --> 00:32:23.260 rather than 00:32:23.260 --> 00:32:24.500 all these expectations 00:32:24.500 --> 00:32:25.580 that other people 00:32:25.580 --> 00:32:26.260 have for us 00:32:26.260 --> 00:32:26.780 or that we have 00:32:26.780 --> 00:32:27.380 for ourselves 00:32:27.380 --> 00:32:29.280 whether it's cultural 00:32:29.280 --> 00:32:31.140 gender or misguided. 00:32:31.740 --> 00:32:33.000 We want to be women 00:32:33.000 --> 00:32:33.860 who are free 00:32:33.860 --> 00:32:34.660 from this idea 00:32:34.660 --> 00:32:35.380 of perfection. 00:32:35.680 --> 00:32:36.820 It is a lie. 00:32:38.180 --> 00:32:38.960 None of us in here 00:32:38.960 --> 00:32:39.860 will ever be perfect. 00:32:39.980 --> 00:32:40.820 We don't need to be perfect. 00:32:40.920 --> 00:32:41.880 We have a perfect savior 00:32:41.880 --> 00:32:44.280 who is perfecting us. 00:32:44.279 --> 00:32:46.460 So we need to be women 00:32:46.460 --> 00:32:46.940 who are free 00:32:46.940 --> 00:32:47.940 of ideas of perfection 00:32:47.940 --> 00:32:48.759 released to be 00:32:48.759 --> 00:32:49.819 redemptive works 00:32:49.819 --> 00:32:50.740 in progress 00:32:50.740 --> 00:32:53.160 because that is 00:32:53.160 --> 00:32:53.799 who we are. 00:32:54.599 --> 00:32:55.819 And we need to be women 00:32:55.819 --> 00:32:56.839 who know and believe 00:32:56.839 --> 00:32:57.980 that just like Martha 00:32:57.980 --> 00:32:59.440 it can be said of us 00:32:59.440 --> 00:33:01.879 Jesus loved 00:33:01.879 --> 00:33:02.819 Debbie. 00:33:04.099 --> 00:33:05.599 Jesus loved Selena. 00:33:06.819 --> 00:33:08.259 Jesus loved Erica. 00:33:09.359 --> 00:33:11.059 Jesus loved Jamie. 00:33:11.779 --> 00:33:13.180 Jesus loved Shirley. 00:33:13.180 --> 00:33:15.180 Jesus loved Mona. 00:33:16.080 --> 00:33:17.039 I could go around 00:33:17.039 --> 00:33:17.460 this room 00:33:17.460 --> 00:33:18.299 and say these things 00:33:18.299 --> 00:33:18.600 to you 00:33:18.600 --> 00:33:19.140 because I know 00:33:19.140 --> 00:33:19.660 they're true. 00:33:21.660 --> 00:33:23.060 Jesus loves you. 00:33:25.880 --> 00:33:27.019 Now here's the thing 00:33:27.019 --> 00:33:28.259 about women's discipleship 00:33:28.259 --> 00:33:29.100 at Trinity. 00:33:30.460 --> 00:33:31.299 We will never 00:33:31.299 --> 00:33:32.039 do it perfectly. 00:33:33.320 --> 00:33:34.100 It may look 00:33:34.100 --> 00:33:34.920 one way one day 00:33:34.920 --> 00:33:35.519 and it may look 00:33:35.519 --> 00:33:36.120 a different way 00:33:36.120 --> 00:33:36.640 the next day 00:33:36.640 --> 00:33:37.779 and I hope so 00:33:37.779 --> 00:33:38.600 because I hope 00:33:38.600 --> 00:33:39.380 that's because God 00:33:39.380 --> 00:33:40.440 is leading not me. 00:33:41.360 --> 00:33:42.140 Leading me 00:33:42.140 --> 00:33:43.160 as I lead you. 00:33:43.180 --> 00:33:46.799 but the direction 00:33:46.799 --> 00:33:47.420 that we're going 00:33:47.420 --> 00:33:47.820 is there. 00:33:48.039 --> 00:33:48.680 We want to encourage 00:33:48.680 --> 00:33:49.060 each other 00:33:49.060 --> 00:33:49.740 first and foremost 00:33:49.740 --> 00:33:50.860 as disciples of Jesus 00:33:50.860 --> 00:33:52.340 and I promise you 00:33:52.340 --> 00:33:54.240 there will be room 00:33:54.240 --> 00:33:54.860 to equip you 00:33:54.860 --> 00:33:57.680 to be better leaders, 00:33:58.120 --> 00:33:59.000 better moms, 00:33:59.580 --> 00:34:00.720 better wives. 00:34:01.140 --> 00:34:01.740 Those things 00:34:01.740 --> 00:34:02.519 are important. 00:34:03.720 --> 00:34:04.440 Just as Jesus 00:34:04.440 --> 00:34:05.779 does not invalidate 00:34:05.779 --> 00:34:06.180 serving, 00:34:06.960 --> 00:34:07.460 he does not 00:34:07.460 --> 00:34:08.659 invalidate those things. 00:34:09.200 --> 00:34:09.940 He just says 00:34:09.940 --> 00:34:10.920 okay let's make sure 00:34:10.920 --> 00:34:11.420 that we have 00:34:11.420 --> 00:34:12.240 our order correct. 00:34:14.139 --> 00:34:15.159 So my question 00:34:15.159 --> 00:34:16.019 for you today 00:34:16.019 --> 00:34:18.180 is will you 00:34:18.180 --> 00:34:19.659 come along? 00:34:21.780 --> 00:34:22.880 Will you come along 00:34:22.880 --> 00:34:23.659 with what, 00:34:23.760 --> 00:34:24.880 not what Pamela Hall 00:34:24.880 --> 00:34:25.280 says, 00:34:25.639 --> 00:34:26.619 but will you come along 00:34:26.619 --> 00:34:27.420 with what scripture 00:34:27.420 --> 00:34:27.900 says? 00:34:29.159 --> 00:34:29.760 And would you help 00:34:29.760 --> 00:34:30.380 me build 00:34:30.380 --> 00:34:31.760 a women's discipleship 00:34:31.760 --> 00:34:32.420 ministry 00:34:32.420 --> 00:34:34.639 where someday 00:34:34.639 --> 00:34:35.840 people will say 00:34:35.840 --> 00:34:37.099 they love Jesus 00:34:37.099 --> 00:34:37.900 because they knew 00:34:37.900 --> 00:34:39.180 he loved them? 00:34:40.180 --> 00:34:40.920 Would that not 00:34:40.920 --> 00:34:41.519 be the greatest? 00:34:42.900 --> 00:34:44.099 I think so too. 00:34:45.760 --> 00:34:46.200 Okay. 00:34:46.980 --> 00:34:48.000 So shifting gears 00:34:48.000 --> 00:34:48.519 a little bit, 00:34:48.579 --> 00:34:49.119 I'm going to give you 00:34:49.119 --> 00:34:50.460 some time at your table 00:34:50.460 --> 00:34:51.500 to do some discussion 00:34:51.500 --> 00:34:52.599 and then I'll bring us 00:34:52.599 --> 00:34:53.099 back together 00:34:53.099 --> 00:34:53.780 in a little bit. 00:34:53.780 --> 00:34:58.619 Thank you. 00:34:59.059 --> 00:34:59.199 Thank you. 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:34:59.199 00:34:59.199 --> 00:35:29.179 Thank you.