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What is The One Thing?

The One Thing, part 1, April 3, 2005

Luke 10:38-42

I. Today, we begin a five-week sermon series called “The One Thing.”

A. We know that God has revealed five purposes for His church and that we need to have all of them in balance in order to be a healthy congregation.

1) Those purposes are: worship, discipleship, ministry, mission, and fellowship.

2) Each should be in balance with the other five.

B. For the next few weeks, we are focusing on the purpose of mission (which we sometimes call evangelism) by asking a very simple question.

1) What is the One Thing that the church has to offer that people can’t get anywhere else?

2) We can talk about friendships, programs for the kids, entertainment, even good food at potlucks.

a) But you can get that at the Y, or at Kiwanis, or the Weinberg, or even community barbecues.

b) What is the One Thing that the church has to offer?

C. I saw some statistics from Gallup that can get us thinking about this more.

1) They say something about the way people in the US thinks.

2) They also say something about the church and what we can do in our own community.

3) Here are the statistics:

a) 96% of Americans say they believe in God.

b) 41% of Americans attend church.

c) Only 13% say they have a deep and transforming faith.

d) And 82% say that they have a desire for spiritual growth.

4) So where does that leave the church in all of this?

a) 82% say they have a desire for spiritual growth, but only 13% say they have a deep and transforming faith.

b) Does the church hear what people are saying, they have a hunger that’s not being filled?

D. It started me thinking …

1) We have a great church, great people, and great ministries.

2) I think the preachers okay …

3) Our children and youth ministries rock!

4) But, are we effective in helping people finding meaning and value in life.

5) Would those statistics be true of us?

6) And the more I thought about it, the more I wondered what is it that we are all about.

II. So, let’s talk about that, what are we all about? What can you find here that you can’t find anywhere else?

A. Turn to the person next to you and see what they can come up with.

1) Now, let’s see what the Bible can do to help us figure this out.

a) The story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42.

b) In this story Martha was the busy one, busy with necessary stuff.

c) So why did Jesus answer the way he did? What is the one thing he’s talking about?

2) Let’s take a look at the possibilities …

B. Jesus.

1) Martha and Mary opened their home to Jesus. They invited him in.

2) They both knew who Jesus was. I’d venture to say that most of us know who Jesus is.

3) But, knowing who Jesus is is not the One Thing that Jesus is talking about.

C. Serving Jesus.

1) Ok, knowing him isn’t enough, but serving him in response to knowing.

2) That’s what Martha was doing, working full speed doing necessary things (that’s also what a lot of you are doing).

3) It’s great that we serve God faithfully, but that’s not the One Thing that Jesus is talking about.

D. Proper Protocol.

1) Tradition required that Mary and Martha be about preparing for the guests. Martha was the only obedient one.

2) Tradition is important to our faith, but it is not the be all and end all. It is not the horse that drives the cart.

3) Procedures, protocol, programs, and traditions can’t be a substitute for the One Thing.

E. Justice.

1) Martha argued for Jesus to provide justice for her as her sister was unjustly leaving the bulk of the work to her.

2) Can’t hear her saying, “That’s not fair.”

3) Many churches have made answering that cry (“that’s not fair”) the one reason for their existence.

4) As important as it is for the church to be active in the world, just as Jesus was in his, that is not the One Thing.

F. A Good Heart.

1) Come on. Martha had a good heart and she was doing what she should have done for guests.

2) Give her a break; she had a good heart and wanted to be a willing servant of the Lord.

3) But still, that’s not the One Thing.

III. So, what is it? What’s the One Thing?

A. It’s what Mary chose. A close and growing relationship with Jesus.

1) That’s what God wants. He wants a heart-to-heart relationship, a close and growing friendship with you and with me.

2) It sounds so simple doesn’t it, but wouldn’t you agree that sometimes we miss that boat?

3) Don’t you get confused about what we’re doing for God?

B. If 82% of people say they’re looking for spiritual growth – which comes about through a close relationship.

1) 2/3 of Americans say the church is ineffective in helping people find meaning in life.

2) In light of that, could we be doing something different to get God, ourselves and other people better connected?

C. I think its time that the church rediscovers this growing relationship with Jesus.

1) How can we focus on it personally and corporately?

2) Are you game for that? I am.

D. Begin by thinking about what it means to be a friend.

1) That’s what God wants, our love and friendship.

2) In the beginning, God walked in the garden with Adam and Eve because he wanted that love and friendship.

3) That’s what he still wants.

a) So much so, that he created us to want His presence and his friendship in return.

b) It’s built into us, part of who we are.

c) Barna says that having a close, personal relationship with God is a top priority for 7 out of 10 adults.

4) Is that your priority?

a) If so, what does it mean to be God’s friend?

b) Think for a minute about your best friend.

c) What does it take to be a best friend?

i. Take those traits and transfer them to your relationship with God.

ii. Do you have that kind of relationship with God?

E. If we see him as a friend our perspective starts to change.

1) It may seem awkward to think of it this way at first.

2) {Maurer}

3) It’s okay, though. Jesus wants us to think of him as our friends!

4) “I no longer call you servants. Instead I have called you friends.” [John 15:14]

a) The first thing we need to do is acknowledge that this growing relationship with us through his Son is just what God wants.

b) If we can look at it through this friendship filter, we’ll understand more about what it means to be in relationship with Him.

F. As we prepare to take communion together this morning, come as an invited friend of Jesus the Christ. He has called you friend.

1) Don’t refuse the invitation of your friend to sup at his table.

2) Come freely and enjoy the presence of Jesus.

3) He has called you friend.