Discipleship: Being With Jesus // Luke 10:38-42 // Jay Messenger

·37 min·3 clips

When Martha demands Jesus make Mary help her, his unexpected response reveals what truly matters about being with him.

The episode begins with a prayer about the upcoming election, asking for God's guidance. Pastor Jay Messenger then introduces a three-week miniseries at Grace Community Church focused on discipleship, framed around the church's mission to love God, love people, reach people, and develop people. He references the previous week's sermon by Gabe about hospitality from Acts 16 and Lydia. The core passage is Luke 10:38-42, where Martha welcomes Jesus into her home but becomes distracted by preparations while Mary sits at Jesus's feet listening. Messenger reads the passage and provides exegesis, noting cultural details like Mary's posture as a disciple and the lack of modern cooking conveniences. He explores the difference between hearing and listening, emphasizing Mary's deep attention. The host examines Martha's frustrated request to Jesus and Jesus's reply, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better.' Messenger speculates on Jesus's tone, suggesting it is corrective but inviting, not shaming. He connects Martha's anxiety to contemporary issues like election stress, news algorithms, and generational anxiety, arguing that everyone is being discipled by something, whether the world or God's Word. The sermon defines discipleship as knowing Jesus relationally, citing John 17:3, and emphasizes that being with Jesus requires intention, not just addition to a busy schedule. Messenger shares personal anecdotes about his high school, college, and family life to illustrate the persistence of busyness, noting that Jesus was busy but not hurried. He discusses practical aspects like having a plan, a place, and handling interruptions, referencing how Jesus was frequently interrupted in the Gospel of Mark. The message concludes that both sitting at Jesus's feet (like Mary) and serving (like Martha) are important, but the heart attitude matters, aiming to 'be like Jesus.' Messenger highlights church discipleship pathways like small groups, CORE groups, and serving opportunities in children's ministry or Advent Conspiracy. The episode ends with communion, where he explains its significance and invites reflection on drawing near to Jesus.

As heard by us

A patient sermon turns the first touch of the morning into a question about who or what is discipling us.

Discipleship is framed here as a matter of formation: what is shaping a person's attention, loves, and habits before the day has really begun?

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Why you'd press play

When your phone gets the first word of the morning, this sermon asks who, or what, is discipling you.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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