"How to figure out what's really important", Mark 12.38-39

Sermon for the Watford and Dublin churches

22 November 2020

Introduction

• Most important thing to do for virus, economy, social well being?
• Used to have one priority, now have several!
• Lot of our malaise when feeling overwhelmed, flat, anxious or overstressed is due to confused priorities, or, what's really important?
• Near end 2020
• Review and reset
• This question has been asked since time immemorial
  • “One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” (Mark 12:28–29 NIV11)
  • So, we know loving God and neighbours is primary
  • But, how do we figure out what that means for our lives, personally?
  • That's what today's lesson is about......

PART 1: Unhealthy ways to decide what's important a. Guilt b. Fear c. Makes us feel better

• Imagine if you made decisions about our children our marriage or our friends on these bases.
  • I will do what you want because I am feeling guilty about mistakes I've made in the past.
  • I will do what you want because I'm afraid otherwise you might hate me or leave me.
  • I will do what you want not because it makes you happy with because it makes me feel better.
• That would not be a healthy relationship with a human
• It certainly is not a healthy relationship with God.

Questions for the groups: What was the important thing they knew or learned? Why was and is this important? How would the importance of this manifest itself in your life?

PART 2: Healthy ways to figure out what's important Five characters to show us the way 1. David

“One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4 NIV11)

• It's easier to teach a Christian the bible than it is to teach them how to worship.
• David - a man after God's own heart.
• ‘Beauty’ = favour, pleasantness
• A good quiet time could be to meditate on what is ‘beautiful’ about the LORD. Would that include His holiness, mercy, long-suffering nature, loving-kindness, integrity, justice, completeness, perfection, wisdom, .....? Interesting that in Ps 50.1-6, His/Zion’s beauty is expressed in terms of fire, speaking, tempest, judgment etc.
• His desire to be close to God is very active - ‘ask’, ‘seek’ X2, ‘dwell’, ‘gaze’
• ‘dwell’ used of a married couple who have set up house together

2. Rich young ruler

“Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”” (Mark 10:21 NIV11)

• Do you have any barriers to full surrender to Jesus?
• He starts on his knees, but turns his back on Jesus
• This man has no material needs and no law-needs. He knows he has other needs, but what are those needs. Jesus is about to tell him - and it is clearly not what he man expected.
• response, however, moves beyond command to an abondonment and trust that involve the losing of self in yielding, trustful communion....The move is from willing duty to utter delight.” Brueggemann, Psalms, 196

3. Mary

““Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”” (Luke 10:41–42 NIV11)

• Sometimes good things are why we miss out on the best thing.
• The better priorities, chosen consistently over time, yield a lasting legacy of godliness

4. The blind man

“He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”” (John 9:25 NIV11)

• Important to remember the transforming power of Jesus in our lives.
• It's never doctrine that converts anyone, it's always the evidence of the power of Jesus in peoples' lives.
• Perhaps especially true for our children
• Have your testimony ready.

5. Paul

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13–14 NIV11)

• Baggage from the past will obscure what is important for the present and the future.
• Paul did not deny his baggage, but he did not let it get in the way of being ambitious for God.
• We never fully ‘arrive’ on earth, but progress can be a delight

Conclusion What have our characters taught us about what is important?

• David: knowing that God is at the heart of prayer
• Rich young ruler: knowing God is at the heart of surrender
• Martha: knowing God is at the heart of service
• Blind man: knowing God is at the heart of witness
• Paul: knowing God is at the heart of ambition

Centring on Jesus makes what's important clear

Suggestion:

• Use these five characters as a way of assessing what's important to you going into 2021
• As a filter to help you assess where you are and want to be in 2021

Scriptures used in or related to today’s lesson:

Psalm 27:4; Matthew 23:23; Mark 10:21; 12:28-29, 33, 39; Luke 10:41-42; 16:15; John 9:25; 1 Corinthians 15:3; Philippians 3:13-14

Questions for the breakout rooms:

• What was the important thing they knew or learned?
• Why is this important?
• If this was important to you, how would it show up in your life?

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Thanks again for listening. Have a super day.

 

God bless,

 

Malcolm

 

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