July 22, 2007

Listening to your Neighbor

by Rev. Dr. Jim Carlson

Luke 10:38-42

Opening Illustration – Bible Quiz (Slide)

How important is it for us to understand just what our faith really teaches?

Jesus goes to Martha’s home – no evidence he knows her.

Mary sits to listen to him teach – as disciple. Women not allowed to be disciples.

Martha wants to listen also but tries to play proper hostess.

Mary doesn’t get up to help. Martha asks Jesus to have Mary help her.

Jesus acknowledges her desire to serve. Listening to Jesus’ teaching is more important that cooking a meal.

Gospel goes on to show Jesus’ disciples asking him to instruct them how to pray.

Passage is not saying serving others is unimportant. Passage teaches us the value of learning about our faith.

Two things we can learn:

Anyone can be Jesus’ disciple. Ratatouille – “Anyone can Cook”

Any serving we do must be grounded in our understanding of the faith. You can’t say you believe something if you don’t know what it is.

Why is it important to understand the basic teachings of the Christian faith? It makes you a better person.

You’ll have more respect for people of other religions.

World makes more sense to people of profound faith.

Closing Illustration – Chapel where I was encouraged to learn.

Everything we do here arises from the teachings of the Bible as we understand them in our own world.

Hebrews refers to people who do not understand the basics of the Christian Faith as babies who are unready to eat solid food.