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All of us have favorite stories. Its worth sharing those stories with others.
This past Tuesday at our staff meeting Kristel Peters, our Music Director, was
responsible for the staff devotion. She asked us to share a favorite story that we had from the
Bible when we were growing up. So we went around the room sharing our stories. It was
fascinating to listen to each person share the Bible stories that were important to them when they
were young. As each person talked I felt I saw through this window in their life. It was beautiful
to talk about our favorite stories.
Today Im starting a four week sermon series called, My Favorite Story. A while ago I
asked you to share your favorite Bible Story. Many of you did. For four weeks were going to
look at four stories.
The AIM of this series is simple. Each Sunday we want to go deeper into each story.
This week were looking at Mary and Martha. This was a story that Lena Truong chose
Next Sunday were looking at Ruth. This was a story that Paula Blair chose
The following Sunday. Pastor Kate is going to share her favorite Bible story in the
sermon
Well close on Fathers Day by looking at the story of Jesus and Peter on the beach. This
is Chris Audets favorite Bible Story.
Each week Ill share a devotion that revolves around the story. I encourage you to get out
the devotion that is in the bulletin. This week I wrote a devotion on the themes of Mary and
Martha. I think youll be blessed as you use it each day. In the middle is a place to take notes. I
believe God might say something to you in this sermon that youll want to write down. On the
back is our congregations prayer requests.

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In each sermon Ill share video clips of an interview that we did with the person who
chose the story. Im hoping that each Sunday well take away something new about the stories.
And I hope that each Sunday well take away a new application from the story. Unless the Bible
can be applied into our life, then it is just an old, dusty book. The Bible is the Living Word, so
the application is essential.
Today is Mary and Martha.
A week ago Friday I had the privilege of interviewing Lena Truong about the story of
Mary and Martha. Right away I asked her what she liked about the story. This is what she said:
I like it that it was about two sisters. I grew up with two sisters. I can relate. I was the younger of two
sisters. Of the three sisters that I have so I can relate to the younger sister in the story. As Ive gotten
older Ive really understand a little more about what the story is about. When I was younger I was like,
hey I can just lay around and be lazy and not help at all. But really its a story about salvation and what
is really important and the priority we all have to make in our lives.

For Jesus to go into Mary and Marthas home and then be willing to teach them reveals
how Jesus was willing to cross barriersin this case a gender barrier. In Jesus day women were
viewed as second class citizens. Their worth depended on whether they could bring in children
into the world. This was terribly unfair, of course.
We dont even know if Mary and Martha had children. We assume they dont because
none were mentioned. We assume they werent married because we dont hear about their
husbands.
To Jesus it didnt matter whether Mary and Martha had children or whether they were
married. What mattered to Jesus is Mary and Martha were people. No matter their societal
designation, Jesus loved people. Men/women, rich/poor, insiders/outcasts, married/singles,
healthy/not healthy, Jews/Samartians. Jesus didnt see a person as part of a group. Jesus first
saw a person. He loved people. Jesus wasnt going to let an unjust convention of his day to stop
him from loving someone.

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The story is called Mary and Martha, but its also about Jesus. Jesus was willing to spend
time with these two women.
There is a whole history of interpretation about the story of Mary and Martha. Some of is
not good interpretation. I want to push into this. I want us at Chain of Lakes to be skilled in
interpreting the Bible.
Ive taught you before that the way to interpret a Bible story is to ask five questions
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What does this story teach me about God?
What does this story teach me about humanity?
What does this story teach me about myself?
What does this story teach me about the church?
How does this story teach me to love more?
What some people have done in interpreting this story is to create stereotypes about Mary
and Martha. Mary sat at the feet of Jesus so shes been stereotyped as a contemplative, praying
person. She doesnt speak in the story, so shes been characterized more of an introvert. Some
people have gone as far to say shes lazy and unwilling to do work.
In contrast Martha has been stereotyped as a busy person who isnt going to rest until all
of her work is done. She is stereotyped as an activist who is always doing, doing, doing. People
have described her as standing up for justice. Shes busy, busy, busy. Some people have gone as
far to describe her as mean and aggressive, a pushy woman.
Even worse is that people have taken these stereotypes and then pitted them against each
other. If there was a continuum Mary would be on one side of the continuum and Martha would
be on the other. Ive heard people ask the question, are you a Martha or a Mary? Ive heard
people say Im more of a Martha, I like to do things. Or people have said, Im more of a Mary
I like to sit and pray a lot. I dont think that question works because weve imposed this
continuum upon them.

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You mean we cant pray and be an activist? Or do the dishes and sit at the feet of Jesus.
Were given the choice of either being like Marypraying, contemplative, or Marthabusy,
activisit.
I even came across a book this week with the title Having a Mary heart in a

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Martha world. I dont know anything about the book, but I know the title has given in to these
stereotypes.
Whats wrong with that, Paul. I dont feel that we can pick a few qualities in a story and
then use them to describe faith. The time length of this story covers probably two to three hours
of time. Do we really think that we can get to know someone in two to three hours? Do we
really think that we can use them to be metaphors for a faith tradition from five verses of a story?
Mary and Martha are two women who lived in a small village of Bethany who had
complex personalities like the rest of us. I think they would be shocked to see how people have
have used them to describe faith.
When you read the devotion this week youll learn more about Mary and Martha in the
story of the healing of Lazarus and in the story when Mary anointed the feet of Jesus.
Ive taught you before that most Bible stories have some sort of surprising twist. One
way to go deep into the Bible stories is to go deep into the surprising twist. We can learn quite a
lot about the Kingdom when we push into this part of the story.
Let me give you a fifteen second commercial. Next Sunday at 9:00 a.m. Jason Blair and I
are going to offer a three week small group on the gospel of Matthew. Well read through
Matthew, Ill share some basic characteristics, and well read some stories. In the stories well
get into the surprising twists. I encourage you to come. Sign up on the Communication card.

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In this story the surprising twist is how Jesus treated Martha. As Martha was preparing
for the meal, she became upset with Mary. She said this:
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Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself. Tell her then to
help me. Luke 10:40
We can understand Marthas request of Jesus. She was busy, and she wanted some help.
It would have made sense for Jesus to look at Mary and say, why dont you help. It would
have made sense for Jesus to pitch in a little himself. Even the son of God can tend a fire. But
Jesus didnt get up and tend a fire and he didnt ask Mary to start helping. Instead in a surprising
twist he turned the request around on Martha. He said this:
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Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing.
Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her. Luke 10:41-42
This surprising twist leads to all sorts of questions. What was Jesus doing here? Why
did he turn Marthas question on her? Was Jesus too hard on Martha? Was Jesus being unfair?
It seems that Jesus was chiding Martha.
I asked Lena what she thought about this. The question I asked was How do you feel
about Jesus chiding Martha. This is what she said:
I dont think that I would look at the story as Jesus chiding, but more as a gentle reminder of taking the
time out of your day and prioritizing what is important and knowing what you should be doing on a daily
basis even though you have a lot of responsibilities in your life.

People have debated about whether Jesus was too harsh with Martha. I asked Lena if she
thought that Jesus was being too harsh with Martha.
I think the story when you first read it seems really harsh against Martha. But I think that we have to
understand that thats just part of life. That we have responsibilities. But At the same time I understand
where Jesus is coming from. He was like Martha Martha. I dont think he was yelling at her. He was
gentle about it. He was Martha, Martha just slow down . Take the time to really think about whats
really importantlisten to the story about Jesus and listening to the story about salvation and things
like that. I think that is important things to remember out of the story. Jesus is a gentle person.

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I love what Lena said. Jesus was reminding Martha to prioritize what is important.
Somehow Martha had become distracted.
Back to the five questions of interpreting a story. We can learn about ourselves by
reflecting on our own distractions. Im guessing that you and I understand distraction. Were
distracted all the time. Whats a rising problem among drivers. Distracted drivers. We have so
much information coming to us at every moment. Amy & I bought a new car this week. Im
still trying to figure out all of the information on the dash. Im distracted when Im driving by
trying to figure out all that is there.
I think its fine that we have all this information that comes to us. But heres the thing.
Do our distractions keep us from sitting at the feet of Jesus?
The teaching of Jesus, his death and resurrection these are the greatest messages that we
will ever receive. These messages can give us joy and security and an incredible sense of
freedom. How often do we experience this joy and security and incredible sense of freedom?
How often do we experience the peace that passes all understanding that Jesus wants us to
experience.
Were often distracted. Other things become more important than the message. We
acknowledge Jesus, but we push him into the corner so we can focus on these other things. We
have a lot of tasks. We can relate to the distractions that Martha experienced.
Many times these distractions are not even conscious. We dont even realize that weve
put things in front of God. Our responsibilities become all-consuming. In a way they become
our God.

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Recognition is the first step towards growth. To let go of our distractions we first have to
identify them.
I want to try something. I have a reflection question for us today.
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What distracts me the most from staying focused on Jesus message of grace, freedom,
forgiveness and love?
Im going to give you 45 seconds to reflect on this. Im going to sit down. I want to
encourage you to reflect on this question. You might want to close your eyes and use the 45
seconds as a prayer time. Do your best not to let your mind wander. One way to do this is to
keep asking the question, Lord, what distracts me the most from staying focused on Jesus
message of grace, freedom, forgiveness and love.?
45 secondswhat is my greatest distraction from staying focused on Jesus message of
grace, freedom, forgiveness and love?
------------------------------------------------If that didnt seem long enough or if you didnt come up with a clear answer, I would
encourage you to repeat this exercise. I also would encourage you to share your response with
someone close to you. Perhaps this week at Chain of Lakes during our small groups or other
team meetings we could share with each other the distraction weve identified that prevents us
from staying focused on grace, freedom, forgiveness and love.
One way to stay focused is to practice our faith. Ive shared with you before that four
faith practices are essential for spiritual healthweekly worship, daily prayer, service, and being
involved in a small group. When we practice our faith, we find it easier to stay focused.
I asked Lena what she does to stay focused on the message of Jesus. This is what she had
to say:

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Lena:
Sure. A simple thing that we do as a family is we say grace very single night. We take
turns saying what we are grateful for. I think that is a simple thing to do. It doesnt take very long but
we can always do it and it makes us feel very grateful for what we do have.

Thats daily prayer. Prayer doesnt have to be taking ten to fifteen minutes to have a
Quiet Time with God. It could be as simple as saying grace as your family and sharing what you
are thankful for with each other.
The story of Mary and Martha is a wonderful story. Its a classic Bible story in that we
can keep coming to it and keep learning new things from the story. The messages from the story
are really inexhaustible. But let me give Lena the last word on the power of the story.
I think its a wonderful story. First glance its always seems like oh I dont know if it speaks to me. It
takes time. Over time its like any story you read through the Bible the first time, the second time, the
third time you learn something every time you sit down to read it. I appreciate that now more that I am
now an adult.