Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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Anger
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Conscientiousness
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January 4, 2015
*Intro* – Joe Theisman was playing quarterback for the Redskins one Monday night when he was tackled by HOF linebacker, Lawrence Taylor of the New York Giants.
Immediately Taylor motioned that Theisman needed help.
And boy did he!
On the replay, his right leg was going one way when the full weight of LT landed on it and part of it went another way.
It was awful.
Theisman’s leg was fractured, and as it turned out, so was his career.
And so are a lot of Xn lives.
It’s not our leg that’s fractured, but if someone took the top off of our head today, it would be a tangled mess of fragmented thoughts going every which way – trying to do the right thing in a world that demands a lot.
Our boss expects 50 hours a week minimum.
Then we need to be at our son’s game, our daughter’s dance recital, a PTA meeting and a Bible study – all at the same time.
Frazzled, foiled, frenetic, frustrated – FRACTURED.
Too many good things spell disaster.
That’s just how Martha felt.
But rather than sympathize, Jesus answered: “Check your priorities!”
In a game between the Cubs and Pirates in 1902 left-hander Jimmy St. Vrain pitched for the Cubs.
Good pitcher, lousy hitter.
That day, he struck out his first 2 times, so the 3rd time, the coach had a brainstorm.
He said, “Listen, try batting left-handed for a change.
You’ve got nothing to lose.”
So he did, and lightning struck!
On the very first pitch, St. Vrain hit the ball – not much, just a slow roller to short.
But when Jimmy saw a fair ball, he was off like a flash.
Legs churning and arms pumping, he was going to beat that throw if it killed him.
There was only one problem.
He was running toward third base instead of first.
His turnaround confused him and everyone.
Even Honus Wagner didn’t know whether to throw to first or third!
The point is activity must be prioritized.
For a Xn all effort must spring from a vital, living relationship with Almighty God.
That is the one thing that is necessary.
One thing!
That simplifies things, doesn’t it?
We don’t live frantic lives because there are too many demands; we live frantic lives because we have not been with God.
We’ve skipped first base.
Is third base important?
You bet it is.
But it doesn’t mean a thing until you’ve been to first!
And service for God doesn’t mean a thing until we’ve been with God.
Martha paid dearly when she got priorities backwards.
*I.
Problems with Others (Battered Relationships)*
Got relationship problems?
You’re not alone.
So did Martha.
Her busyness led to battered relationships.
V. 40: “But Martha was distracted (literally drawn about in different directions – torn apart) with much serving.
And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?
Tell her then to help me.”
Martha is ticked.
She’s trying to make a great dinner for Jesus; Mary’s doing little to help and Jesus doesn’t seem to care.
She actually orders Jesus: “Fix it!”
Was Mary cheating Martha?
Jesus doesn’t think so.
Mary had helped earlier.
V. 40 notes Mary had “left” Martha, implying Mary had helped Martha earlier; when things were in order, she checked out to be with Jesus.
V. 39 says, “And she had a sister called Mary, who [“also”, left out of ESV] sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching.”
Mary helped, but also sat.
She wanted to be with Jesus more than serve Him.
Martha’s all about activity.
She loves Jesus, too.
But her love is expressed in doing!
But service distracted her, and killed her relationship with Mary.
Killed it with Jesus, too!
Ironic, isnt’ it?!
She fails the very thing she wants to achieve – serving Jesus – and then blames Him! V. 40, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?”
Imagine accusing Jesus of not caring!
Then she orders the Lord, “Tell her then to help me.”
Wow!
But serving out of duty instead of love leads to resentment.
The principle is: We won’t get along with people if we don’t get alone with Him.
We will kill relationships and resent the Lord.
During WWII the Japanese got a huge leg up by knocking out the US fleet at Pearl Harbor.
Six months later came the decisive Battle of Midway with the US still at a huge disadvantage to a great Japanese fleet.
But very early in the battle, U.S. naval fliers destroyed the bridge of the ship of the commanding admiral.
All radio contact was lost between ships.
From that moment the captain of each ship was on his own.
In darkness and confusion, Japanese ships began to fire at one another and the rout was on.
Why?
All because communication with the leader was lost.
Similarly right relationships with others comes from being rightly related to our head?
Without that comes sniping, anger that others aren’t doing as much as we are, feelings of loneliness and even resentment of God.
The only cure is constant contact with Him! Can’t be mad at one you’re praying for.
*II.
PROBLEMS WITH SELF (Frustration and Anxiety)*
Want to be frustrated and anxious?
Skip time with Jesus.
V. 40 “But Martha was distracted (pulled apart, fractured) with much serving.
41) But the Lord answered her, Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things.”
Martha’s having a nervous breakdown serving God.
The word “distracts” means to “draw away” or to “draw off”.
Martha was actually drawn away from Christ by her service for Him.
Fractured by service.
The word “anxious” refers to inner turmoil.
She’s just a bundle of nerves – torn apart inside.
Paul commands in Phil 4:6 we be anxious for nothing.
The word “troubled” speaks of outward discontent.
It speaks of her busyness.
Moving a couch in, getting the plates set, seasoning the meat again.
Martha was distracted, inwardly and outwardly, conflicted because of her service.
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