Today we explore a key feature of who we are as a church – the emphasis of being over doing. Two stories that reflect this in the NT. One is the story in Luke 10 where Martha snaps at Jesus for allowing Mary to ignore the “chores of hospitality” in order to listen to Jesus and be with Him. It is also a significant factor in the story found in Matthew 17:14-20. As Jesus comes down from the Mount of Transfiguration, He finds that His disciples were ineffective at confronting a demon in a young man. Jesus tells them that their faith was lacking. Another Gospel account says that prayer and fasting are key components to preparation for this kind of confrontation. I suggest that we understand this to be time with God. Being with God must power any activity which reflects His glory. Our actions are to have the power and glory of God dripping from them like dew from a rose in the morning. This morning, I am going to begin with the first story – the one about Martha and her grumping over Mary’s failure to attend to chores. It points out common problems that we still have with the relationship between being and doing. Let me define being = Let me define doing =

What Makes Us Who We Are: Being over Doing Luke 10:38-40 NIV “As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’” So do you know people who are like Mary or Martha? Let me share some of the problems you might see in your life or in lives of other people today.

What Makes Us Who We Are: Being over Doing The problems with emphasizing activity. Activity is not the best gage of spiritual maturity. Activity can become a barrier that causes us to avoid or ignore the work of knowing Jesus. Activity (even good stuff) can lead us to choices that crowd out hearing from Jesus. Good activity – spiritual activity – God activity

There is a priority of “being” over “doing.” What Makes Us Who We Are: Being over Doing There is a priority of “being” over “doing.” John 15:5-8 NIV “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” Appliance needs to be plugged in to have power. Danny Buggs Washington Redskins - Jesus is your life. He is not part of your life.

Doing “God-sized” things is what we were made for. What Makes Us Who We Are: Being over Doing Doing “God-sized” things is what we were made for. Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast. But the clear teaching in verse 10 is …

Doing flows out of who you are. What Makes Us Who We Are: Being over Doing Doing flows out of who you are. Acts 4:13 NIV When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. Acts 4:7-12 NIV 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?" 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 He is "'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone'. 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

Maturity begins with knowing God. What Makes Us Who We Are: Being over Doing Maturity begins with knowing God. 1 John 2:12-13 NIV I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.

Re-aligning your being What Makes Us Who We Are: Being over Doing Re-aligning your being Evaluate your lifestyle patterns. Do you see a lot of Christian busyness in your life or do your activities and actions begin with and flow out of your relationship with Jesus? Be with Jesus (focus on the listening). Simplify your life. Follow Jesus and do the kind of things He did.