Inward Prayer

Small Group Questions:

1. Who do you relate to more and why, Mary or Martha?
2. The first step of an emotionally healthy spirituality is identifying our priorities, what are the most important things/people/activities in your life?
3. Spending time with Jesus means slowing down like Mary. What challenges do you find in slowing down?
4. Have you ever experienced being in Jesus’ presence? What was it like? How did you feel?
5. The next 6 weeks will be very practical in nature as we learn how to become emotional and spiritually healthy people, but it starts with slowing down and spending time with Jesus. How are you going to practice that this week?

Outward Prayer

The Problem of Emotionally Unhealthy Spirituality

THE MAIN POINT
At our core we are Human-Beings, not Human-Doings. When we prioritize ‘doing’ things for God over ‘being’ in His presence, we eventually burn out. The root of emotional and spiritual health can be found in what we prioritize.

THE BIBLE
Luke 10:38-42

THE CONTEXT

Mary & Martha represent two approaches to the Christian Life.

Martha is actively serving Jesus, but she is also missing Jesus. She is caught up in the “doing” of life. Her life is pressured and filled with distractions. Her duties have become disconnected from her love of Jesus. Martha’s problems, however, go beyond her busyness, and she gets frustrated with her sister apparently “not doing anything important.”

Mary, however, has realized what is important, priority number one; being in Jesus’s presence. Mary is sitting at his feet, enjoying intimacy, and delighting in his presence. Her life gravitates around one key thing, Jesus.

I suspect if Martha sat at Jesus’ feet she would have still been distracted, irritable and anxious as she was so focused on doing.

I suspect if Mary were to help with the household tasks she would not have been worried or upset as her focus was being. She slowed down enough to focus on Jesus and to center her life on him.

THE CORE
As you prepare the core of the message using personal stories and questions, keep in mind these points:

• How do you establish priorities?
• What does being > doing practically look like?
• Why does being in Jesus’ presence bring emotional and spiritual maturity?

THE APPLICATION
As you prepare the application, challenge and/or encouragement, keep in mind these points:

• How can the listener practice “being” with Jesus this week?
• What rhythms may be helpful for your listener to prioritize being, over doing?
• Doing things for Jesus is not wrong, it’s part of the Christian life. Therefore what things can your listener “do” that would be good?