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God's view of CABC

Merry Christmas! Message, Christmas 2005

Sermon by Pastor Timothy Tin

On the night of Jesus's birth the heavenly choir of angels did not appear to a king or a wealthy or influential individual, instead God sent them to the commonest of common men, shepherds. What lessons can we take from these simple everyday people who became the world's first evangelists, spreading the good news of the arrival of the Messiah?

1. Listen to God when He speaks to you so that you are able to discern the truth. Just like Mary listened to Jesus while Martha was absorbed in her preparations.
2. Not only hear what He says but act, do what He tells you to. Simply listening to the word of God doesn't make you a Christian.
3. Be fit and ready for action when you are called. The shepherds wasted no time in seeking out the stable in Bethlehem.
4. Be united in purpose and in heart. They all went.

 Pastor Tin brought up a point that caught my interest, one that I've heard before and one that I think I could give you a different perspective on. In his first example he used the story of Mary and Martha and compared and contrasted the actions of the two women which worked well for the point he was making, but I've heard a different side of the story.

38As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40But 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!" 41"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

-Luke 10:38-42

At first glance this story seems to be contrasting an attitude of stillness and waiting on God with that of being busy and caught up in the things around you. This is the message that Pastor Tin took from this passage, and it's a good one. Sometimes life can just be so busy that you just totally miss out from all the cool things you could be getting from hanging out with God. But deeper in this passage is a message about the attitude of one's heart apart from the external circumstances. You see, both of the women were doing good things; Mary was sitting at Jesus's feet getting a better sermon than any given at any church on any Sunday; Martha was taking the roll of a servant seeing to the needs of others since a visit from Jesus entailed a great gaggle of guests. Why then was Martha singled out in a rebuke from Jesus? It was her heart. While Mary sat content with where she was and what she was doing for the Lord, Martha was not. She drew her focus away from God and put it on criticizing Mary and how she was not "helping out." Their rolls could have easily been reversed and Mary could be the one saying "Lord, don't you care that Martha is caught up in the preparations and not here at your feet? Tell her to come and listen to you!" Many times it is so easy to loose sight of what God has called you to do, and instead take your eyes off of Him and focus on how those around you are not doing the "right" thing. There is a time and a season for everything and God works differently with everyone.

HOMEWORK!?!?