Mt. Lebanon United Presbyterian Church     
 
Jim Schuchman - "Support Your Local Ministry"

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Messages of Grace

(Past Recorded Sermons) 












Palm Sunday
 

This Sunday
March 29, 2015


Sermon Title:
"Getting Carried Away"


Scripture:
Leviticus 16:6-10
Luke 23:32-34
1 Peter 2:23-25 




March 26, 2015 

 

This week, we reach the conclusion on our series entitled     "4 + 3 = 1." As we do vital mission and ministry in our four life stages (children, youth, adult, senior adult) so that we all grow in reaching three directions (upward, outward, inward), we look to be one growing church family. In the following, we hear from Business Administrator, Jim Schuchman. Through the story of Mary and Martha, Jim calls us all to lives of intentional and joyful service, no matter what our current life stage is. - Pastor Tim

 

Dear MLEPC Members and Friends:

 

I've always thought that Martha got the short end of the stick.

 

We all know the story found in Luke 10: while Jesus and His disciples were passing through a village, Martha opened her home to them. As Jesus was talking, Martha's sister Mary sat at the Lord's feet listening. Martha though was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made and went to Jesus to complain, saying "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"

 

In my mind, Jesus' response is a bit cryptic by saying "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her." Jesus does not elaborate on what that one necessary thing is. Nor does He explain what the good portion is.

 

Teaching on this passage focuses on the fact that Martha was attentive to worldly matters and the work of the day rather than spiritual matters and that Mary chose the good portion by focusing on spiritual matters. The general teaching is that we all need to strive for balance in our lives by taking time to feed our spiritual needs: Bible study, prayer, quiet time with God.

 

I think the lesson here goes further. I think Martha's problem goes beyond balancing the spiritual and worldly. She was not focusing on Jesus and she resented Mary for not helping. Mary was delighted to just sit at Jesus' feet listening and Martha clearly didn't like that. I think that Jesus chastised Martha for her attitude as much as for the one on whom she was focusing. Rather than focusing on Mary's behavior, Martha should have been focusing on serving Jesus. Jesus - the only Son of God.

 

It is clear that Martha was good at her job. She knew what was expected in keeping a house and how to prepare it for entertainment. She was in her element getting things ready for Jesus and his disciples. Rather than rejoice in her work, she resented Mary who just sat listening to Jesus talk. I think Jesus was telling Martha to do her work with joy. To be delighted in her service.

 

What does this have to do with support for all life stage ministries? Just like Martha, the support staff of MLEPC does a great deal of work behind the scenes to support the ministries taking place here. Week in and week out, coffee is prepared for Continental Breakfast, bulletins are printed, snow is shoveled to keep the building slip free, bills are paid, plumbing is repaired, furniture is moved throughout the building to prepare for meetings, classes and other events, people are greeted in the reception area with a smile, and every phone call is answered with a cheery greeting.

 

Remember, though, that supporting the ministries of the church is not limited to the support staff. We are all charged with the responsibility of serving one another (see Galatians 5:13 and 1 Peter 4:10). When asked to help at VBS or Mission Possible, don't turn and walk the other way.

 

Finally, support is not limited to certain life stages. Children can serve adults, seniors can serve women, men can serve youth and youth can serve seniors. We are all called to serve one another. Children can move chairs in Fellowship Hall during Mission Possible. Women and men can help in the kitchen and youth can help manage the children during VBS. Seniors can make snacks for the workers. Homebound seniors can pray for each and every ministry of the church. The need to serve and support is limitless and no one is off the hook.

 

Ok everybody, get out there and serve!

 

In Christ,

 

Jim Schuchman

 

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