We are so busy with so much pursuits that we don’t even notice the most important things slipping us by.
Sermon #3: “BUSYNESS: THE PATHWAY TO A TRIVIAL LIFE”
Sermon Series: SOUL SHIFTS
Scripture Text: Mark 1:32-38
Sermon Notes:
MARK 1:32-38 NIV
32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was. 35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” 38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else--to the nearby villages--so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”
- CRAZY BUSY by Kevin Deyoung
1 KINGS 20:39-40 NIV
39 As the king passed by, the prophet called out to him, “Your servant went into the thick of the battle, and someone came to me with a captive and said, ‘Guard this man. If he is missing, it will be your life for his life, or you must pay a talent of silver.’
40 While your servant was busy here and there, the man disappeared.” “That is your sentence,” the king of Israel said. “You have pronounced it yourself.”
We are so busy with so much pursuits that we don’t even notice the most important things slipping us by.
- Telltale sign of a busy-hectic life:
- A joyless life that has robbed our hearts and overwhelmed our souls.
To experience the life of Jesus, we have to adopt the way of life of Jesus.
…the secret involves living as [Jesus] lived in the entirety of his life – adopting his overall life-style … — Dallas Willard
- Following Jesus is something we do.
To experience the life of Jesus, we have to adopt the way of life of Jesus.
I. JESUS’ PACE: BUSY NOT HURRIED
MARK 5:32 NIV
32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it.
MARK 5:33-34 NIV
33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth.
34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
JOHN 11:4-7 NIV
4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”
5 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
6 Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. 7 Then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”
Jesus was busy but always present to the moment.
Hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life. There is almost nothing you can do that reflect life in the kingdom that you can do in a hurried way. You can’t listen to someone in a hurry. You can’t love someone in a hurry. You can’t follow Jesus in a hurry. — John Ortberg
II. JESUS’ PERSPECTIVE: DISCERNING YET ALWAYS PRESENT
MARK 1:35-38 NIV
35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
36 Simon and his companions went to look for him,
37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”
38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else--to the nearby villages--so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”
- Start With Why by Simon Sinek
- Jesus knew his why and he never lost his way.
- Jesus knew what to do and he knew what not to do.
2 THESSALONIANS 3:11 NASB
11 For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies.
We are to use technology and not be used by technology.
To experience the life of Jesus, we have to adopt the way of life of Jesus.
SHIFT #1: SET BOUNDARIES.
Deep down, we know that we need less screen time and more of God’s presence.
SHIFT #2. SLOW DOWN.
MARK 6:31-32 NIV
31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
SHIFT #3. PRACTICE SILENCE & SOLITUDE.
If we want to have faith when it counts, we must demonstrate that faith when it doesn’t count.
DANIEL 6:10 NIV
10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
- “as was his custom since early days”
- (NKJV)
LUKE 5:16 NIV
16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
- Raise Your Game by Alan Stein Jr.
The basics are simple, but hard to do consistently.
THREE SHIFTS:
1. Set Boundaries.
2. Slow Down.
3. Practice Silence & Solitude.
To experience the life of Jesus, we have to adopt the way of life of Jesus.