Those of us who are country music enthusiasts and hope there's a few of us this morning sit remember the judge mother and daughter duo Naomi and Winona they had a popular song called grandpa tell me about the good old day that the lovers really fall in love to stay and stand beside each other come what may well the promise really something that people kept not just something they would say and then forget the families really bow their heads to pray that daddy's really never go away. Whoa grandpa tell me about the good old day and some people some people like to reminisce about the good old days and doing so what they what they like to do when they reminisce about the good old days beloved is they like to look at the present day and lament and lament the present times and the cry and the moment and the moment the present times in which we live and when they do that they look back on the quote unquote good old days and they look back on the good old days as if they were better times. You hear people talking about it all the time man those were the good old days well I got to be honest with you beloved when I look back on the quote unquote good old days I remember the old part but I don't always remember by that good part now don't get me wrong don't get me wrong okay don't get me wrong the good old days there was some good aspect to it but it was good because it was just simpler okay I think that's what people mean when they say good in old days it was just simpler because these days are better it's just more complicated these days are better the 70s have better clothes but these days are better the 80s have better music but these days are better the 90s have better sports teams and better athletes
but these days are better present days are better days advances in medicine advances in technology advances in science I don't know about any of you I ain't trying to go back and live in the 50s I ain't trying to go back and live in the 60s I ain't trying to go back and live in the 70s but I will admit beloved that these days have their challenges and they are many and one of the great challenges of our advancing time is the busyness of our time we are busy people busy it seems we don't have time for anything we are constantly on the move seeking more and more ways to move faster and faster we live our lives as someone recently said at hyper speed and speed is not always bad speed is not always a bad thing in fact speed has made our life better in many regards a faster phone is a better phone a faster computer is a better computer a faster car for the most part is a better car in the right hand but you do understand also beloved that what is faster is also more complicated and as our lives get faster they get more complicated and as they get more complicated they get more difficult to navigate and as they get more difficult to navigate it is easy to lose sight of what matters most I was having a conversation not long ago with someone about her life and her work and she expressed her desire to do better in her life and to do better in her work and with the things of the Lord but she admitted that she just didn't know where to start or what to do why because she was so busy she was busy at home she was busy at work her life was already busy her life was already complicated and she just didn't know how to fit into all of that the things of God on top of all that listen beloved listen God did not send his son into the world to make your life more complicated on the contrary the Bible says and John 10 and 10 that Jesus came into the world to make life better better and you know what better means better means simple simple Jesus came to simplify your life that's it that's what Jesus came to do believe it or not Jesus did not come to complicate your life Jesus came to simplify your life
with Jesus comes into a life he doesn't come to make the life more complicated he comes to make it more simple because wherever you are in your Christian life wherever you are right now wherever you are in your Christian life guess what that's where you are think about it wherever you are in your Christian life right now that's where you are stop thinking about where you were stop thinking about where you need to be wherever you are in your Christian life that's where you are hey the reason people get paralyzed and frustrated is because they lament where they were or they or they get frustrated by where they are not think don't think about it in that where you are is where you are okay they'll compare yourself to anybody else where you are right now in your Christian life is where you are you are now where I am where you are that's the first thing okay second thing is where you are in your Christian life guess what that's where Jesus is that's where Jesus is he is right there with you he's right there you didn't hear what I said wherever you are that's where Jesus is you don't have to go up and attain some height in order to get to where Jesus is Jesus is not up here you got to read this book you got to go to this class you got to read some height in order to read Jesus no wherever you are in your Christian life that's where you are and guess what that's where Jesus is
he's right there he's right there with you and then he says okay let's start right there
any coming to make this complicated wherever you are that's where Jesus is and he says we're gonna start right here we're gonna start right here oftentimes beloved the Christian life is difficult because we over complicated Christ isn't that complicated wherever you are I'm right there wherever you want to begin that's where I begin and we walk it out together wherever pace you move that's the pace I'm moving that's the pace I'm moving and I ain't leaving I ain't leaving oftentimes the Christian life is difficult because we over complicated when we make it about a lot of secondary things Christ comes not to complicate but to comfort and to declutter our faith he came to simplify our lives and that's why we're calling a series keep it simple same just a real quick back to Jesus series and we're gonna look at Luke 10 this morning kind of a introductory springboard into these other five messages this is just the introductory message this one doesn't count this is free okay this morning this is free okay this one doesn't count the five messages are what we're really looking at this is just the introductory okay this is just the springboard this is Jesus reminding us that's only one thing necessary as we get into these five principles that we're gonna look at hey this is how we keep it simple because there's only one thing necessary only one thing is necessary we're gonna keep it simple only one thing is necessary and we see that in Luke chapter 10 beginning in verse 38 what Jesus told us this type of this what he's teaching us this morning the Bible says in verse 38 on a way to Jerusalem Jesus and his disciples stopped by Martha and Mary top Jesus and his disciples they were on their way to Jerusalem the crowds were growing and they had sin words to Martha and Mary that they were gonna make a pit stop they didn't have buckies back then they didn't have buckies and so they didn't have they didn't have you know go to corral and any of those things and so they told they sent word to Martha and Mary we're gonna stop in this was probably a plan stop and it was gonna be a big deal Martha got word that Jesus coming Jesus the disciples are coming to big thing anticipated many people were gonna be there and it was Martha got busy and started working started planning suddenly dinner at the finals and it's like you went over there and I'm telling you miss Kimmy go make sure everybody was welcome and everybody was taking care of and it was a spread and everybody felt good and you knew you were at home and that's how Martha was this was her thing and everybody felt good and that was Martha for the one for the welcome
listen beloved Jesus wasn't there for the food Jesus wasn't there for the food Jesus wasn't there for the service and Mark chapter 10 verse 45 the bible says for even the son of a man did not come to be served but to serve and to give it life as a ransom for many Martha was busy serving Jesus when actually Jesus had come to serve her and this often happens in our life okay this is an honest mistake don't bury Martha here this is an honest mistake this is mistake we often make this is a mistake we often make in our Christian lines we want to impress Jesus we not only want to impress Jesus we want to impress others we want to show Jesus that we get it we want to show others that we have gifts and that we have talents and not only do we have them but we know how to use them we know what they are for we don't want to waste them we get it but beloved listen much talent can make us proud much talent can make us arrogant much giftedness can make us discontented notice what she says sprouts what the bible says she thought she was the only one serving that's what much giftedness often does much giftedness makes one discontented often makes you think you're the only one doing it much giftedness can make you think that you're the only one serving much much service can make you feel self-important tell my sister to help me tell my sister to help me because much service can make us feel self-important and what happens and what happens and suddenly our service can become a distraction suddenly our service becomes a distraction wow in verse 39 while Mary was sitting and listening to Jesus Martha was distracted with much service Martha was distracted with much serving question what would Martha distracted from 15 and listening to Jesus
what was Martha distracted by serving much serving in the Greek serving is deaconine deaconine deaconine deaconine he was distracted by her deaconine she was distracted by a good thing listen he are often distracted from the greater good by a lesser good from the greater good by a lesser good rarely are we distracted by an evil it is usually something or someone good who distracts us from sitting resting communing listening learning and trusting in Jesus it's usually someone something good that distracts us like work like work I can't make it why I got work I don't have time why cuz I got work I got project I got to get done I got bills to pay I need to work I got over time I have to get why I need to work I can't make it to Bible study I can't make it to church I have time for my devotions I have time for my choir time I have time why I have to work I'm tired I have to work
work is not a bad thing work is a good thing it is not the bad things beloved that keep us distracted the good things like like school school have assignments homework exams at the study I can't make it where are you I come in I hear I have to study I have my homework and my exams I couldn't make it to the fellowships these are the things that distract us children I can't make it why soccer get soccer volleyball basketball gymnastics football did I miss anybody these are the things that distract us the things that keep us husband keep in my husband died I can't make it beloved these are the excuses that distract us from sitting listening communing trusting resting from being with these are the things that keep us running around the kitchen that's what we're doing feel you're running around the kitchen these are says stop you're not in the kitchen life is filled with people and events filled with them with people and events and some of them more important in others I get it all of them all of them are have some importance they all pull on our time they all pull for our attention and they will all they will all at some point or another distract you and you will find yourself busy busy but not doing much with Jesus you write that down because that was Martha busy but not doing much with Jesus that's 21st Christian 21st century Christian oh you busy we are busy but you ain't doing much with Jesus that was Martha that was Martha look at my schedule I got work I got games I got kids I got a lot going on and a lot of Jesus in their past I ain't got a lot time to sit I ain't got a lot time to listen I ain't got a lot time to do what is the answer to all this Jesus gave the answer didn't gave the answer gave the answer to his disciples give the answer to us this morning it serves and forms the foundation of our series for the next five weeks beloved he looked at he looked at Martha and he said Martha Martha you are anxious about many things you are troubled about many things but only one thing is necessary only one thing is necessary there are many things to be troubled about in this life beloved there's only one thing is necessary for eternal life yeah many things are going to trouble you know keep you up tonight there's only one thing that's gonna give you forgiveness of this there are many many many things I wish the debate and get your blood pressure boiling there's only one thing that's going to bring you joy and the peace that passes all on the same one thing and I want you to hear the Lord this morning is our lives in the 21st century our fast pace and they are complicated and I get it but I want to suggest you this morning that our Christian faith does not have to be Christ came to make it simple simple a simple and therefore perhaps a better way of knowing and trusting and resting again in Jesus simple five ways of understanding the Christian life number one simple faith simple faith believing in Jesus is not complicated beloved God has made it simple no more booze no more goats no more lambs no more sacrifices Christ came once and for all to offer himself up our Christian lives our Christian lives are often like our closet they get cluttered with the latest facts they get cluttered with the latest fashions what's in today is out tomorrow but Hebrews 13 and 8 reminds us that Jesus is the same yesterday today and forever he doesn't change he is the same he is good enough for mama he is good enough for me simple he did chase the latest fat dick with Jesus simple as we are simple faith number two simple prayer simple prayer in Luke chapter 18 verse 1 Jesus taught that we should always pray that's what he said that we should always pray now listen beloved if Jesus desires for all of us to pray then it stands the reason that it shouldn't be difficult if God desires everybody to pray then it stands the reason that it can't be difficult it's not rocket science if he desires everybody to do it and the best gifts of God are always the simplest one and there is nothing better or more simpler than just to have a little talk with Jesus and you could do that every day beloved if you know to have if you know how to have a conversation on the phone with the friends you know how to how you know how to pray he's just having to talk with Jesus tell him all about your troubles he will hear your faint described and he will answer by him by it's just that simple love it I know I know we make it complicated in the way that we talk about prayer and the way that we teach people about prayer and the way that sometimes we listen to people and when they pray beloved it is not complicated simple just have a little talk with you that's what we all talk about simple faith simple prayer simple devotion simple devotion many of us struggle many of us struggle was this daily spending time with God on a daily basis just getting before him on a daily and just spending quiet time with God but do you realize beloved that there is nothing more natural than being with God nothing more natural than that we were created for it a heart I got shaped there is nothing more natural than being with God your heart yearns for eternity you have a natural longing for a relationship with God and God had made it simple because God desires to be with you he desires that how do I know because God sent Christ to be with you that's why Christ came to be with you and if if that was not enough you know what God the Father and God the Son did God the Father and God the Son not only did God the Father send the Son to be with you then God the Father and God the Son send God the Holy Spirit to be more with you and then they both said you abide with me I will say the job to see you abide with you
being spending time on the daily with God it's simple it is just recognizing every day that God is all ready when you wake up in the morning he's already there he's already there he's with you he is promised to be with you he's promised to never leave you know for thank you it's practicing his presence it is simply knowing he's already there simple for love it it's not complicated it's not complicated we don't keep it simple things simple faith simple prayer simple devotion simple worship simple worship simple worship worship is the end for which we have all been created and now and now we are saying simple worship and in Christ that worship has been simplified Christ has come and lifted the veil that brings us into the presence of God where we worship before the face of God worship used to be something that was relegated just to the priest but now the Bible says in Revelation 1 and verse 6 that now we are a kingdom of priests we come before God and we worship if you are in Christ you have access to God and you can worship him nothing that hinders and nothing hinders your access to the Father it is just that simple worship is the gift that has been given to us through Christ it is ours it is just that simple and lastly a simple hope a simple hope simple simple hope what the world wants more than anything beloved it's hope so it wants they can use little hope and God is this morning they can use little hope in a Ukraine but biblical hope for love it is not just the expectation that something good is going to happen no no biblical hope is the moral certainty and assurance that something good will happen because God said it would and for the Christian hope is simple because hope is everything in Christ our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and right chest net his return his resurrection his renewing of our things is our hope our resurrection our eternal life put simply we are a people of hope simple hope it's not complicated it's not complicated
advise every Christian season Christians mean something for the Christian we got the mean hope and it's a simple hope the hope that God is making all things and beloved the longer that I walk with Jesus the longer I walk with Jesus you know what I find the less complicated I find Jesus to be. I really do. The left complex, I find the Christian life to be. I really do. I do find Christians make things more complicated. The longer I live, I have to feel, the more complex and complicated, I find that Christians make things be. But not Jesus, I find that I make my life more complicated and difficult than it needs to be. But not Jesus. I find that Jesus and His grace are making things easier. He's making things easier. Think about it and Matthew, chapter 11, verse 28, the verse 30, the Bible says, Jesus says, come to me, all her labor and I have healing and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Here is my desire. I want to know what it is to have an easy yoke and to carry a light burden. My yoke is easy. My burden is light. Take it. Therefore, Lord, here I have a heavy burden. I have a hard yoke. Jesus says, okay, I'll take that. You take my easy one. You take my light one. I want to know, beloved, what it is to have an easy yoke and a light burden. Do I have to wait to get the heaven for that? Somebody tell me,
like Martha, I think we carry too much. Martha was carrying too much. We carry too much. We all do. We make it too complicated. Carry too much sin. We carry too much guilt. We carry too much hurt. We carry too much unforgiveness. We carry too much shame. We carry too much regret. We carry too much pain. We're just carrying it around the kitchen all day. Make it all too complicated.
Favorite songs growing up in the church. Most things the same. I'm going to lay down my burden. Down by. Down by the riverside. Down by the riverside. I'm thinking they're talking about going to heaven. I'm thinking why we got to wait to go to heaven to lay the burden. Beloved, the ease of Christianity is that Jesus has come to take our burden. He has come to carry our burden but not just the burden of sin but the burden of worry. Not just the burden of worry but the burden of worry and to make it simple and to remind Martha and to remind you and to remind me is not about you. It's about him. Stop thinking the Christian life is about you Martha. It's about him. Stop thinking the Christian life is about you. It's about him and one thing is necessary. One thing is necessary Martha. One thing and I got a hashtag for it. I got a hashtag for it. I have to have a hashtag for this series. Martha, let Jesus. Can you do that? Can you do that? Can you do it?