Sermon Quotes: "One Thing Is Necessary"

“New Year’s finds me employed. I compare it to a hill on the road from the top of which I endeavor to look back on the way the Lord has led me thus far through the wilderness. I look around to contemplate the difference his goodness has made between my situation, and that of thousands of my fellow creatures. I then look forward and perceive that I am drawing apace to my journey’s end. I shall soon be at home.” - John Newton

“The story of Mary and Martha will furnish the church with lessons of wisdom which ought never to be forgotten.” - J.C. Ryle

“Instead of having a private word with Mary or giving her a meaningful look, Martha wipes her dishpan hands on her apron and complains directly to Jesus about her do-nothing sister.” - David Garland

“Discipleship is a relationship before it is a task, a ‘who’ before a ‘what.’ The gospel of Jesus reprioritizes all of life. Mary has made the gospel primary, to which all other things, even hospitality, are relative. Jesus does not condemn Martha’s hospitality but directs her to a new understanding and employment of it in light of the gospel, an understanding that will prevent it from impeding discipleship and redeem it on behalf of discipleship.” - James Edwards

“It is easier to serve than to commune.” - Charles Spurgeon

“’One thing is necessary.’ Let this little sentence be continually before the eyes of our minds.” - J.C. Ryle

“Yet one more thing that we have to do for Jesus; rather, it is an opportunity for him to do something for us, something he wants to do for us as we listen to him. Jesus is not asking for something more from us; he is asking for less, so that he can give us more of himself.” - Phil Ryken