Mary & Martha: A Fresh Look Under the theme, "SISTERS: Growing in Christ's Light," convention Bible study leader Donna Streufert led eager participants through a two-part study of Mary & Martha, providing a fresh look at these familiar sisters. In three Scripture scenes, we saw Martha growing in Christ's light-making choices, facing crisis, loving and serving Jesus. We watched Martha as she learned to sit down and listen to Jesus before getting up and getting busy serving Him. We watched her progress as she listened and grew in faith, confessing her confidence in Jesus as the Son of God, the Messiah. We took courage when we realized Martha, like each of us, is a disciple in process, learning to trust Jesus' love and power in times of crisis and to love and serve Him without complaint. But most important, we saw how much Jesus loved Martha-patiently teaching, guiding, opening her heart and mind, strengthening her faith, receiving and affirming her loving service. We stepped into Martha's sandals and saw God's incredible love for sinners like you and me. Reviewing the same three Scripture scenes a second time, Streufert focused on Mary. "Jesus defended Mary when she made the choice to sit at His feet instead of helping in the kitchen," Streufert said. "With Mary, we need only plant ourselves within the pages of God's Word to be taught by Him." Mary fell at Jesus' feet in prayer and showed she was certain Jesus could overcome sickness when she said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." Behind this family crisis of Lazarus's illness and death was the purpose of God-helping people see Jesus' true identity and believe in Him. Mary also kneeled at Jesus' feet to anoint Him with perfume in preparation for His burial. Mary took the most precious thing she possessed and spent it all on Jesus. We, too, sit at Jesus' feet and learn from Him. We fall at Jesus' feet and rely on Him alone. We kneel at Jesus feet and witness to Him as we humbly serve. And all the while, we rely on the Holy Spirit to equip and guide us. Donna Streufert's Bible study is combined with two additional studies in the LWML resource: Her Life in His Hands, available from the LWML Office.

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