One Thing

Seth McDonald
02/02/25 - Sunday AM Worship

One Thing

Being Single-Minded in Service to God

1. "One thing I have desired..." – Psalm 27.4
   1. David desired to dwell in the house of the Lord
      1. This includes the desire to worship. – Psalm 122.1
         1. The ability to worship freely is a blessing.
         2. The ability to worship is an honor.
         3. Worship is good for me.
      2. “Dwell” and “all the days of my life” indicate more than just worship.
         1. When others “dwell” in sin, it takes a conscious effort to be different.
         2. It is a single-minded, daily walk with God.
   2. David desired to gaze on the beauty of the Lord.
      1. God made many beautiful wonders.
      2. Mankind’s gaze is not always where it should be.
         1. “Gazing” on beautiful people is turned into sinful lust. (David’s personal failure)
         2. “Gazing” on beautiful things is turned into coveting, materialism, and pride.
         3. To break sinful habits, be single-minded on “looking to Jesus” (Heb 12.1).
   3. David desires to seek God (meditate, inquire) in His temple.
      1. While seeking counsel from man may have limited benefit, our first stop should be the scriptures. – Psalm 1.1-2
      2. We are blessed when we make corrections after looking into “the perfect law of liberty.” – James 1.25
          
2. "But one thing is necessary..." – Luke 10.38-42
   1. Martha complains to Jesus that Mary is not helping her.
      1. Martha was “distracted with much serving” (v40) and “worried and upset about many things” (v41).
      2. Mary is mentioned in three different scenes in the New Testament. In each of them, she is at the feet of Jesus. (John 11.1-2, Mt 26.6-13; John 11.32)
      3. Serving a meal & being a good host are important, but not as important as learning from Jesus.  
   2. Many fail to put the Lord first in their lives.
      1. The cares of the world will choke out the Word of God. – Matthew 13.22; Luke 8.14
      2. We are told “Do not worry…” (Matt 6.25) and “be anxious for nothing” (Phil 4.6)
      3. Instead, “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” – Matt 6.33
         
          

3. "One thing I do know..." – John 9.25
   1. Jesus heals a man who was born blind.
      1. The Jews accuse Jesus of being a sinner.
      2. This man does not have many answers about Jesus but knew enough to have faith.
   2. Application: We may not have answers to every question about Jesus, but we can know “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.”
      1. If convicted of this fact, you must live a life that reflects that faith.
      2. If Jesus is Lord, you must obey what He commands.
          
4. "You lack one thing..." – Mark 10.17-22
   1. This was an impressive young man measured up unusually well.
   2. He had one weakness – materialism
   3. Everyone has at least one “sin that easily ensnares them” – Hebrews 12.1
      1. It could be sins of commission (worry, lust, anger, pride)
      2. Or sins of omission (neglecting prayer, study, worship, helping others)
      3. What would Jesus say is the one thing I lack? -
          
5. "But one thing I do..." – Philippians 3.13
   1. Paul puts his past in its place and presses on.
      1. Past failures & hurts
      2. Past accomplishments
   2. We also need to forget our past and reach (strain) forward.
      1. Forget past failures and reach toward righteousness.
      2. Forget past hurts and reach toward love.
      3. Forget past accomplishments and reach to do more work in the Lord.

Discussion Questions

1. What was one point or passage discussed this morning that you found helpful?
   
    

2. What keeps us from being single-minded? How does the idea of “one thing” help?
    

3. How did the “rich young man” feel when he turned away from Jesus? How do you think he feels now as he awaits judgment (if he obeyed Jesus)?