Choosing Intimacy with Jesus Over Distraction

This sermon addresses the primary reason modern Christians struggle with prayer: distraction. Using the story of Mary and Martha from Luke 10:38-42, the pastor contrasts two approaches to Jesus—Martha's distracted busyness and Mary's intentional presence. The message reveals how contemporary culture, with its screen time averaging 5-7 hours daily and 2,600 phone touches per day, has created a generation more discipled by algorithms than by Christ. However, the sermon goes deeper than technology addiction, showing how even ministry activities and "good things" can distract us from the "one thing" Jesus identifies as most important: sitting at His feet in intimate relationship. The pastor emphasizes that external silence alone isn't enough—we must also address our internal noise through spiritual practices of solitude and silence. Prayer isn't just another activity to add to our busy lives; it flows from choosing Jesus as our first love and submitting to His direction rather than our own agendas.