The Missing Part

Luke 10:38-42

Scripture Reference

Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And the Lord answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Introduction

The Lord’s encounter with Mary and Martha is small in words but deep in meaning. In this familiar passage, two sisters demonstrate two responses to Jesus’ presence: one sits, listens, and worships; the other labors, serves, and frets. Dr. Terry LeQuieu calls this sermon “The Missing Part.” He contends that many churches and Christians have separated two things God intends to be joined: worship and work, sitting and serving. This message aims to recover the balance by showing that true Christian service must be rooted in worship—worship that is done in spirit and in truth—and that genuine worship always produces godly work.

I’ve got a message that’s entitled the Missing Part. The Missing Part.

— Dr. Terry LeQuieu

Quote from Preacher

Below is a brief, exact quote from the transcript as an introductory word from Dr. LeQuieu.

Outline

Set the Scene: Sitter and Server
1. Context and Cast
  Luke 10 places Jesus in the village of Bethany with Martha, Mary, and their brother Lazarus. It’s not an isolated incident; these characters reappear in John’s Gospel, illustrating consistent spiritual patterns in real lives.
2. Two Responses to Christ
  Martha is cumbered with serving; Mary sits at Jesus’ feet and hears His word. Both actions are “service” in a broader sense, but Jesus highlights Mary’s choice as the “good part.”
Define the Problem: The Missing Part Is Worship
1. What “cumbered” means
  “Cumbered” indicates being burdened, distracted, or dragged about with many tasks. Martha’s work became a visible burden—she even sought public recognition for it.
2. When service becomes self-centered
  When our focus shifts from who we serve (Jesus) to what we are doing, service becomes carnal. The danger is not merely busyness but the bitterness, anxiety, and pride that often follow.
3. The “missing part” defined
  The part many churches omit is worship — the private, spiritual time with God that fuels public service. Mary’s “good part” is the worship that precedes and empowers service.
How Jesus Evaluated the Two Sisters
1. He rebuked Martha’s spirit, not her activity
  Jesus addressed Martha’s anxiety and troubled spirit (compare Philippians 4:6’s word “careful”). His rebuke focused on motive and heart posture, not merely on external service.
2. He affirmed Mary’s choice
  Mary “chose” the good part—an active choice to sit, listen, and worship—something that cannot be taken away from her. Jesus did not accuse Mary of idleness; He commended the priority of worship.
Worship Must Be in Spirit and in Truth
1. Spirit and truth explained
  “Spirit” refers to inward motive, attitude, and heart devotion. “Truth” refers to God’s revealed Word and objective reality (Jesus is the Truth). Both must be present for worship to be genuine (John 4:21–24).
2. External form without internal reality is empty
  Emotional displays, programs, and performance can give the appearance of worship yet lack spiritual life if the heart is not right. Likewise, correct doctrine without a humble heart becomes sterile and proud.
Practical Truth: Worship Leads to Work
1. Work without worship is often burnt out and bitter
  Many who labor faithfully for the Lord burn out because they treated the work as the end, rather than the fruit of walking with God. Private devotion replenishes and restrains pride.
2. Worship produces faithful action
  True worship compels obedience, evangelism, and humble service. When you spend time with Christ, He gives burdens, direction, and endurance for the work He calls you to do.
Two Practical Areas Where Worship Must Show Itself
1. Attitude in our private life
  A bad spirit will ruin service: anxiety, entitlement, comparison, and criticalness are symptoms of a neglected walk with God. Scripture calls for self-examination and inward worship before outward action.
2. Action in our public life
  Genuine private worship should bear fruit in public acts—Bible study, soulwinning, church service, hospitality, and practical help. Our deeds should reflect the truth we have received in private.
Warnings from Scripture and Example
1. Pharisees as a negative example
  The Jews who were outwardly pious but inwardly proud illustrate how work/apparence without true worship is hypocrisy (see Luke’s criticisms of the Pharisees).
2. Elijah as a caution
  Elijah’s complaint—“I, even I only, am left” (1 Kings 19)—shows how a discouraged servant with a wrong spirit can have ministry removed. God corrected Elijah and revealed there were those faithful elsewhere; Elijah’s failure was in the spirit, not in labor.
Reorienting the Local Church
1. Stop measuring ministry by visible activity alone
  Church strength is not measured only by tasks accomplished but by the spiritual health of its people. Private walk determines public witness.
2. Teach and practice both sitting and serving
  Make room in the life of the church for both regular private devotion and faithful service. Equip Christians (especially young adults) to combine Bible intake with outreach action.

Summary

Dr. Terry LeQuieu’s “The Missing Part” calls us back to a biblical rhythm: sit with Christ, then serve for Christ. Martha’s fault was not busyness itself but a heart out of alignment. Mary’s choice—the “good part”—was worship, and Jesus said it was needful. True worship is worship in spirit (a right heart) and in truth (the Word and Christ Himself). When worship is neglected, service deteriorates into pride, burnout, and bitterness. Conversely, genuine worship fuels faithful, humble service. The remedy is spiritual re-orientation: private communion with God that produces public ministry.

When our focus becomes what we are doing for God instead of who we are doing it for, then our service becomes carnal and not spiritual.

— Dr. Terry LeQuieu

Quote to Ponder

Application for the Week

Make this week practical. Here are clear, measurable steps to help you reclaim the missing part—worship that fuels service—so you will be both sitting with Christ and serving for Christ.

Schedule a Daily Quiet Time (Sit)
Set aside 15–30 minutes each morning this week for Scripture and prayer. Begin with a short passage (Psalms or a Gospel chapter) and ask the Lord to speak. Make it a non-negotiable appointment with Christ. Record one thing God showed you each day.
Act on One Prompt from God (Serve)
From what God reveals in your quiet time, choose one concrete action for the week: hand a gospel tract to someone, call a neighbor who needs help, invite a friend to church, or volunteer for one church task. Let worship produce work.
Examine Your Motives Daily (Attitude)
Before you serve or speak about ministry, ask: “Am I doing this for God’s glory or for recognition?” Confess pride or bitterness and ask God to restore a thankful, humble heart.
Join a Short-Term Accountability Pair
Pair with another believer for a week of mutual encouragement: pray for each other daily, share what God is teaching you, and check one another’s follow-through on the action step. Accountability helps keep private worship from staying private.
Serve with Joyful Dependence
When you perform tasks for the church (cleaning, mowing, counseling, teaching), begin with a brief prayer asking God to use your work. Make at least one verbal testimony this week: tell someone why you’re doing what you’re doing for the Lord.
Teach or Invite One Person to the Principle
Explain Luke 10:38–42 to a friend or family member and encourage them to try the sit-then-serve rhythm for one week. Teaching others will consolidate the truth in your own heart.
Evaluate and Adjust
At week’s end, review your quiet time notes and the action you took. Did worship lead to service? Were you less anxious and more fruitful? Pray for ongoing grace to keep worship the foundation for service.

Pray this simple prayer as you begin: “Lord, help me to choose the good part like Mary. Correct my heart where it’s anxious and proud. Fill me by Your Spirit with truth that produces humble service. Use what You give me to bless others and glorify Your name. Amen.”