Introduction

by RBYG Girls

One of our favourite movies in the youth group is Finding Nemo, so we obviously had to incorporate it into this study.

If you go to the book of Luke, in chapter 10 you will find the story of Mary and Martha. Jesus came to their house and these two sisters had two different responses to His presence, and different views on who was in the right. We were able to find some similarities between this story and Pixar’s classic Finding Nemo.

In the film you have two fish, Marlin and Dory, who are on a quest to find Marlin’s son. Marlin is always very focused on getting to where they need to be, but Dory, who suffers from short-term memory loss, gets easily distracted from the goal.

We can compare Dory to Martha as both tried to do the right thing but got easily distracted from what was most important. Marlin and Mary shared their responses of being focused on doing what was necessary to find what they were searching for. All of these characters were trying their best to do what was right and eventually made it there, but they each took different approaches in how they achieved their goal.

Questions For Discussion

Do the things you put as a priority in your life really matter in light of eternity?

Are there times when you feel so busy and anxious with tasks?

How do you think God feels about those tasks?

‘As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’ Luke 10:38-40

Martha was so bogged down with the stress of household chores, it’s almost as if she didn’t realise that Jesus was in her house.

Why do you think Martha was so fixated on working instead of visiting with Jesus?

Do you think Mary noticed Martha running around the house while she was sitting at the feet of Jesus?

Do you think she tried to invite Martha to stop and sit with them?

‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’ Luke 10:40-42

Do you think Jesus was disappointed in Martha’s complaints?

How do you think Martha responded to Jesus’ answer?

Are there times when you come to Jesus with complaints about your busy life?

What do you think His reaction is?

What is the ‘good portion’ that Jesus mentioned?

How do we as Christians obtain the ‘good portion’?

Do you get too caught up with life to take a break and sit at Jesus’ feet?

How can we focus more on the ‘good portion’ and help others find it as well?