Joyful Moments in Christ

Martha and Mary: Choosing What Is Most Important

This Sunday School lesson is intended for upper elementary students. All lessons on this website are protected by copyright, but you can use them for free in small groups or Sunday School classes. You may share a link to this page, but please do not copy these pages and put them on other websites.

The Big Idea

Jesus calls us to choose what is most important by listening to his word above all else.

Lesson Objectives

1. Students will learn that Jesus visited the home of Martha and Mary.
2. Students will see that Mary chose to listen to Jesus while Martha was distracted with many tasks.
3. Students will understand that time spent with Jesus and his word is more important than busyness.
4. Students will be encouraged to seek Jesus through prayer and Bible reading during the week.

Class Setting Notes

1. Recommended for upper elementary Sunday School.
2. Lesson length: 40-50 minutes. Can be shortened or extended based on activities selected.

Opening Activity

1. Ask students: “When a guest visits your home, what do you or your family usually do to get ready?”
2. Write their answers on the board.
3. Briefly share that in today’s passage, Jesus visited two sisters who welcomed him into their home, but each responded very differently.

This activity helps introduce the theme of preparing for Jesus’ presence and thinking about what is truly important.

Bible Reading

Ask the class to read Luke 10:38-42 aloud together or have one person read it.

• Very Easy: Easy-to-Read Version: Luke 10:38-42 (ERV)
• Very Easy: New International Reader’s Version: Luke 10:38-42 (NIRV)
• Easy: Good News Translation: Luke 10:38-42 (GNT)
• Medium: New Living Translation: Luke 10:38-42 (NLT)
• Hard: New International Version: Luke 10:38-42 (NIV)
• Very Hard: English Standard Version: Luke 10:38-42 (ESV)

Additional Reading: Choosing the Right Bible Translation

Suggested prompts:

As the class reads aloud, consider asking some of these prompts:

1. Listen for who welcomed Jesus into the home.
2. Notice what Mary does when Jesus begins to teach.
3. Pay attention to what Martha says to Jesus.
4. Watch how Jesus answers Martha’s complaint.
5. Think about what Jesus says is “the good portion” or “the better thing.”

Teacher Background Notes

1. Hospitality was highly valued in Jewish culture. Martha was doing what would normally be expected when an honored guest arrived.
2. Sitting at a teacher’s feet was the posture of a disciple. Mary takes the humble role of a learner before Jesus.
3. Martha’s busyness was not sinful, but her distracted heart kept her from what mattered most.
4. Jesus gently corrected Martha to show that devotion to him comes before service for him.
5. This story reminds us that while serving others is important, hearing God’s word is essential and cannot be replaced.

Theological Insights

1. Salvation is not earned by service but received through faith in Jesus.
2. Jesus values hearts that seek him above outward activity.
3. God’s word gives life and peace, shaping how we serve others.
4. Christian service flows best when it begins with time in God’s presence.
5. Like Mary, disciples are called to choose Jesus himself as the “better portion.”

Discussion Questions

Understanding the Text

1. Who welcomed Jesus into her home?
2. What did Mary do while Jesus was teaching?
3. Why was Martha upset, and what did she ask Jesus to do?
4. How did Jesus answer Martha?
5. What did Jesus say Mary had chosen?

Personal Reflection and Application

1. Why do you think Martha was so worried and distracted?
2. What kinds of things can distract us from spending time with Jesus?
3. How can you choose to listen to Jesus through prayer and Scripture this week?
4. What is one way you can balance serving others with making time for Jesus?

Suggested Activities

Two Choices

1. On one side of the board, write “Busy with many things.” On the other side, write “Listening to Jesus.”
2. Ask students to give examples of things that can keep us busy and write them under the first heading.
3. Ask them to give examples of how we can listen to Jesus and write them under the second heading.

This activity helps students compare distractions with the priority of listening to Jesus.

Sit at His Feet

1. Have students sit quietly in a circle for one minute while you read a short passage of Scripture slowly.
2. Ask: How did it feel to stop and listen? What did you notice? 

This activity helps students practice quieting their hearts to hear God’s word.

Acting It Out

1. Invite volunteers to act out the story: Martha preparing, Mary sitting at Jesus’ feet, Martha’s complaint, and Jesus’ gentle response.
2. Afterward, ask the class: Which sister do you relate to more, and why? 

This activity helps students engage with the story in a memorable way.

Memory Verse

But one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.

Luke 10:42 (ESV)

Closing Prayer

Father,
Thank you for showing us what matters most. Help us to listen to Jesus and choose time with him above all our busy tasks. Teach us to serve from a heart that is full of your word.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

The ESL Version

I also create materials for adult English Language Learners (ELLs) and ESL students. You can find my ELL Bible Study based on Luke 10:38-42 here:

• ELL Bible Study: Luke 10:38-42 — Martha and Mary

Subscribe

If you enjoyed this post and wish to receive more Christian content, consider subscribing to my newsletters!

Related Resources

Visit the Joyful Moments in Christ homepage for all posts, or scroll through other blog posts related to Sunday School:

English Standard Version (ESV): Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.