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Apr 28, 2019

Hope for Us Hypocrites

Passage: Matthew 6:1-6

Speaker: Brian Land

Series: Sermon on the Mount

Category: Grace Brevard

Keywords: humility, hypocrisy, identity, love, prayer, pride, righteousness, vanity

THEMES: Our motivation is as important as our behavior. We all struggle with looking for our value in the approval of others, and this is just as true in the spiritual realm. How often do we have outwardly godly behavior but with the goal (or at least the hope) that others will see our actions and think highly of us? When we “let it slip” that we are generous givers, have regular devotionals, spend deep time in prayer, serve our neighbors? How often do we reveal our spiritual resume in the deep (and maybe hidden) hope that others will admire us. But the Gospel assures us that, in Christ, our value is infinite and utterly secure. We cannot add to it through our behavior, or subtract from it through our sins. We have been adopted into Royalty, thereby setting us free from being “value beggars” as we puff out our spiritual chests in the hopes that others will validate us.

ORDER of Worship

PRELUDE: Spiderman Homecoming - Nothing Without Suit

CALL TO WORSHIP: Psalm 34:2-3 & 111:7-9

LEADER: 2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. 3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!

7 The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy. 8 They are established forever and ever, enacted in faithfulness and uprightness.

ALL:  9 He provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever—holy and awesome is his name.   

READING: 1 Corinthians 1:30-31

LEADER: 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

ALL: 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

MUSIC:  

PRAYER: Humility In Service (from The Valley of Vision).

LEADER: O Mighty God, we humble ourselves for opportunities neglected, and words ill-advised.

ALL: We repent of our folly, inconsiderate ways, and paths of unbelief

LEADER: Fill us with an over-flowing ocean of compassion, Bury our sins in the cleansing blood of Jesus.  The reign of love our motive and the law of love our rule.

ALL: O God of all grace, make us more thankful, more humble and work in us a deep sense of our depravity; Your ongoing mercy and rescue.

LEADER: That faith may adhere us to Jesus. His Spirit drawing and leading; making known the riches found in His finished work.  

ALL: Lord Jesus, give us repentance unto life.   

GRATITUDE & MISSIONAL LIVING:

MESSAGE: Hope For Us Hypocrites

CENTRAL TEXT: Matthew 6:1-6. 16-18

1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 16 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

ILLUSTRATION: Dr. Strange - Not About You 

BENEDICTION: Ephesians 3:20-21 ESV

LEADER: 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.

ALL: Amen.

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURES:

  • Matthew 23
  • Luke 12:2
  • Matthew 25:21
  • Mark 7:6
  • 2 Timothy 3:1-5

MEDIA:

4.28.19 Album

DISCUSSIONS QUESTIONS:

  1. What percentage does your outward behavior reflect your true inside?
  2. What are things you do in life “in order to be seen”?
    1. Why do we do that? What are we trying to gain?
    2. What is the worldly “reward” in verse 2?
  3. This passage is specifically talking about those good (even commanded) spiritual practices. Why is this a problem for Christians?
  4. How is this in total contradiction to what we have in the Gospel?
  5. We all perpetually struggle with being valuable and valued. How does the Gospel answer this hunger and thirst?
  6. Why is it hard to hold tightly onto this truth?
  7. How did Jesus on the Cross purchase this value for us
  8. What then is the motivation to be obedient to the Lord?
  9. Talk through each of the 3 practices (giving, praying, fasting), what they mean and why we are called to them.
  10. The passage says that there is a “reward” for obedience. What do you think that might be? (look at Matthew 5:12 and Matthew 25:21)

QUOTES:

  • “If you do something good, then, after a while, if you don’t watch it, you start showing off. And then you’re not as good anymore.” - Holden Caulfield (The Catcher in the Rye)
  • “The theater of God is in the hidden corners.” - John Calvin

SERMONS / TALKS: