Lesson 5: An Audience of One - August 29, 2010

Jesus calls for us to live for an audience of one. All we do should be to please God and not the people around us.  The scripture for the lesson is Matthew 6:1-18.  Some questions to think about are after the scripture below.

Giving to the Needy

1 "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 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. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Prayer

5 "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 "This, then, is how you should pray: " 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. ' 14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Fasting

16 "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

 

Things to think about.

1.  What are some areas or situations in which believers tend to perform for others rather than for God?

2.  There are consequences if we live our lives for people rather than for God.  What might they be?

3.  If our motivation is to please God rather than people,  what rewards (in the scripture above) do you think Jesus is talking about?

4.  Can you think of a time that you had such a meaningful personal encounter with God that it made you want to do everything for him?

5.  What are ways that we could open ourselves to having this type of very meaningful encounter with God?

6.  What is your motivation for doing what you do?  What would you do or do differently if only God was watching?

Continue each week to read Matthew chapters 5-7 (Sermon on the Mount). I look forward to seeing you Sunday........  Mike