Coleton Segars is teaching from series "Practicing The Way of Jesus" out of Matthew 6 on The Practice of Secrecy. The Practice of secrecy is serving others in secret without them knowing, being anonymously generous, and not displaying to anyone the good or righteous things you do. It's the practice of doing something for God alone. It deepens our closeness with God and leads us to be set free from our addiction to be seen and our addiction to feel important.
In this series we are looking at how to practice following Jesus, so that we become more like Jesus, in order that we can emulate what Jesus did to the world.
Teaching Text:
"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."
- Matthew 6:1-6; 16-18 (ESV)
Teaching:
Coleton Segars (Living Hope Student Ministries Pastor)