This week Pastor Phil dives into a vital but often overlooked aspect of Christian life: the unseen disciplines that foster a deep, rewarding relationship with God. Inspired by Matthew 6, he unwraps the rich teachings of Jesus on the Sermon on the Mount, focusing on the intrinsic rewards of private spiritual disciplines such as giving, praying, and fasting.

Drawing on Matthew 6, Phil highlights Jesus’s caution against performing religious acts for public admiration, which he argues not only undermines their purpose but forfeits divine reward. He expands on the Scriptural guidance for practicing these disciplines secretly, not as a means to earn salvation—which is a free gift—but as a way to deepen one’s relationship with God.

The sermon also includes profound insights into prayer. Delving into the Lord’s Prayer, Pastor Phil elucidates how prayer serves not just as a means to present requests before God, but as a transformative practice that realigns our desires with God's will and deepens our dependency on Him.

Fasting is revisited as a lost art in modern Christian practice, explained as not just abstinence for its own sake but as a spiritual exercise to strengthen one’s spiritual resolve and focus on God.

This episode is not merely academic; it is a call to introspection and action. It encourages listeners to reflect on which reward they seek—the applause of men or the approval of God—and to cultivate personal spiritual habits that foster genuine intimacy with the Creator.

Chapter Breakdown with Timestamps:

- (00:00:00) - Introduction

- (00:00:00) - A Moment of Praise for 11 People Last Week

- (00:02:20) - Discipline and the Challenge of Regret and Obedience

- (00:05:56) - Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount

- (00:07:46) - The Importance of Secrecy in Good Deeds, referencing Matthew 6

- (00:11:56) - The Perils of Public Displays of Piety

- (00:15:53) - The Nuances of Reward in Spiritual Practices

- (00:20:27) - In-depth Teaching on How to Pray Meaningfully

- (00:25:19) - Detailed Analysis of the Lord’s Prayer

- (00:29:06) - Understanding Fasting as a Spiritual Discipline

- (00:34:15) - Identifying the True Reward of Spiritual Discipline

- (00:40:30) - Conclusion and Call to Action for Personal Spiritual Growth

Tune in to enrich your spiritual journey and anchor your faith in practices that lead not to public acclaim, but a transformative, deeper communion with God.