Authenticity in Faith: Heart Over Appearance
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound difference between outward appearances and inward authenticity in our spiritual lives. Using the analogy of food advertisements, which often present an idealized version of reality, we delved into how we might similarly dress up our faith to appear more spiritual than we truly are. This tendency to focus on external validation rather than genuine relationship with God is a significant issue that Jesus addresses in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus emphasizes that flourishing in the kingdom of God is a matter of the heart, not just external compliance with religious practices.
As we examined Matthew 6, we saw Jesus' concern with the motivations behind our spiritual practices—giving, praying, and fasting. He warns against performing these acts for the sake of being seen by others, which leads to hypocrisy. Instead, Jesus calls us to authenticity, where our private devotion matches our public expression of faith. The heart of the matter is not the act itself but the intention behind it. Jesus invites us to practice our faith in a way that is genuine and seeks the approval of God rather than people.
The message challenges us to examine our motivations and to cultivate a real and authentic relationship with God. This involves practicing spiritual disciplines not for show but as a means to connect deeply with our Heavenly Father. Jesus assures us that when we practice our faith authentically, we receive the greatest reward: a close and personal relationship with God. This relationship is characterized by integrity, where our actions align with our inner convictions, both in public and in private.
Key Takeaways:
- Authenticity Over Appearance: Just as food ads can mislead with appearances, our faith can become a performance if we focus on how others perceive us. Jesus calls us to authenticity, where our private devotion aligns with our public expression of faith. This authenticity is rooted in a genuine relationship with God, not in seeking approval from others. [02:09]
- Heart Matters: Jesus emphasizes that living righteously is about the motivations behind our actions, not just the actions themselves. Our spiritual practices should stem from a heart that seeks to glorify God, not from a desire for recognition. This heart-centered approach leads to true flourishing in God's kingdom. [03:18]
- Private Devotion: Jesus teaches that the true reward of spiritual practices like giving, praying, and fasting comes from doing them in secret, where only God sees. This private devotion fosters a deeper connection with God and aligns our hearts with His will, free from the distractions of seeking human praise. [06:31]
- The Reward of Relationship: The ultimate reward of practicing our faith authentically is a close relationship with our Heavenly Father. This relationship is marked by His love and presence, which surpasses any earthly recognition. It is in this intimate connection that we find true fulfillment and joy. [14:14]
- Prayer as Connection: Jesus invites us to cultivate a private prayer life, where we can be honest and vulnerable with God. This time of undivided attention with our Father allows us to experience His love and guidance, transforming our hearts and aligning our desires with His. [31:57]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:50] - The Illusion of Appearances
[02:09] - Faith and Authenticity
[03:18] - Heart Matters in Righteousness
[04:38] - Spiritual Practices and Motivations
[06:31] - The Caution of Public Faith
[07:26] - The Stage of Faith
[08:31] - Hypocrisy vs. Authenticity
[10:33] - The Call to Integrity
[12:29] - Real Food, Real Faith
[14:14] - The Reward of Private Devotion
[15:27] - Giving: Public vs. Covert
[17:11] - The Subtlety of Recognition
[19:11] - The Joy of Secret Generosity
[21:47] - Fasting: A Heart Posture
[25:04] - The Pitfall of Public Fasting
[26:48] - The Reward of Secret Fasting
[28:32] - Prayer: Public vs. Private
[31:57] - The Father’s Love in Prayer
[34:10] - Access to the Father
[35:43] - Cultivating a Deep Relationship
[39:16] - The Way of Prayer
[40:12] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Jesus caution against in Matthew 6:1 regarding practicing righteousness? How does this relate to the concept of authenticity in faith? [06:31]
2. In the sermon, how does the analogy of food advertisements relate to the way we might present our faith? [02:09]
3. What are the three spiritual practices Jesus discusses in Matthew 6, and what common issue does He address in each? [04:38]
4. How does Jesus describe the reward for practicing faith authentically in Matthew 6:4, 6, and 18? [14:14]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of authenticity in faith challenge the way individuals might approach their spiritual practices? [08:31]
2. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between private devotion and public expression of faith? How does this align with Jesus' teachings in Matthew 6? [10:33]
3. How might the analogy of a stage and the use of the term "hypocrite" in the sermon help us understand Jesus' message in Matthew 6? [08:31]
4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that practicing spiritual disciplines in secret can lead to a deeper relationship with God? [19:11]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own spiritual practices. Are there areas where you might be more focused on external validation rather than a genuine relationship with God? How can you shift your focus? [02:09]
2. Consider the motivations behind your acts of giving, praying, and fasting. How can you ensure that these practices are done with the right intentions? [04:38]
3. How can you cultivate a private prayer life that allows you to be honest and vulnerable with God? What steps can you take this week to create a space for this? [31:57]
4. Think about a time when you might have acted differently in public versus private in your faith. What changes can you make to align your public and private expressions of faith? [10:33]
5. How can you practice giving in a way that seeks God's approval rather than human recognition? What practical steps can you take to give covertly? [19:11]
6. If you have never fasted before, what might be a small step you can take to begin this practice? How can fasting help you depend more on God? [25:04]
7. Reflect on the idea of God as a loving Father. How can this understanding transform your approach to prayer and your relationship with Him? [31:57]
Devotional
Day 1: Authenticity in Faith
In our spiritual journey, authenticity is crucial. Just as food advertisements can mislead with appearances, our faith can become a performance if we focus on how others perceive us. Jesus calls us to authenticity, where our private devotion aligns with our public expression of faith. This authenticity is rooted in a genuine relationship with God, not in seeking approval from others. Jesus emphasizes that flourishing in the kingdom of God is a matter of the heart, not just external compliance with religious practices. He invites us to practice our faith in a way that is genuine and seeks the approval of God rather than people. [02:09]
"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor." (Romans 12:9-10, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you find yourself more concerned with how others perceive your faith than with your genuine relationship with God? How can you begin to shift your focus today?
Day 2: Heart-Centered Righteousness
Jesus emphasizes that living righteously is about the motivations behind our actions, not just the actions themselves. Our spiritual practices should stem from a heart that seeks to glorify God, not from a desire for recognition. This heart-centered approach leads to true flourishing in God's kingdom. Jesus warns against performing acts of giving, praying, and fasting for the sake of being seen by others, which leads to hypocrisy. Instead, He calls us to authenticity, where our private devotion matches our public expression of faith. [03:18]
"For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7b, ESV)
Reflection: Consider a recent spiritual practice you engaged in. What was your motivation behind it? How can you ensure your future actions are driven by a desire to glorify God rather than seeking human approval?
Day 3: The Power of Private Devotion
Jesus teaches that the true reward of spiritual practices like giving, praying, and fasting comes from doing them in secret, where only God sees. This private devotion fosters a deeper connection with God and aligns our hearts with His will, free from the distractions of seeking human praise. When we practice our faith authentically, we receive the greatest reward: a close and personal relationship with God. This relationship is characterized by integrity, where our actions align with our inner convictions, both in public and in private. [06:31]
"But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." (Matthew 6:3-4, ESV)
Reflection: What is one spiritual practice you can commit to doing in secret this week? How might this deepen your relationship with God?
Day 4: The Reward of Relationship
The ultimate reward of practicing our faith authentically is a close relationship with our Heavenly Father. This relationship is marked by His love and presence, which surpasses any earthly recognition. It is in this intimate connection that we find true fulfillment and joy. Jesus assures us that when we practice our faith authentically, we receive the greatest reward: a close and personal relationship with God. This relationship is characterized by integrity, where our actions align with our inner convictions, both in public and in private. [14:14]
"And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." (John 17:3, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on your current relationship with God. What steps can you take to deepen this relationship and experience His love and presence more fully in your life?
Day 5: Prayer as a Deep Connection
Jesus invites us to cultivate a private prayer life, where we can be honest and vulnerable with God. This time of undivided attention with our Father allows us to experience His love and guidance, transforming our hearts and aligning our desires with His. Prayer is not just a ritual but a means to connect deeply with our Heavenly Father. It is through this intimate connection that we find true fulfillment and joy, as we align our hearts with His will and experience His love and presence in our lives. [31:57]
"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving." (Colossians 4:2, ESV)
Reflection: How can you create a dedicated time and space for private prayer this week? What specific areas of your life do you need to bring before God in honesty and vulnerability?
Quotes
1. "When it comes to our faith in Jesus, how often are we more concerned with how like spiritual we look and less concerned about the actual quality of our relationship with God? Like how alluring is it to practice our faith in public in such a way that people think that we are so mature? And then how sad is it when we realize that our faith is built on that? A little performance that we might do here on a Sunday morning or in our small groups." ([00:02:13] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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2. "This morning, we are going to continue on in the Sermon on the Mount. This is recorded in Matthew chapter 5 and 6 and 7. And what Jesus is doing in this sermon is he is declaring to us what it's like to live and to flourish in the kingdom of God under God's supreme rule and reign. And what we've been seeing is that flourishing in the kingdom of God is all a matter of the heart." ([00:03:18] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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3. "And here's why Jesus brings this up, is that we have a tendency to make things that are meant to be about God and make them about us. In other words, we have a motivation of the heart problem, and we need Jesus's words this morning to help us in this. And so Jesus is going to start this way. He's going to give us in each practice, giving, praying, and fasting, he is going to show us a wrong motivation and way that we can practice that. And then he's also going to show us a right way to practice each of these practices." ([00:06:13] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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4. "You see, in Greek theater, an actor during a performance would wear a mask. He would emerge from backstage with this big mask on, and he would perform. And you would know what character he was because he had this big mask on. If he needed to change characters, he would kind of scuttle back to the backstage. He would take that mask off, put another mask on, and come back out there. And you'd be like, oh, he's performing as this character now." ([00:09:13] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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5. "You know, if we only act like a follower of Jesus when we are in front of others in order to gain their approval and then act differently backstage, then yes, we are a hypocrite. Do you wanna know the opposite of hypocrisy? It's authenticity. Some people call it integrity. It's when you are the same, be it on the front stage or the backstage. It's when your faith is practiced with the same fervor up here as it is back there." ([00:10:38] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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6. "And to get this special certification, food companies open up their factories to be audited to make sure that the food that is coming out is real and good. They wanna know, is it authentic? Is it real in the back? And that's what Jesus wants to help us with today. He wants us to experience this real and authentic relationship with God. One that is integrated or the same, one that is integrated or the same, whether someone is looking or not." ([00:11:53] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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7. "And here's what Jesus says about this. He says, there is a reward for not checking that box and being known, and it's recognition, but that's about it. But there is a greater reward for checking that little box to remain anonymous, and that's what Jesus is gonna talk about next. Look at verse three. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret." ([00:18:36] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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8. "When we forego food or TV or social media for a time, we are demonstrating to God that we need his presence in our life more than all those other created things. We are positioning ourselves to be filled by God rather than the things of his creation. And we fast in order to better hear from God, to remove the distractions from creation, in order to say to God, I need your voice. I need to hear from you." ([00:25:57] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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9. "And the humility in which you come before him and your sense of dependency on him, all of that's gonna take root in your heart and take center stage in your life. And then what's gonna actually start pouring out of you into this world is a life that is not characterized by consumption and consumerism and self -promotion, but one that is characterized by contentment and security and peace and God's control, sovereignty. Sovereignty. That's a reward worth pursuing." ([00:28:32] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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10. "And so the reward of stealing away to acquire God, is that you simply get undivided time with your Father. It's a time where you get to sit in his presence and let his deep love and his affection just wash over you. I don't know if you've thought about this much, but out of everything in creation, you are the center of your heavenly Father's affection." ([00:32:43] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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