Dock Resource Kit
Sunday sermon, 10 November 2024
Summary
This week, Michael spoke to us about the importance of motivation in our spiritual practices, drawing from Matthew 6:1–18. He challenged us to examine why we give, pray, and fast, highlighting that these practices are not about seeking recognition but about deepening our relationship with God. Through a striking physical illustration, he showed how shifting our focus and motivation transforms our strength and actions. By exploring the Beatitudes and the Lord’s Prayer, Michael reminded us that spiritual practices flow from our closeness to God and naturally point to His glory. True well-being—what it means to Be Well—comes when we align our hearts with God’s kingdom.
Dock Discussion Questions
Jesus warns us against practising righteousness to be seen by others. Reflect on your motivations for spiritual practices like giving, praying, and fasting. How can we ensure our actions are focused on God rather than human approval?
When you pray the Lord’s Prayer, how does it shape your perspective on your relationship with God, daily dependence on Him, and forgiveness toward others?
Jesus calls us to let our light shine before others to glorify God. How can we balance public expressions of faith with the call to practise righteousness in secret?
In what ways can you draw closer to God this week through giving, prayer, or fasting? What specific actions might help align your heart more fully with His kingdom?
Long-form, editted transcript
Introduction
Good morning, everyone. Today, we continue our series on the Sermon on the Mount—Jesus’ incredible teaching in Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7. It’s been an amazing journey so far, unpacking this profound and practical wisdom for life in God’s kingdom.
This morning, we’ll focus on Matthew 6:1–18, where Jesus speaks about three key spiritual practices: giving, praying, and fasting. But before we dive into the passage, I want to start with a physical illustration about motivation.
I need a volunteer. Don’t worry—it’s nothing dangerous!
Here’s what we’re going to do. Hold your arm out to the side, slightly bent. I’m going to try to push your hand toward your shoulder, and your job is to stop me by focusing all your energy on your arm. Ready? [Attempts to move the arm.] That’s strong! Now, let’s try again, but this time, I want you to focus on something different. Instead of thinking about your arm, imagine water shooting powerfully out of your fingertips toward a spot on the wall. Visualise that force. Ready? Go! [Attempts again.]
Amazing! Did you see the difference? The first time, the strength came from focusing on your arm. The second time, with a change in focus and motivation, the strength was even greater. That’s the power of motivation—it changes everything. And that’s the heart of today’s passage.
Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:1–18
Let’s hear the words of Jesus from Matthew 6:1–18.
“Be careful not to practise your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
“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 honoured by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 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. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
“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 others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 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. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
“This, then, is how you should pray:
‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’
“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
“When you fast, do not look sombre as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others 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.”
Motivation in Spiritual Practices
At the heart of this passage is the question of motivation: why do we do what we do? Is it to glorify ourselves or to honour God? Jesus warns against practising righteousness for the sake of human applause, saying, “They have received their reward in full.”
Giving to the Needy
Jesus says in verses 2–4:
“When you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do… But when you give, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret.”
Here’s how I might paraphrase that: “When you give, don’t make it a performance. Don’t post it online or shout about it. Instead, give quietly, humbly, and out of love for God and others.”
Prayer
Next, Jesus addresses prayer. He says:
“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 others.”
Instead, Jesus tells us to pray in secret. He also warns against “babbling like pagans,” reminding us that it’s not the length or eloquence of our prayers that matters, but the sincerity of our hearts.
He then offers the Lord’s Prayer as a model. Here’s how I might expand on its meaning:
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name”: God, You are holy and set apart, yet You invite us into relationship as Your children.
“Your kingdom come, your will be done”: We long to see Your reign of justice and peace established here on earth.
“Give us today our daily bread”: Lord, we depend on You for everything we need, one day at a time.
“Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors”: Thank You for forgiving us. Help us to extend that forgiveness to others.
“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”: Protect us, Lord, from anything that might draw us away from You.
Fasting
Finally, Jesus speaks about fasting. He says:
“When you fast, do not look sombre as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting.”
Instead, He tells us to fast discreetly. Here’s the paraphrase: “Don’t make a show of your fasting. Let it be a private act of devotion to God, not a public display.”
Reflecting on Matthew 5: The Bigger Picture
To understand this teaching fully, we need to look back at Matthew 5. In verses 13–16, Jesus says:
“You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world. Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
At first glance, this seems to contradict Matthew 6, where Jesus emphasises secrecy. But the difference lies in motivation. In Matthew 5, the goal is to glorify God. In Matthew 6, Jesus warns against glorifying ourselves. The same Greek word, doxazō, is used in both contexts, showing that our actions can either point to God or to ourselves.
The Beatitudes: A Vision for Right Motivation
The Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3–12 set the foundation for understanding the right motivations for spiritual practices. They describe the values of God’s kingdom and invite us into relationship with God. For example:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” This reminds us of our dependence on God.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” This calls us to reflect God’s forgiveness.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” This urges us to work for reconciliation.
The Call to Closeness with God
Ultimately, these practices—giving, praying, and fasting—are about drawing closer to God. They are not about performing for others but about deepening our relationship with Him.
Communion: Returning to God
As we prepare for Communion, let’s reflect on our motivations. Have we sought to glorify ourselves? Have we allowed distractions to pull us away from God? Communion is an opportunity to return to Him, acknowledging where we’ve fallen short and recommitting ourselves to His kingdom.
Concluding Prayer
Father, thank You for inviting us into relationship with You. Help us to live with right motivations, seeking to glorify You in all we do. As we give, pray, and fast, may we draw closer to You and reflect Your love to the world. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.