Topic > Biblical Studies > New Testament >
The motivations behind our behavior change when we encounter Jesus
Friday, April 20, 2012, Part 2
“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you” (Matthew 6:1-5).
IDEA: God honors those Christians who live their lives before an audience of One.
PURPOSE: To help listeners see themselves living with God as their audience.
A helpful discussion on giving from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount
“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you” (Matthew 6:1-5).
IDEA: God honors those Christians who live their lives before an audience of One.
PURPOSE: To help listeners see themselves living with God as their audience.
Understanding Jesus’ teaching on giving, and the motivation behind it
“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. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogue and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full” (Matthew 6:1-2).
IDEA: We are to give generously, but quietly. (It’s possible to give to be seen by people and to encourage others to give to be seen by others.)
PURPOSE: To help listeners realize that what Jesus says does not refer only to the long-ago-and-far-away.
A startling look at what Jesus said about hypocrisy
Tuesday, April 17, 2012, Part 2
“When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get” (Matthew 6:2, 5, 16).
IDEA: A hypocrite in the Bible isn’t exactly what we think is a hypocrite today.
PURPOSE: To help listeners realize that we may be “hypocrites.”
Let’s take an eye-opening look at what Jesus said about hypocrisy in Matthew chapter 6
Monday, April 16, 2012, Part 1
“When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get” (Matthew 6:2, 5, 16).
IDEA: A hypocrite in the Bible isn’t exactly what we think is a hypocrite today.
PURPOSE: To help listeners realize that we may be “hypocrites.”
Practical tools for living out Jesus’ calling to care for the poor
“Assuredly I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be secret; and your Father who sees in secret will himself reward you openly” (Matthew 6:2-4).
How we can respond to the needs of others today
“Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be secret; and your Father who sees in secret will himself reward you openly” (Matthew 6:2-4).
IDEA: The God of the Bible and the people of God demonstrated a commendable concern for the needy.
PURPOSE: To help listeners understand that Jesus assumes a concern for the poor.
Jesus’ mandate to help the poor is a critical issue for our lives today
The God of the Bible and the people of God demonstrated a commendable concern for the needy.
"But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be secret; and your Father who sees in secret will himself reward you openly”
How deliberate exaggeration is used in the Bible
Tuesday, April 10, 2012, Part 2
“Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be secret; and your Father who sees in secret will himself reward you openly” (Matthew 6:2-4).
IDEA: The God of the Bible and the people of God demonstrated a commendable concern for the needy.
PURPOSE: To help listeners understand that Jesus assumes a concern for the poor.
Let’s reflect on the event that changed history and can change your story forever
From the days I sat in my mother’s lap and listened to her stories until today, I’ve enjoyed stories. I love to hear them and I like to tell them. In fact, I’d like to write a novel sometime. Everyone probably has one great story inside that’s worth telling. We won’t ever write that story, though. We don’t have the skill - or the time - or the confidence. But I’ll bet you have a story that you might enjoy telling and others would love to hear.
An eye-opening discussion on motive
Wednesday, April 4, 2012, Part 3
“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:1).
IDEA: Christ values what we do for His approval.
PURPOSE: To help listeners think about their religious actions and what they want them to accomplish.
Have you ever done any “righteous deed” because people would be impressed with your devotion to God?
If you have done that, how did it happen? Why did you do it?
An insightful look at what motivates us
Monday, April 2, 2012, Part 1
“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:1).
IDEA: Christ values what we do for His approval.
PURPOSE: To help listeners think about their religious actions and what they want them to accomplish.
A lively conversation about gaining recognition for the things we do
We all like being rewarded for a job well done. But when it comes to working in God’s kingdom, our focus can’t be on what we’ll get for our good deeds.
Let’s revisit Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Matthew 5
IDEA: It is productive to see the whole as we talk about the parts.
PURPOSE: To help listeners appreciate the way Jesus teaches a basic principle by applying it to life.
