"Not As the Hypocrites Do" | From March 15, 2026

Subject: Living with Right Motives: Insights from Matthew 6

Dear Church Family,

I hope this message finds you well and growing in your walk with Christ. I wanted to follow up on this week's sermon from Matthew 6, where we continued our journey through Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.
Summary: The sermon explored Jesus' teaching on the heart behind our spiritual practices—specifically giving, praying, and fasting. Jesus addressed the religious hypocrisy of His day, where leaders performed righteous acts for public recognition rather than genuine devotion to God. This message challenges us to examine our own motives: Are we serving God for His glory or seeking the praise of others? The core question Jesus poses is stark yet transformative—would we still do good deeds if no one ever knew we did them? This sermon has profound implications for our spiritual life, calling us to cultivate authenticity in our relationship with God and to seek His reward rather than human applause.
Takeaways:

• Check Your Motives in Giving: When we give to others or support God's work, our motive matters as much as our action. Jesus warns against giving "to be seen by others." Instead, we should give cheerfully and secretly, knowing that our Father sees and will reward us. Ask yourself: "Would I still give this if no one ever knew I did it?"
• Pray in the Secret Place: Prayer is not a performance for others but an intimate conversation with our Father. Jesus gave us the Lord's Prayer as a model—covering adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. Our daily prayer life should include withdrawing to that "secret place" where God meets us personally. Remember: God knows what you need before you ask, and He rewards those who seek Him sincerely.
• Embrace Fasting as Spiritual Discipline: Fasting may seem intimidating or outdated, but it remains a powerful tool for overcoming the flesh, humbling ourselves before God, and showing Him we're serious about our petitions. Whether fasting a meal, certain foods, or for extended periods, the key is doing it for God alone—not for recognition. Some spiritual breakthroughs require "prayer and fasting."
  
  

As we move forward this week, I encourage you to examine your heart in these three areas. Are there ways you've been seeking human approval rather than God's? Remember, forgiveness—both receiving it and extending it to others—is central to our relationship with God. If you're holding unforgiveness toward someone, I urge you to surrender that to the Holy Spirit, who alone can give us the power to truly forgive.

In His Service,
Pastor Patrick