The Bridge Church
Upside Down Kingdom - The Hidden Life
October 6, 2024
Locations & Times
Englewood SKY Academy
871 S River Rd, Englewood, FL 34223, USA
Sunday 8:00 AM
Sunday 9:15 AM
Sunday 10:45 AM
Who is the primary audience of your life?
1. Give to please God, not to be seen by others
Hypocrites are people who appear to be doing one thing, but who underneath have other motives.
“When reputation becomes more important than character, we have become hypocrites.” Warren Wiersbe
2. Prayer and fasting draws us closer to God and the things of His kingdom
Prayer Sincerely
Matthew 6:5
“Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward."
Matthew 6:5
“Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward."
Pray Secretly
Matthew 6:6
But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Matthew 6:6
But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Pray Specifically
Matthew 6:7-8
7 When you pray, don’t babble like the Gentiles, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words. 8 Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask him.
Matthew 6:7-8
7 When you pray, don’t babble like the Gentiles, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words. 8 Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask him.
Fasting is abstaining from food for a time to seek God and grow closer to Him.
“Whenever God determines to do a great work, He first sets His people to pray.” C.H. Spurgeon.
3. Following Jesus means our pursuit in life is His glory
Live for an audience of One
MY NEXT STEP TODAY IS:
I need to receive Jesus Christ as my personal Savior for the first time.
https://thebridgevenice.churchcenter.com/people/forms/500390
I need to be baptized.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/baptism
I need to attend Starting Point.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/starting-point
I need to join a serve team.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/serve
I need to join a small group.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/bridge-groups
I need to receive Jesus Christ as my personal Savior for the first time.
https://thebridgevenice.churchcenter.com/people/forms/500390
I need to be baptized.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/baptism
I need to attend Starting Point.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/starting-point
I need to join a serve team.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/serve
I need to join a small group.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/bridge-groups
Dig Deeper:
1. What is a “reputation”? Why is a “good” reputation important to us?
2. What does it mean to struggle with the need to perform or the need to be seen? What actions indicate we are looking for approval from others?
3. Read Galatians 1:10. Have you ever asked yourself these questions? What is Paul saying here? What is he not saying?
4. Read Matthew 6:1. We often hear the words “be careful.” What does Jesus mean when he says it here?
5. Read Matthew 6:2. What does “they have their reward” mean?
6. Why did Jesus call them hypocrites? What is a hypocrite?
7. Read Matthew 6:3-4. What does it mean to give “in secret”? What is the result of giving in secret?
8. Read Matthew 6:5. Is Jesus teaching us to avoid praying in public or with others? What is teaching us to avoid?
9. Why is praying with others important in our faith journey? Why is praying sincere and authentic prayers important in our relationship with God…and others?
10. Read Matthew 6:6. Why is “in secret” repeated here? How are praying and giving similar?
11. What is your “tameion” (or secret chamber) in your prayer life? Do you have an actual prayer space or does it look different than that? What is Jesus sharing here about prayer?
12. Read Matthew 6:7. What does it mean to babble? What is the person praying focused on? What is he/she not focused on?
13. Read Matthew 6:8. Do you believe that God knows the things you need before you ask him? What is the main reason we come to God in prayer?
14. Prayer is a part of your relationship with God. Knowing that, how does this change your prayer life?
15. Read Matthew 6:16. What is fasting? How can a person grow personally through a time of fasting?
16. Read Matthew 6:17-18. Again, why is “in secret” repeated here? How is fasting like praying and giving?
17. Read Colossians 3:23-24. Discuss what it means to “receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord”? What can make us miss this in our everyday lives?
18. Read Matthew 5:16. What is the ultimate goal of letting other see your good works?
19. What is one take away from this sermon that you can intentionally live out this week? Share with others what that is and when you plan to do it!
Live It Out:
Live for an audience of One. Who is the primary audience of your life? What does life look like when the pressure of measuring up, and the need of affirmation from others, is eliminated through your desire to give God all the glory? This week, focus on setting up healthy rhythms of both prayer and fasting.
Prayer: Daily, find a quiet, private place to spend time with your heavenly Father in prayer. Talk to Him authentically and honestly, knowing that He already knows what you need before you ask Him. Our heart prayer everyday should be, “God, whatever you want me to do for your Kingdom I will follow! I am yours, lead me!”
Fasting: Pray and fast for a breakthrough…whatever that might look like in your life. In your relationships; your marriage; our church; our community. Pray for our church to continue to be a unified family on mission for Jesus Christ.
Use the prayer and fasting information link below to help you on your journey to more intimate time with your Heavenly Father!
1. What is a “reputation”? Why is a “good” reputation important to us?
2. What does it mean to struggle with the need to perform or the need to be seen? What actions indicate we are looking for approval from others?
3. Read Galatians 1:10. Have you ever asked yourself these questions? What is Paul saying here? What is he not saying?
4. Read Matthew 6:1. We often hear the words “be careful.” What does Jesus mean when he says it here?
5. Read Matthew 6:2. What does “they have their reward” mean?
6. Why did Jesus call them hypocrites? What is a hypocrite?
7. Read Matthew 6:3-4. What does it mean to give “in secret”? What is the result of giving in secret?
8. Read Matthew 6:5. Is Jesus teaching us to avoid praying in public or with others? What is teaching us to avoid?
9. Why is praying with others important in our faith journey? Why is praying sincere and authentic prayers important in our relationship with God…and others?
10. Read Matthew 6:6. Why is “in secret” repeated here? How are praying and giving similar?
11. What is your “tameion” (or secret chamber) in your prayer life? Do you have an actual prayer space or does it look different than that? What is Jesus sharing here about prayer?
12. Read Matthew 6:7. What does it mean to babble? What is the person praying focused on? What is he/she not focused on?
13. Read Matthew 6:8. Do you believe that God knows the things you need before you ask him? What is the main reason we come to God in prayer?
14. Prayer is a part of your relationship with God. Knowing that, how does this change your prayer life?
15. Read Matthew 6:16. What is fasting? How can a person grow personally through a time of fasting?
16. Read Matthew 6:17-18. Again, why is “in secret” repeated here? How is fasting like praying and giving?
17. Read Colossians 3:23-24. Discuss what it means to “receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord”? What can make us miss this in our everyday lives?
18. Read Matthew 5:16. What is the ultimate goal of letting other see your good works?
19. What is one take away from this sermon that you can intentionally live out this week? Share with others what that is and when you plan to do it!
Live It Out:
Live for an audience of One. Who is the primary audience of your life? What does life look like when the pressure of measuring up, and the need of affirmation from others, is eliminated through your desire to give God all the glory? This week, focus on setting up healthy rhythms of both prayer and fasting.
Prayer: Daily, find a quiet, private place to spend time with your heavenly Father in prayer. Talk to Him authentically and honestly, knowing that He already knows what you need before you ask Him. Our heart prayer everyday should be, “God, whatever you want me to do for your Kingdom I will follow! I am yours, lead me!”
Fasting: Pray and fast for a breakthrough…whatever that might look like in your life. In your relationships; your marriage; our church; our community. Pray for our church to continue to be a unified family on mission for Jesus Christ.
Use the prayer and fasting information link below to help you on your journey to more intimate time with your Heavenly Father!
Reading Plan:
Monday: Matthew 6:1-2
Tuesday: Matthew 6:3-4
Wednesday: Matthew 6:5-6
Thursday: Matthew 6:7-8
Friday: Matthew 6:16-18
Saturday: Galatians 1:10, Colossians 3:23-24
Monday: Matthew 6:1-2
Tuesday: Matthew 6:3-4
Wednesday: Matthew 6:5-6
Thursday: Matthew 6:7-8
Friday: Matthew 6:16-18
Saturday: Galatians 1:10, Colossians 3:23-24