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| Summary: Lent ought to be a time for us to reappraise our spiritual life. What shall we do to enhance our walk and talk with Christ? Pray, of course. But how? Alone and going deep in the Spirit. Give and serve others, of course. But how? Without ostentation, without expectation of being honored or even recognized. Being primarily secret servants who work for God’s kingdom. Fasting, too, is relevant for growing strong spiritually. |
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| Summary: Even though Jesus cautions his followers to avoid self-serving visual demonstrations of faith, the practice of bearing the mark of the cross on Ash Wednesday can still be a meaningful and appropriate way to bear witness to the meaning of our faith |
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| Summary: Our reasons for serving God and doing good deeds may be mixed — a desire to please God coupled with a desire to look good for doing so. But we should not wait until our motives are pure to do what is right. We should follow Jesus right away, mixed motives and all. |
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| Summary: Our attitudes and intentions determine whether our actions are sins or not. |
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| Summary: Ash Wednesday invites us to remember not only that we must die, but that Jesus also calls us to live — abundantly, authentically and lovingly. |
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| Summary: There’s nothing wrong with the things Jesus seems to condemn in this Ash Wednesday passage. Certainly it is good to give alms, to pray, to fast, to worship in public with God’s people. But now, during Lent, we must look within our hearts, not just at what we do, but at our motivations. |
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| Summary: The Michael Jordan phenomenon has spawned the marketing slogan, “Be like Mike.” Yet, being like someone else is often an invitation to engage in mimicry rather than being inspired toward maturity. Jesus warns his hearers not to be enamored by a superficial awe of the Mikes of this world, but to develop lives of authentic spirituality grounded in true being. |
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| Summary: In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus offers us grace and blessing, which comes before the call to deeper discipleship. God’s grace goes to the core of our being, so that we act in obedience from the inside out, resulting in generous giving.
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| Summary: We are in danger of hypocrisy only if we play to the wrong audience — only if we are seeking to impress people, rather than seeking to please God. |
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| Summary: Ash Wednesday is a time of reflection and introspection. Our text forces us to look at the heart of our worship and Christian life to see if we have given God control of our lives. |
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| Summary: Professional athletes forget that they are playing for the fans. Christians forget that they are living for God. Jesus instructed his followers not to make a show of their discipleship, but rather to pray, give and help in secret. We have to be reminded that as long as God is watching, no other audience is required. Lent can be a time for keeping secrets with God. |
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| Summary: The ability to practice quiet piety depends upon our trust in our heavenly Father to reward us. Without that trust, we will seek the world’s praise instead of God’s approval. Spiritual disciplines require that we walk by faith, not by sight, waiting for God’s reward. |
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| Summary: As we observe Ash Wednesday and begin the season of Lent, we often ask, “What am I going to give up for Lent?” We do not ask, “What do I want for Lent?” Yet we often engage in acts of self-denial with the hope of receiving something in return. Jesus promises that God will reward us in secret. |
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| Summary: When we include leisure in our lives and do so realizing that it, too, is a gift to God, we can come before God as whole persons, giving our whole person to him.1 |
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| Summary: Jesus recognizes that many listening to him are living lives of worry and despair, and points out that they are looking at things the wrong way. He offers a corrective when he tells them, “Seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.” |
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| Summary: Jesus warns about having two masters. We cannot serve both God and money. To achieve freedom from worry and from slavery to money, we must put our true focus on Jesus’ kingdom and its values. God cares for his creation, so he will care and provide for us. |
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| Summary: This message from Jesus is not a call to relinquish or renounce anything. Rather, Jesus is offering us a choice. He tells us that we must choose between freedom and slavery. He urges us to choose freedom, and tells us how to take the first steps toward the only real freedom there is. |
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| There are 17 sermons in your results. |
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