1. CHRIST vs. Culture
Serving in Secret

2. CHRIST vs. Culture – Serving in Secret
Serving God can be performed in one of two general ways.
Serving humbly without a desire for personal recognition
Serving in such a way as to draw attention to ourselves
CHRIST expected His disciples to follow #1, while culture expects #2.

3. CHRIST vs. Culture – Serving in Secret
Matthew 6:1-2 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. 2 “So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

4. CHRIST vs. Culture – Serving in Secret
Mattew 6:3-4 3 But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

5. CHRIST vs. Culture – Serving in Secret
Matthew 6: “Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face 18 so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

6. CHRIST vs. Culture – Serving in Secret
What should our motive be to serve God?

7. CHRIST vs. Culture – Serving in Secret
Matthew 8:1-2 When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him. 2 And a leper came to Him and bowed down before Him, and said, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”

8. CHRIST vs. Culture – Serving in Secret
Matthew 8:3-4
3 Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

9. CHRIST vs. Culture – Serving in Secret
Matthew 9: As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” 28 When He entered the house, the blind men came up to Him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”

10. CHRIST vs. Culture – Serving in Secret
Matthew 9: Then He touched their eyes, saying, “It shall be done to you according to your faith.” 30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them: “See that no one knows about this!” 31 But they went out and spread the news about Him throughout all that land.

11. CHRIST vs. Culture – Serving in Secret
But what about this verse? Matthew 5:16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

12. CHRIST vs. Culture – Serving in Secret
It is acceptable to serve publically.
It is not acceptable to serve in such way as to draw attention to ourselves and away from God.

13. CHRIST vs. Culture – Serving in Secret
Acts 20:35 In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

14. CHRIST vs. Culture – Serving in Secret
Mark 10: and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

15. CHRIST vs. Culture – Serving in Secret
Galatians 5: For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

16. CHRIST vs. Culture – Serving in Secret
John 13: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

17. CHRIST vs. Culture – Serving in Secret
John 3:16 16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

18. CHRIST vs. Culture – Serving in Secret
It has been said, “The secret of religion is religion in secret.”
Oswald Chambers (1874–1917) said, “My worth to God in public is what I am in private.”

19. CHRIST vs. Culture – Serving in Secret
How would you describe your service to God?
Too much
Too little
Just right
The more we submit to God’s Will, the more capabilities He gives us to serve.