The Secret Life with God

Sermon Series: Kingdom Living – The Sermon on the Mount

Week 4 – The Secret Life with God

Text: Matthew 6:1–18 Title: “An Audience of One” Occasion: Homecoming Celebration

Introduction

A morning of worship, a lifetime of grace.

Homecoming is a special time. It’s more than a date on the calendar; it’s a reminder of where we’ve come from, who we belong to, and where we’re going as the people of God. Today, we celebrate not only the history of our church but also the mission Christ has given us. We honor those who came before us, who prayed, gave, and served to build this body. And we commit ourselves to carry the torch of faith forward.

As we reflect on our church’s heritage, Jesus’ words in Matthew 6 call us to remember that everything we do — as individuals and as a congregation — must be done for God’s glory, not for human applause. He says true righteousness is lived out in secret, before the Father who sees in secret and rewards openly. In other words, our homecoming celebration today is not about making ourselves look good. It’s about living and serving for an Audience of One.

Explanation (Walking the Text)

In Matthew 6:1–18, Jesus addresses three practices central to Jewish faith — giving, praying, and fasting. Notice what He emphasizes:

Giving (vv. 1–4): Don’t give to impress others. Give quietly, and the Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Praying (vv. 5–15): Don’t pray to be noticed. Pray sincerely to your Father. He even gives us the model prayer, the Lord’s Prayer.

Fasting (vv. 16–18): Don’t fast with a gloomy face to win sympathy. Fast with joy, for the Father’s eyes are the ones that matter.

The message is clear: the heart of our faith is not performance for people but intimacy with God.

Argumentation (Why This Matters for Homecoming)

Homecoming is a visible celebration. We decorate, we sing, we fellowship, we tell stories — and that’s good. But Jesus reminds us that the heartbeat of the church is not in the public event, but in the unseen devotion of its people.

The reason our church still stands today is not because of outward show, but because faithful men and women prayed in secret, gave sacrificially, and served humbly when no one was watching.

The strength of our future as a church will not be measured by how many attend this Homecoming, but by whether we, as God’s people, live for His glory in both public and private.

So today, Homecoming isn’t just looking back with gratitude. It’s looking forward with renewed commitment to live for the Father who sees in secret.

Application (Living It Out as the Church)

Give Generously. As a church, we give not to gain recognition but to advance God’s Kingdom. Our generosity fuels ministry and missions.

Pray Faithfully. A praying church is a strong church. Let’s be known not just for our programs but for our prayers.

Serve Humbly. Whether teaching a class, sweeping the floor, or cooking a meal, do it for Christ. The unseen acts of love are often the greatest.

Fast Expectantly. Even as a congregation, there are seasons we must humble ourselves together in fasting, seeking God’s renewal and direction.

Illustrations

The Hidden Foundation: When you look at this church building, you don’t see the foundation. But without it, the walls would crumble. In the same way, the unseen prayers and sacrifices of past generations are the foundation we stand on today.

Audience of One: Imagine a choir singing. It doesn’t matter if the audience is one or a thousand. The goal is to sing well for the One who matters most. That’s the way we live our faith — for God’s ears, not human applause.

Transition to Conclusion

This Homecoming, we honor the past, but we also recommit to the future. And the way forward is clear: as a church, we live for the Father in heaven — in our giving, in our praying, in our serving.

Conclusion

So let us celebrate today, not to make ourselves look good, but to glorify our God who has been faithful through the generations. Homecoming is not just about where we’ve been; it’s about where we’re going as the body of Christ.

Jesus said: “Your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” May Braswell Baptist (or your church name) be known not just for what happens on the stage, but for what happens in the prayer closet, in the kitchen, in the classrooms, and in the hearts of God’s people.

Closing Prayer

“Father, we thank You for this Homecoming. Thank You for the generations before us who prayed, served, and gave so we could worship here today. Forgive us when we’ve sought the applause of people instead of Your approval. As we look forward, renew our hearts to give, pray, fast, and serve for Your glory alone. May this church continue to be a light in the community for generations to come. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Let’s read together from Matthew 6:1–18.

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven… But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing… When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen… When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do… But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

This is the Word of the Lord.

1. Giving in Secret (vv. 1–4)

Jesus starts with giving.

He says, “Be careful not to practice your righteousness before others to be seen by them.” In other words, don’t give in a way that draws attention to yourself. Don’t sound the trumpet before you give. Instead, give in such a way that your left hand doesn’t know what your right hand is doing.

In Jesus’ day, some people would literally have someone blow a horn before they gave to the poor — a way to say, “Look at me!” But Jesus calls us to something different. Give quietly. Give faithfully. Give for the glory of God alone.

Church, the reason this congregation has stood for so many years is because faithful men and women gave quietly, sacrificially, and consistently. They didn’t do it to get their names on plaques or to be recognized at banquets. They gave because they loved God and His church.

And Jesus says the Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

2. Praying in Secret (vv. 5–15)

Next, Jesus talks about prayer.

He says, “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others… But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.”

Prayer is not a performance. It’s a conversation with your Father. It’s where your heart aligns with His.

Think about this church’s history. It wasn’t built by committees alone or clever planning. It was built on prayer meetings in homes, on Wednesday nights in small rooms, and on early morning whispers lifted to heaven. Some of the most powerful ministry that has ever happened here didn’t take place on this platform — it happened in living rooms, classrooms, and quiet corners where saints poured their hearts out to God.

Jesus then gives us the Lord’s Prayer — not as a formula, but as a model for our hearts:

Worship: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.”

Surrender: “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done.”

Dependence: “Give us this day our daily bread.”

Forgiveness: “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”

Guidance: “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

If we as a church are going to be fruitful in the years ahead, it will not happen without prayer.

3. Fasting in Secret (vv. 16–18)

Finally, Jesus talks about fasting.

He says, don’t walk around with a gloomy face so everyone knows you’re fasting. Don’t try to look spiritual. Instead, wash your face, look normal, and let your Father see what’s happening in your heart.

Fasting is about drawing closer to God, humbling ourselves before Him, and seeking His will. It’s not about public display — it’s about spiritual hunger.

As a church, there are seasons when we need to humble ourselves together. When we face big decisions, challenges, or new opportunities, our posture should be one of humble dependence on God. That’s what Jesus is describing here — a people more concerned with what God sees than what the world sees.

Homecoming Reflection

Today, we celebrate Homecoming. And part of that is looking back.

We honor the hidden foundation of this church — the quiet prayers, the generous giving, the faithful fasting, the countless acts of service that no one but God saw.

We also look around and rejoice in the fellowship we share today — worshiping, singing, eating together, seeing old friends.

But we also look forward. What will the next chapter of this church’s story be? Will we be a church that lives for appearances, or a church that lives for the Audience of One?

Conclusion

Jesus’ message is clear: The lasting strength of the church is not built on public recognition but on private devotion.

The unseen life of faith is what sustains us. Giving quietly. Praying faithfully. Fasting humbly. Living daily before the Father who sees in secret.

So today, as we celebrate Homecoming, let’s recommit ourselves to be that kind of church — a church rooted in unseen faithfulness, built on prayer, generosity, and humility before God.

May future generations look back at us the way we look back on those who came before — and may they find a faithful people who lived for the glory of God alone.

Closing Prayer

“Father, thank You for the faithfulness of those who came before us. Thank You for every unseen act of generosity, every whispered prayer, every quiet act of service that has shaped this church. Forgive us when we’ve sought applause rather than Your approval. Help us to live for You — our Audience of One. Strengthen us as we look to the future, that this church may shine for Your glory for generations to come. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”