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Title: Just You & Jesus
Series: The Way of Discipleship
Matthew 6:1
1 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.
Matthew 6:5-18
5 And 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. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ 14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. 16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 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.
Proverbs 16:2
2 All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.
Proverbs 29:25
25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.
Luke 5:16
16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

SHARE
If someone gave you $1000 right now for you to go completely undercover and bless someone, what would you do? If you could turn off caring what others think of you for one day, what would you do differently?
NO SHOW
Read Matthew 6:1...Q: What makes seeking people’s approval different from simply letting our faith be visible? Where might you feel tempted to look more spiritual than you are? Why does Jesus say to be careful? What is the harm?
THE REAL US WITH THE REAL JESUS
Read Matthew 6:5-18....Q: How does privacy help reveal what we truly want from prayer? What practical place or rhythm could help you spend honest time with God this week? What reasons does Jesus give for not babbling or piling up words? How does God’s knowledge of us change the purpose of prayer? What would it sound like to speak plainly with God about something on your heart? Why can the desire to impress compete with genuine communion with God?
SAFETY OR SNARE
Read Proverbs 29:24....Q: What two paths and outcomes does this proverb place side by side? In what ways can other people’s opinions become a trap? In what ways does trusting in the Lord keep us safe?
FORGIVENESS
How might experiencing God’s mercy reshape the way we respond to someone who hurt us? Why is it easy to receive forgiveness for God and difficult to forgive those that hurt us? Is there a safe, wise next step toward releasing resentment?
PRAYER
Pray: That Jesus would help us to be free from pretending. Pray that He would teach us to draw near with honest hearts, to trust His love, and to seek Him—not applause from those around us. Help us become a community where people can be real and receive grace.