Practicing Righteousness | Matthew 6:1–4 | Pastor Neil McClendon

Neil McClendon, Lead Pastor
GRAND PARKWAY BAPTIST CHURCH

Practicing Righteousness
Matthew 6:1–4

1. It’s not what we do but why, v. 1
Matthew 6:1
In this one verse Jesus tells us three things...

a) practicing righteousness reinforces who we are

Practicing righteousness means a lifestyle that demonstrates inner transformation which shows
up in our life rhythms, daily choices, relationships and posture towards others that goes beyond
rule keeping and to the authority and sufficiency of King and Kingdom.

b) where and why matter
c) its possible for heaven to have no consequence of how you lived on earth

2. Giving to the needy is assumed behavior, v. 2

Here is what happens when you give to the needy...
a) you are lending to God
Proverbs 19:17
b) you are seeing the world the way God sees it
c) you are avoiding judgement through stewardship

Luke 16:19-25

3. Giving can be a form of taking, v. 2-4a

4. Let the fact that God knows be enough for you, v. 3-4
Matthew 6:3-4

Mental worship...
1. What do you do in order to practice your righteousness?
2. Does being anonymous take the joy out of giving or add joy to giving?
3. Do you practice your righteousness enough to feel confident about your faith?
4. How often do you think of yourself as “lending to God?”
5. Are you a different person in the “synagogue” than you are in the “streets?”