In our Message Series, Practicing The Way, we are learning more about being a Disciple of Jesus, or the way we could describe it in today’s language, being an Apprentice of Jesus.
We have talked about how being a disciple / apprentice of Jesus means that we who have trusted Jesus in faith for forgiveness of sin and salvation, center our lives around 3 Goals:
- Be with Jesus
- Become like Jesus
- Do what Jesus did
When this is how we live our life, we become an Apprentice of Jesus, and it leads to Transformation of our life. And this is what we are pursuing as a church for our own personal lives and for our church family. Our goal this year is to take the Next Step in growing in our relationship with Jesus and each other so that rather than being consumers, we are disciples / apprentices of Jesus.
Today we are looking at another practice Jesus followed: Fasting
Matthew 6:16-18… Jesus assumes that his disciples/apprentices will practice fasting as he says, “When you fast,” NOT “if you fast.” Also, when we fast, the Father “will reward you.”, meaning, there’s a gift waiting for you and me on other side of fasting.
A brief history of fasting…
Fasting is not:
- Abstinence
- A restricted Diet
- Fasting at its most basic meaning is not eating food.
- How long is a Fast?
- When do we Fast?
- Fasting as Rhythm
- Fasting as Response
- Do we Fast in community or alone?
- Why do we Fast?
The most central reason of all is: To offer ourselves to Jesus (Romans 12:1…)
Why do we Fast? -- To grow in holiness (Galatians 5:24, 16-18, Romans 8:13…)
Why do we Fast? -- To amplify our prayers (Acts 13:1-3…)
Why do we Fast? -- To stand with the poor (Isaiah 58…)
Fasting is a way to love God and love our neighbor at the same time. This type of fasting is a way to help us:
- Stand in solidarity with the hungry
- Share what we have
Taking It Home
We encourage you to take a few minutes today and this week to process this morning’s message. These questions are designed for discussion with your family, a friend, mentor, spouse, and small group. They are also useful for self-reflection.
- What stands out to you in these passages from the Bible? From the message?
- What is difficult for you to understand or accept in these passages from the Bible? From the message?
- What is God saying in these passages and through what we heard in the message about Himself? About people? About you?
- What examples are there to follow, commands to obey, or promises to stand on from these passages in the Bible, and from what we heard in the message?
