What is SOAP?

SOAP is an acronym for: Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. As you prepare for participating in City Group this week, we invite you to write down your thoughts in a journal. Journaling is a great way to record and process your thoughts & what God is sharing with you.

Week of October 18th
Beautiful People of the Kingdom of Heaven No.5

OVERVIEW

Beautiful People – Episode 5: What's Your Motive?

This Sunday we continued the series "Beautiful People" through Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:1–18 and challenges us to examine not only what we do, but why we do it. Jesus addresses three important spiritual practices; giving, prayer, and fasting, and warns against turning them into performances designed to gain attention, affirmation, or recognition from others. The issue isn't whether people see our good works; the deeper issue is the motivation of our heart.

KEY POINTS

Life as Beautiful People of the Kingdom of Heaven is isn't about doing a bunch of good things. But, it's about you and I becoming people who ARE GOOD NEWS. 

Jesus teaches that life in His Kingdom isn't simply about doing good things; it is about becoming people who ARE good news. As the Holy Spirit transforms us, our generosity, prayer, service, love, and spiritual disciplines should flow naturally from our relationship with God rather than from a desire to impress others.

Jesus isn't condemning good works. He is challenging the motivation behind them. We can do something that looks spiritual, generous, or compassionate while secretly being motivated by recognition, approval, status, or applause.

This message ultimately calls us toward integrity, doing the right things for the right reasons, even when nobody is watching. Through practices such as prayer, generosity, and fasting, God shapes us into Beautiful People who are led by Jesus, shaped by grace, and moved by love. 

SCRIPTURE

As we read aloud through these verses, let's pause, reflect, and listen for what Holy Spirit might be saying to you through the Word of God.

Key scriptures from the series.

  • Matthew 6:1-4 Giving
  • 2 Corinthians 9:6-13 Giving
  • Matthew 6:5-15 Prayer
  • Matthew 6:16-18 Fasting
  • Galatians 5:13-26 Fasting

OBSERVATION

Jesus repeatedly uses the word hypocrite in Matthew 6 which originally carried the idea of an actor performing behind a mask. Jesus doesn't want His followers simply performing spirituality, appearing one way publicly, while being someone completely different privately. He desires genuine people whose public actions match what God is doing within their hearts.

Giving, praying, and fasting are all good spiritual practices, but even good things can become unhealthy when they become performances. Jesus isn't simply concerned with what we're doing; He cares about why we're doing it. These practices are intended to deepen our relationship with God and transform our character, not build our reputation.

The Lord's Prayer reinforces this idea. Prayer isn't simply giving God our wish list; it aligns our hearts with His Kingdom and makes us active participants in His will. We pray for His Kingdom to come, receive His provision, extend the forgiveness we've received, and depend upon Him through temptation.

Here are four discussion questions drawn directly from the message that encourage both biblical reflection and personal application: 

  1. Jesus challenges us to examine not only what we do but why we do it. Where are you most tempted to seek recognition, affirmation, or approval from others? What helps you recognize when your motives are becoming unhealthy?
  2. Jesus describes giving, prayer, and fasting as valuable practices but warns against turning them into performances. How can we practice spiritual disciplines in ways that genuinely deepen our relationship with God rather than simply becoming religious routines?
  3. This Sunday's message defined integrity as "doing the right things for the right reasons, even when nobody else is looking." What area of your private life might God be inviting you to bring into greater alignment with the person you present publicly?
  4. The big idea is that Kingdom life isn't simply about “doing good things” but becoming people who “ARE good news.” What would it look like for you to be good news this week in your family, workplace, church, friendships, or community?

APPLICATION

A powerful question to regularly ask yourself is:

“What’s my motive?”

Why am I serving? Why am I giving? Why am I posting this? Why do I want this position? Why am I helping this person? Why am I praying? Am I looking for God's approval or people's applause?

This doesn't mean we should stop doing good things because our motives aren't always perfect. Instead, we can invite the Holy Spirit to examine and transform our hearts.

This week, we can intentionally practice doing something good that nobody else needs to know about. We can give without needing recognition, serve without needing credit, pray without trying to impress anyone, and love someone without expecting anything in return.

That's integrity: doing the right thing for the right reason, even when nobody is watching.

PRAYER

Jesus, search my heart and reveal the motives behind the things I do.

Forgive me for the times I have looked for recognition, affirmation, position, or applause instead of simply seeking to please You. Help me become the same person in private that I desire others to see in public.

Teach me to give generously without needing credit, to serve without needing recognition, to pray because I genuinely want to know You, and to love others without expecting something in return.

Holy Spirit, transform my heart. Develop humility, honesty, generosity, and integrity within me. May my life not simply be filled with good things that I do, but may I become someone who truly is good news wherever You have placed me.

Let Your Kingdom come and Your will be done in me and through me. Make me a Beautiful Person who is led by Jesus, shaped by grace, and moved by love.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

WHAT NEXT? SERVE ON A TEAM
Next Steps

Our heart for you in taking a "Next Step" is to help you grow in becoming more and more like Jesus.

  • Invite. Everyone is only one invitation away from coming to church with you. We are here to reach 1% of our city. Take a step, be bold, bring someone to church with you Sunday.
  • Invest. Investing financially at BeLoved helps us to stay on mission. You can find the best way to give at belovedchurch.ca/give Take a step, start your faithful practice of tithes and offering.
  • Discover. Embark on the journey at belovedchurch.ca/grow Take a step and invest into your discipleship journey at BeLoved.
  • Serve. Jesus came to serve rather than to be served. Love on others like Jesus by jumping on a team and serving on the weekend at BeLoved. Help move God's great Church forward.
  • Get baptized. Congratulations! Take a step to "Go ALL IN for Jesus." Register online at belovedchurch.ca/baptism