Behind the Mask

Scripture: Matthew 23:23-28

• We put on Masks today in our world & we tend to judge a book by its cover.

• Symbols help us to identify things and have to have loyalty to those things

  • When Christians where Christian t-shirts and crosses or have Christian bumper stickers on our cars, does that make us Christians?

  • What do others see when they see us in those “masks” or those symbols?

  • Do we “walk the walk” or “talk the talk” as Christians? Or are we hiding behind a Mask?

• As Christians, we often miss the point – Jesus!

• It’s easy to focus on the symbols or go through the motions of rituals (saying the Apostles Creed/taking Communion) but we don’t cultivate our relationship with Christ.

• We have to be more than just an outside appearance but an inner change – God cares about what’s on the inside.

• Do we go through the motions of being a Christian or do we really walk as a Christian in our everyday lives?

• Masks can come in all shapes/types:

  • Masks of Happiness

  • Masks of Being a Good Person

• How can we avoid wearing a Mask?

  • Admit that we have sinned – none of us are perfect

  • Once we have admitted that we have sinned, then we have to Change – being a Christian is a daily lifestyle

• How many of us put on the façade that everything is OK in our lives but inside we are spiritually dead?

• Once we accept Christ, then we can remove our Masks

• Wearing a mask of being a Christian makes a Bad Witness

It is time for us to live what we believe!