Hunger and Thirst | Fasting to Offer Ourselves to God | March 30, 2025
Sermon Description:
In the sermon on the Mount, Jesus casually throws out this line “and when you are fasting, don’t fast like the hypocrites.” Fasting was a central practice in the life of Jesus and the early Church, and yet it has largely disappeared from modern Western Christianity. While fasting is still emphasized in other religious traditions and parts of the global Church, many Christians today rarely, if ever, fast. And although it’s never commanded by Jesus - or any writers of the New Testament - the story of Scripture and Church history shows that it’s a powerful spiritual discipline, not because food is bad, or being hungry is a virtue, but as a way to offer yourself - your entire self, body included - to Jesus. Jesus said that there are things more important than even bread, and a hunger that’s deeper than food, and fasting gets us in touch with that. And ultimately, fasting leads to transformation and deeper communion with God Himself.
SPEAKERS:
Ruth BetEivaz (Saratoga), David Tieche (South Hills)
Bible Passage(s):
Matthew 6:16-18
