Sermon: Praying for a Heart With an Outward Focus

Sermon Date: 5/25/2025

Bible Verses: Psalm 37, Matthew 6:21, Matthew 6:9–10, Hebrews 5:14, Ephesians 5:15–16

Speaker: Rev. Timothy "Tim" Shapley

Theme: https://uppbeat.io/t/northwestern/a-new-beginning

Introduction:

One of the great dangers of modern life—and even of modern church life—is the temptation to live with an inward focus:

• My needs
• My plans
• My comfort
• My family
• My church preferences

But the heart of God is an outward-looking heart—a heart that seeks the lost, serves the broken, shines light in the darkness, and advances the Kingdom.

So today, we’re praying: “Lord, give us a heart with an outward focus.”

1. Trusting the Lord Frees Our Focus (Psalm 37:1–7)

“Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.” (v. 3)

Psalm 37 is written in a time when it was tempting to get distracted by evil and discouraged by the wicked. David tells us:

• Trust the Lord → That takes your eyes off the circumstances.
• Do good → That moves your life toward others.
• Befriend faithfulness → Stay consistent in your calling.

When we trust in the Lord fully, we are freed from selfish worry and released to serve.

1. Where Your Treasure Is, There Your Heart Will Follow (Matthew 6:21)

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Why does the heart tend to turn inward? Because that’s where our treasure often is:

• Treasure of comfort
• Treasure of reputation
• Treasure of control
• Treasure of safety

If we want an outward-focused heart, we must invest our treasure in what matters to God:
His Kingdom. His people. His mission. His glory.

III. Praying “Your Kingdom Come” Reorients the Heart (Matthew 6:9–10)

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

The Lord’s Prayer is not a prayer for personal blessing first. It’s a prayer that:

1. Honors God’s name
2. Seeks His kingdom
3. Desires His will on earth—right here, right now.

When we make this our daily prayer, it reshapes how we live:

• We begin to notice needs.
• We start to pursue justice.
• We seek opportunities to serve others.

1. Maturity Leads to Outward Discernment (Hebrews 5:14)

“But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”

An immature faith is self-focused: "What do I get out of this? How does this benefit me?"

A mature faith is Kingdom-focused:

• “Where is God moving?”
• “How can I help?”
• “How can I serve others with wisdom?”

We need a generation of believers who have been trained by constant practice to discern what’s good, what builds up, and what reaches out.

1. Make the Best Use of the Time—For the Sake of Others (Ephesians 5:15–16)

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”

Outward focus is urgent—not optional.
The days are evil. Time is short. Souls are at stake.

Paul says to walk wisely:

• Not wasting life on trivial pursuits
• Not consumed with comfort
• Not hiding in safe Christian bubbles

Instead, we redeem the time for:

• Witness
• Ministry
• Mercy
• Justice
• Discipleship

Conclusion: Lord, Give Us an Outward-Focused Heart

So today—let’s pray together:

“Lord, give me a heart that:

• Trusts You so I’m freed to serve (Psalm 37)
• Treasures Your Kingdom more than my own comfort (Matthew 6:21)
• Seeks Your will on earth, every day (Matthew 6:9–10)
• Discerns good from evil with mature love (Hebrews 5:14)
• Uses my time well, for the sake of others (Ephesians 5:15–16)
  Amen.”