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Sermon Notes

Date of Sermon:    February 1, 2026

Title: Fasting

​Main Idea:  Fast with no consideration for self and God will ensure a good return on your investment.
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Primary Passage:  Matthew 6:16-21
 
Sermon Outline:

• What is Fasting?
  • Fasting is temporarily depriving our flesh of something that we otherwise are intended to enjoy.
  • 1 Timothy 6:17 (ESV)
• Why Fast?
  • To Strengthen Prayer (Ezra 8:23)
  • To Seek God's Guidance and Wisdom (Acts 13:2)
  • To Express Repentance to God (Joel 2:12)
  • To Humble Oneself Before God (Psalm 35:13)
  • To Seek Deliverance or Protection (Esther 4:16)
  • To Express Grief and Mourning (Nehemiah 1:4)
  • To Prepare for and Overcome Temptation or Spiritual Warfare (Matthew 4:1–2)
  • To Administer Justice by Caring for the Needs of Others (Isaiah 58:6) 
  • To Worship God (Luke 2:37)
• What are the Types of Fasts?
  • Categorized by Intensity
    • Absolute Fast: Abstaining from both food and water. (Exodus 34:28, Deuteronomy 9:9, Esther 4:16, Acts 9:9)
    • Normal Fast: Abstaining from all food but consuming water. (Matthew 4:2, Luke 4:2)
    • Partial Fast: Abstaining from specific choice foods or pleasantries. (Daniel 1:12, Daniel 10:2-3, 1 Corinthians 7:5)
  • Categorized by Scope
    • Individual Fast: Personal spiritual discipline performed in secret. (2 Samuel 12:16, Luke 2:37)
    • Corporate Fast: A group or nation fasting together for a common purpose. (Jonah 3:5-8, Ezra 8:21-23, Acts 13:2-3)
• How Long is a Fast?
  • Biblically from 1 day up to 40 days.
  • Christians typically decide how long to fast based on the discernment and guidance of the Holy Spirit through prayer, based on their specific purpose for fasting.
• Why Don’t We Fast?
  • Only 18% of American protestant Christians practice fasting.
  • Most of those only fast for a season like Lent and mostly fasting from “bad habits” rather than food.
  • The evangelical Church has failed to teach on or encourage fasting.
  • Most Christians who understand fasting don’t practice it because they have never tried it or because, frankly, it’s too uncomfortable.
• When we fast…
  • Matthew 6:1a (ESV)
• We are to fast not outwardly, to draw the attention of others; 
  • Matthew 6:16 (ESV)
• But inwardly, to draw the attention of God.
  • Matthew 6:17-18 (ESV)
  • Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV)

Things to Consider: (Feel free to read Scripture passages that God brings to mind as you work through these questions)

1. What about the sermon challenged, encouraged, or confused you? What, if anything, would you like further clarification on?
2. What fears prevent you from embracing the discomfort of fasting?
3. How might you ensure a fast is an act of genuine devotion to God, rather than an empty ritual or a performance for others?
4. What specific spiritual breakthrough or guidance are you seeking that would motivate you to begin a fast?
5. How might you ensure the physical discomfort of fasting points you toward a greater hunger for God’s presence and not just your next meal?
6. What "gift" or comfort in your life do you need to temporarily set aside to refocus your hope on the Giver?
7. What type of fast (e.g., partial from certain foods, a single meal, or water only) is a realistic starting point for you?
8. How will you incorporate prayer and quiet time into your fast to ensure it remains spiritually focused?
9. How might you build up your capacity for fasting gradually over time, rather than attempting an extreme duration immediately?

As always, feel free to contact Charles if you have questions or concerns regarding the message; its content, meaning, or application to your life. The easiest way to do that is by submitting a Bridge Card at steamboatbiblechurch.com/bridgecard. 
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