Pastor Jeff Manion begins our new series “Taking Jesus Seriously” by examining Jesus’s warning about doing good deeds for the wrong reasons. We explore how Jesus addresses our deep human longing to be seen and approved, challenging us to seek God’s approval rather than seeking approval from others. We discover that doing the right things for the wrong motives—whether in giving, praying, or fasting—turns us into spiritual actors wearing masks instead of authentic followers. This message calls us to move beyond performing for human applause to finding true reward in living for an audience of One, experiencing the fullness of life that comes from God’s pleasure and approval.