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Salt and the Light
Salt and Light Matthew 5:13-16 13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Just a little salt can make a big change in the taste of your food A little lamp can change a whole room from dark to light Jesus used these two ordinary change agents to describe you What does He mean? You make a difference • If you are a Christian, you make a difference, just like salt and light • He says, “You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.” You make a difference What does salt do? Salt seasons and preserves • Jesus wants us to bring the flavor of God wherever we go, making people thirsty for Him • He wants us to prevent moral decay in our culture, prevent destruction of lives What does light do? Light illuminates • He wants us to make His Father, the invisible God, visible to those around us How do salt and light make a difference? 1. Be different Both salt and light make a difference by being different • Salt is different from the food you put it • Light is different than darkness Similarly, we make a difference by being different We spend so much time trying to fit in – trying to be normal according to the world’s standards When we follow Jesus, we leave normal behind, and we become different (counter-cultural) Romans 12:2 "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" 2. Be in the world Both salt and light make a difference by being in contact with the thing they are changing We can’t stay in the church if we’re going to make a difference. We have to be in contact with the people we hope to influence Jesus said in John 17:15-18 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world We are to be in the world but not of the world – in the world but different Influence can be lost “If the salt loses it saltiness… light a lamp and put it under a bowl.” Jesus is suggesting that just as salt and light can lose its influence and effectiveness, we too can lose our influence and effectiveness a) Influence can be lost by compromise • If salt loses its saltiness, it’s not really salt • Unsalty salt changes nothing - it no longer makes a difference One of the ways we can lose our “saltiness” and sacrifice our influence is through compromise: • Sometimes we are so concerned and preoccupied about fitting in and being accepted, that we begin to compromise the core values that make us different as Christians and we become just like the world we are trying to change • Where’s the difference in that? There’s no influence there? We can’t even be called salt because real salt makes a difference b) Influence can be lost by isolation What’s the point of having salt if it stays in the container? Or having a lamp which we never switch on or we hide under a bowl? Who is benefiting? There is no point in being different and hiding in the church. We need to be different in the world – in contact with non-Christians Salt makes you thirsty • The example of our lives and the things we say need to make people thirsty for God – but we need to be amongst people Light illuminates • We need to be imaging and reflecting Jesus, the Light of the World, so that hope can be brought into people’s dark situations – but we need to be amongst people We are the salt of the earth, we are the light of the world. This is our calling - this is how God saves people
Sermon on the Mount: Happy are the Hungry
Today’s message will look at the righteous cravings that result from experiencing the first three beatitudes. Happy are the hungry!
Sermon on the Mount: Blessed are the Meek
Today’s message will look at the unexpected revelation that the meek, not the mighty, will inherit the earth. In God’s miraculous design the Christian moves up the ladder of spiritual maturity differently than the designs and plans of the carnal world.
Sermon on the Mount: Happy are the Sad
Today’s message will reveal that paradox that only when we mourn will we be filled with overwhelming joy.
Sermon on the Mount: Poor in Spirit
Today’s message will examine the content and the meaning of the first beatitude and it’s important placement in Jesus teaching.
Sermon on the Mount: Overview
Today’s message will introduce the Sermon on the Mount. Where was it taught? When was it taught? Why was it taught? What is the significance of this sermon? Today’s message will tackle these questions and more.
Two Roads
Popular today is the idea that all religions are just different roads leading up the same mountain. But Jesus said something completely different: There are only two roads, but the destinations are very different.
