Becoming Salt and Light in Our Faith
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone. Today, we delved into Matthew 5, where Jesus calls us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. I began by sharing a personal story about my kids' obsession with watching someone play video games, which I found frustrating. This led me to a realization about our Christian walk: many of us are content to watch others live out their faith rather than actively participating ourselves. Just as I insisted my kids play the game instead of watching, we too must engage actively in our faith.
Jesus' words in Matthew 5:13-16 challenge us to live lives that make a difference. Salt, in Jesus' time, was valuable and used as a preservative. Similarly, our lives should bring value and preservation to the world around us. We are called to enhance the flavor of life, create a thirst for God, and preserve the moral fabric of our culture. However, this requires us to be in close proximity to those we are meant to influence, just as salt must be in contact with food to preserve it.
Moreover, Jesus calls us to be the light of the world, emphasizing visibility. Our placement in life is not accidental; God has strategically placed us where we are to shine His light. This means living out our faith in practical, everyday ways—through small acts of kindness and service that point others to God. Our good works, combined with the gospel, create a powerful testimony that can transform lives.
I encouraged everyone to adopt a mission trip mindset in their daily lives. On mission trips, we pray, serve, and share the gospel fervently. Imagine if we lived every day like that! Our lives would be filled with purpose and joy, and we would truly be the salt and light Jesus calls us to be.
### Key Takeaways
1. Active Participation in Faith: Just as I urged my kids to play the game instead of watching, we must actively engage in our faith. Being a passive observer in our spiritual walk is not enough. God calls us to be participants, not spectators, in His mission. [20:52]
2. Value and Preservation: Salt was immensely valuable in Jesus' time, used to preserve food. Similarly, our lives should bring value and preservation to the world. We are called to enhance the flavor of life, create a thirst for God, and preserve the moral fabric of our culture. [29:15]
3. Proximity and Influence: Just as salt must be in contact with food to preserve it, we must be in close proximity to those we are meant to influence. Our placement in life is not accidental; God has strategically placed us where we are to shine His light. [37:18]
4. Mission Trip Mindset: Adopting a mission trip mindset in our daily lives can transform our purpose and joy. On mission trips, we pray, serve, and share the gospel fervently. Imagine if we lived every day like that! Our lives would be filled with purpose and joy, and we would truly be the salt and light Jesus calls us to be. [49:22]
5. Living Out Our Purpose: Our good works, combined with the gospel, create a powerful testimony that can transform lives. We must be diligent in the small things, showing care and kindness in practical ways. This is how we live out our purpose and shine God's light in the world. [46:31]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[18:34] - Introduction and Personal Story
[20:52] - Active Participation in Faith
[22:23] - Series Introduction: Things We Wish Jesus Didn't Say
[23:24] - Salt of the Earth: Value and Preservation
[29:15] - The Importance of Salt in Jesus' Time
[37:18] - Proximity and Influence
[42:15] - Light of the World: Visibility
[49:22] - Mission Trip Mindset
[52:26] - Living Out Our Purpose
[53:43] - Romans 12:1-2: Living Sacrifices
[56:24] - The Challenge of Being Salt and Light
[58:43] - Prayer and Closing
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Matthew 5:13-16
- Romans 12:1-2
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Jesus mean when He calls His followers the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world" in Matthew 5:13-16?
2. How does the pastor's story about his kids watching video games relate to the concept of active participation in faith? [20:52]
3. What are the two primary uses of salt mentioned in the sermon, and how do they relate to our Christian walk? [29:15]
4. According to the sermon, why is proximity important for being effective as salt and light? [37:18]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How can Christians "lose their saltiness," and what are the consequences of this according to Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5:13-16?
2. What does it mean to adopt a "mission trip mindset" in our daily lives, and how can this transform our purpose and joy? [49:22]
3. How does Romans 12:1-2 relate to the idea of being a living sacrifice and not conforming to the world? How does this tie into being salt and light?
4. What are some practical ways that small acts of kindness and service can shine God's light in our everyday lives? [46:31]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current level of active participation in your faith. Are you more of a spectator or a participant? What steps can you take to become more actively engaged? [20:52]
2. Think about the value and preservation you bring to your community. How can you enhance the "flavor" of life and create a thirst for God in your surroundings? [29:15]
3. Identify a specific area in your life where you can be in closer proximity to those you are meant to influence. How can you intentionally build relationships in that area? [37:18]
4. Consider adopting a mission trip mindset in your daily routine. What specific actions can you take this week to pray, serve, and share the gospel more fervently? [49:22]
5. Reflect on your placement in life. Do you believe it is strategic and purposeful? How can you better shine God's light in your current environment? [42:15]
6. What small acts of kindness can you commit to doing this week to show care and point others to God? Think of specific examples at work, home, or in your neighborhood. [46:31]
7. How can you apply Romans 12:1-2 in your daily life to be a living sacrifice and avoid conforming to the world? What specific changes can you make to renew your mind and discern God's will? [53:43]
Devotional
### Day 1: Active Participation in Faith
Many Christians are content to watch others live out their faith rather than actively participating themselves. This passive approach is not what God calls us to. Just as a parent might encourage their children to play a game rather than just watch, we too must engage actively in our faith. Being a passive observer in our spiritual walk is not enough. God calls us to be participants, not spectators, in His mission. This means stepping out of our comfort zones, getting involved in our communities, and living out our faith in tangible ways. [20:52]
James 1:22-24 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like."
Reflection: Think of one area in your life where you have been a passive observer in your faith. What is one specific action you can take this week to actively participate in that area?
### Day 2: Value and Preservation
Salt was immensely valuable in Jesus' time, used to preserve food and enhance its flavor. Similarly, our lives should bring value and preservation to the world around us. We are called to enhance the flavor of life, create a thirst for God, and preserve the moral fabric of our culture. This requires us to be intentional about our actions and interactions, ensuring that we are positively influencing those around us. Just as salt must be in contact with food to preserve it, we must be in close proximity to those we are meant to influence. [29:15]
Colossians 4:6 (ESV): "Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."
Reflection: In what ways can you bring value and preservation to your community this week? Identify one specific action you can take to enhance the flavor of life for someone around you.
### Day 3: Proximity and Influence
Our placement in life is not accidental; God has strategically placed us where we are to shine His light. Just as salt must be in contact with food to preserve it, we must be in close proximity to those we are meant to influence. This means building relationships and being present in the lives of others. Our influence is most effective when we are actively engaged with those around us, showing them the love of Christ through our actions and words. [37:18]
Acts 17:26-27 (ESV): "And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us."
Reflection: Who in your immediate surroundings can you intentionally build a relationship with this week? How can you be a positive influence in their life?
### Day 4: Mission Trip Mindset
Adopting a mission trip mindset in our daily lives can transform our purpose and joy. On mission trips, we pray, serve, and share the gospel fervently. Imagine if we lived every day like that! Our lives would be filled with purpose and joy, and we would truly be the salt and light Jesus calls us to be. This mindset encourages us to see every day as an opportunity to serve God and others, making a significant impact in our communities. [49:22]
1 Peter 4:10 (ESV): "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace."
Reflection: How can you adopt a mission trip mindset in your daily life? Identify one specific way you can serve others and share the gospel this week.
### Day 5: Living Out Our Purpose
Our good works, combined with the gospel, create a powerful testimony that can transform lives. We must be diligent in the small things, showing care and kindness in practical ways. This is how we live out our purpose and shine God's light in the world. By being faithful in the little things, we build a strong foundation for greater acts of service and love. Our everyday actions, when done with the right heart, can have a profound impact on those around us. [46:31]
Matthew 5:16 (ESV): "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
Reflection: What small act of kindness can you do today to show God's love to someone? How can you make this a regular part of your daily routine?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "We can't be a church that's okay just watching the game. Like that. That can't be us. So where I came in to my kids and said, no, we're not going to be a family that, that watches them. We're going to play the game. Well, hear me like we can't be a church family that, that just watches somebody play the game. We've got to be a church family that, that says, no, we're going to get in the game." [20:52] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt has lost its taste, how shall it saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. You are the light of the world, a city on a hill. Cannot be hidden, nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand and it gives light to all those in the house." [23:24] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "You can waste your life and nobody would enter into this moment. This morning and go, Hey, you know what? I'm good with just wasting my life. I don't re I don't really care what happens. Like when it all comes down, as long as I'm in heaven, like, what does it matter? But really, whenever we think about it, like nobody wants to get to heaven." [24:24] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Your placement matters. Like your placement matters. He has put you in the places that you are for a reason. God, who is the master architect and builder of the culture of the world, has placed you exactly where you are for a reason. There was no accident in it." [43:30] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Your good works plus the gospel equals light. And so what does that look like, man? I think it's going above and beyond in the places that you are. I'm like, you're, you're at work. And so you're going, Hey, um, man, can, can I help take that trash out for you? Like you, you seem over, overworked and can I help you like, Oh, Hey, I'm going to get some coffee. Do you want some, let me get it for you." [46:31] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Jesus enters into that same conversation and goes, man, I've created you and called you to be. I've created you to be a salt and to be light. And then if you're not living it, then you're just wasting it. So maybe this morning we could spend a little bit of time examining in a, in a culture that really like, if we look at the current church culture, not that is okay." [26:31] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "What I think he's saying is that. Yeah. The Christian values that the, the, the values of Christ and his virtues that he would call us to live in that, that will preserve the culture, that the culture is rotting. And so it is the, the, the Christian virtue and values of Christ that are the thing that will, that can save the culture, right? Not that we're to preserve that idea. No. We're to live in such a way that we're, we're preserving and, and saving the places that we're at." [33:00] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "I think Jesus has that in mind here where he's like, you are like, that's the linking verb. You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world. And so whenever we're not what we claim to be, man, it actually hurts and bring us death faster. Right? And we're like, oh, I'm a Christian, but yet we don't actually live it out and we don't actually live the call of Jesus in the places that God has placed us." [36:37] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Maybe what we need to begin doing is seeing our life as our life is a mission trip. Because the, the very aspects of our life of a mission trip are what? Like, okay, on a mission trip, you know what you're going to do a lot of? Praying. Like, even if you're not a prayer, like you go on a mission trip, then all of a sudden, man, you become a prayer, right? Cause Hey, that's what we're doing." [49:22] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Your life matters. Your life, that's what I think he would want you to understand, is that your life matters. It is no accident. I think we would come in and go, man, does my life really? We would minimize what we are. And Jesus would look at every single person in the room and he would say, your life matters for the kingdom, for the gospel. And that is the only thing that matters." [50:54] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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