Being Salt and Light in a Dark World
Summary
Good morning, Grace Church. Today, we gather to celebrate baptisms, a testament to our ongoing journey of faith and community, even amidst pastoral transitions. As we navigate these changes, we remain committed to our mission of growing closer to God and each other. This morning, I want to talk about influence, particularly in the context of our faith. In our society, there's a growing fascination with social media influencers, individuals who shape opinions and trends. Yet, as Christians, we are called to be influencers of a different kind—those who point others to Christ through intentional outreach.
Jesus, in His Sermon on the Mount, calls us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. These metaphors highlight our role in preserving goodness and illuminating truth in a world often shrouded in darkness. Salt, in ancient times, was a valuable commodity, used to preserve and enhance. As believers, we are to preserve moral and spiritual values, enhance the world with the love of Christ, and create a thirst for God through our lives. Similarly, light symbolizes God's presence and truth. We are called to reflect this light, guiding others to safety and hope.
Our influence should be visible, like a city on a hill, and our good deeds should lead others to glorify God. However, we must be cautious. Salt that loses its flavor and light that is hidden become ineffective. We must actively engage with Scripture, prayer, and outreach to maintain our effectiveness. This week, I challenge you to pray for opportunities to be salt and light, take intentional steps to serve others, and live in a way that prompts others to ask what makes you different. Let us live boldly, love deeply, and serve intentionally, so that through our actions, others may see Christ in us.
Key Takeaways:
1. Influence Beyond Social Media: While social media influencers shape opinions, as Christians, our influence is rooted in pointing others to Christ. Our lives should reflect the love and truth of Jesus, impacting those around us in meaningful ways. [48:51]
2. Salt as a Preserver and Enhancer: Just as salt preserves and enhances, we are called to uphold moral and spiritual values in a decaying world. Our presence should work against sin and corruption, bringing the flavor of Christ into people's lives. [01:01:16]
3. Creating a Thirst for God: Our lives should be so filled with Jesus that they create a thirst for God in others. Through our kindness, integrity, and service, we should draw people to Christ, making them want more of Him. [01:03:35]
4. Light as a Guide and Witness: As the light of the world, we are to shine God's truth in a dark world. Our faith should be visible and public, guiding others to safety and hope, and our good deeds should point people to God, not ourselves. [01:08:47]
5. Maintaining Effectiveness: Salt that loses its flavor and light that is hidden become ineffective. We must actively engage in Scripture, prayer, and outreach to maintain our effectiveness and fulfill our purpose as influencers for Christ. [01:11:02]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:30] - Baptism Celebration
[01:15] - Pastoral Transition Update
[02:45] - The Pressure of Life Decisions
[05:00] - The Rise of Social Media Influencers
[08:30] - Understanding Influence in Our Lives
[12:00] - Intentional Outreach at Grace Church
[15:00] - Jesus' Sermon on the Mount
[18:30] - The Beatitudes: Encouragement and Challenge
[22:00] - Salt of the Earth: Preserving and Enhancing
[26:00] - Light of the World: Guiding and Witnessing
[30:00] - Practical Ways to Be Salt and Light
[34:00] - Serving with Purpose
[37:00] - Engaging in Evangelism
[40:00] - Living as Salt and Light Daily
[44:00] - Closing Prayer and Baptism Video
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 5:13-16
2. John 8:12
3. Leviticus 2:13
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Observation Questions:
1. In Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus uses the metaphors of salt and light. What are the specific roles of salt and light as described in these verses? How do these roles relate to the life of a believer? [56:39]
2. According to the sermon, what are some of the modern-day challenges that can cause a believer to lose their "saltiness" or hide their "light"? [01:11:02]
3. How does the sermon describe the influence of social media influencers compared to the influence Christians are called to have? [48:51]
4. What historical significance of salt is highlighted in the sermon, and how does it relate to the value of a believer's influence in the world? [59:02]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of being "salt" in the world challenge believers to engage with their communities differently? What might this look like in practical terms? [01:01:16]
2. The sermon mentions that light should not be hidden. What are some reasons believers might hide their light, and how can they overcome these challenges? [01:11:02]
3. Reflect on the idea that believers should create a "thirst for God" in others. What does this mean, and how can one's life practically inspire others to seek God? [01:03:35]
4. How does the sermon suggest believers maintain their effectiveness as salt and light in the world? What role do Scripture, prayer, and outreach play in this process? [01:11:02]
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Application Questions:
1. Think about your current circles of influence (family, friends, work, etc.). How can you intentionally be salt and light in one of these areas this week? [48:51]
2. The sermon challenges believers to live in a way that prompts others to ask what makes them different. What specific actions or attitudes can you adopt to reflect Christ more clearly in your daily life? [01:03:35]
3. Consider a situation where you might be tempted to hide your faith. What steps can you take to ensure your light shines brightly in that context? [01:11:02]
4. Identify one area in your life where you feel your "saltiness" might be diminishing. What practical steps can you take to restore your influence and effectiveness? [01:11:02]
5. The sermon encourages believers to pray for opportunities to be salt and light. Who is one person or what is one place you can pray for this week, asking God to use you as an influence there? [01:17:45]
6. Reflect on a recent act of kindness or service you performed. How did it point others to God, and how can you build on this experience to further glorify Him? [01:08:47]
7. The sermon mentions the importance of living boldly and serving intentionally. What is one bold step you can take this week to serve someone in need or share your faith? [01:17:45]
Devotional
Day 1: Influence Rooted in Christ
Our society often elevates social media influencers, individuals who shape opinions and trends with their online presence. However, as Christians, our influence is meant to be of a different nature. We are called to point others to Christ, reflecting His love and truth in our daily lives. This influence is not about gaining followers or likes but about impacting those around us in meaningful ways. By living out our faith authentically, we can demonstrate the transformative power of Jesus in our lives and inspire others to seek Him. [48:51]
"For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?" (2 Corinthians 2:15-16, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life can you intentionally influence for Christ today, and how can you do so in a way that reflects His love and truth?
Day 2: Preserving and Enhancing with Christ's Love
Salt, in ancient times, was a valuable commodity used to preserve and enhance. As believers, we are called to uphold moral and spiritual values in a world that often seems to be decaying. Our presence should work against sin and corruption, bringing the flavor of Christ into people's lives. By living out the teachings of Jesus, we can preserve goodness and enhance the world around us, creating a thirst for God in others. [01:01:16]
"Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." (Colossians 4:6, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you bring the flavor of Christ into your interactions with others today, preserving goodness and enhancing their lives with His love?
Day 3: Creating a Thirst for God
Our lives should be so filled with Jesus that they create a thirst for God in others. Through our kindness, integrity, and service, we should draw people to Christ, making them want more of Him. This is not about forcing our beliefs on others but living in such a way that others are naturally drawn to the hope and joy we have in Christ. By embodying the love of Jesus, we can inspire others to seek a relationship with Him. [01:03:35]
"O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water." (Psalm 63:1, ESV)
Reflection: How can your actions today create a thirst for God in someone who may not yet know Him?
Day 4: Shining God's Light in the World
As the light of the world, we are to shine God's truth in a dark world. Our faith should be visible and public, guiding others to safety and hope. Our good deeds should point people to God, not ourselves, serving as a witness to His love and grace. By living out our faith boldly, we can illuminate the path for others, helping them find their way to Christ. [01:08:47]
"You are the light of the world. A city set 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 in the house." (Matthew 5:14-15, ESV)
Reflection: What is one way you can let your light shine today, guiding someone towards the hope and truth found in Jesus?
Day 5: Maintaining Our Effectiveness as Influencers for Christ
Salt that loses its flavor and light that is hidden become ineffective. To maintain our effectiveness as influencers for Christ, we must actively engage in Scripture, prayer, and outreach. This requires intentionality and commitment to our faith journey, ensuring that we remain connected to God and His purposes. By doing so, we can fulfill our role as influencers for Christ, impacting the world around us with His love and truth. [01:11:02]
"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:58, ESV)
Reflection: What specific steps can you take this week to engage more deeply with Scripture, prayer, and outreach, ensuring that you remain an effective influencer for Christ?
Quotes
In Jesus' first sermon, what we call the Sermon on the Mount, it starts in Matthew chapter 5 and goes through chapter 7. Jesus preaches a, what's kind of a discipleship manual for those who follow Jesus, but it's also a radical invitation to anyone who wants to enter God's kingdom, to start to follow Jesus. It calls for a transformed way of life that reflects God's character. [00:51:30] (26 seconds)
And so Jesus kind of opens into these two very powerful metaphors, salt and light. He does this to describe kind of our role in intentional outreach. And Jesus has this mission. He has this mission to save the world. And he knows and understands that that mission is not only going to require him, but it's going to require equipping others in that mission. [00:55:48] (25 seconds)
Salt also creates thirst. Our bodies, it needs salt. It needs salt for our muscles and for a kind of fluid balance. But too much salt can cause us to be increasingly thirsty. And just as salt can make someone thirsty, believers' lives should make people want more of God. [01:02:05] (26 seconds)
And so the question becomes, are we living in a way that preserves, in a way that enhances and points people to Christ? Is our influence one that shows that the salt of our lives is preventing decay and bringing flavor and making people thirsty? Or has it become contaminated and useless? [01:04:19] (20 seconds)
In Jesus' time, light primarily came from oil lamps or torches or candles. And lamps were probably the most common in the household as a light source for the whole house. And so when Jesus said, you are the light of the world, he was using an everyday image that his audience would immediately understand. [01:05:03] (22 seconds)
The world is filled with spiritual darkness, confusion, sin, hopelessness, brokenness. And Jesus calls us to shine his truth through both our words and our actions. Light exposes sin, but it also guides people to safety. [01:07:20] (19 seconds)
Jesus says, back in Matthew 5, 14, You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Now, ancient cities, they typically wanted to build their towns on a hill. And this was for visibility and protection. At night, their land... Camps and fires could be seen for miles. [01:08:23] (24 seconds)
Intentional outreach means being bold in sharing our faith. It means being bold and consistent in our actions. So the question becomes, do people see Christ in how we live and how we love and how we serve? Do they see that? [01:09:41] (17 seconds)
Acts of service, kindness, and love, it opens doors to share the gospel, to have conversations. This verse makes it clear that believers are not called to do good works for self-recognition, but rather to point people toward God. To point people towards a transformed life. To point people towards wholeness in Jesus. [01:10:33] (25 seconds)
Many Christians keep their faith private. And whether it's out of fear or complacency or just cultural pressure, some avoid outreach because they worry about rejection. They worry about discomfort. Others kind of begin to blend into the world. And so much so that their light becomes indistinguishable from the darkness. [01:11:59] (26 seconds)
Jesus calls us to live boldly, love deeply, and serve intentionally. And when we actively engage in outreach, people will see Christ in us. This week, I want you to find some time to do one of the following three, or all of the following three, if you can. First things, pray for one person or place where God is calling you to be salt and light. [01:17:01] (26 seconds)
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