Bible ReadingMatthew 5:14-16 “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. 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.”
[26:51]Acts 1:7-8 “He said to them, 'It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.'”
[17:19]Ephesians 2:1-10 “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
[54:55]John 8:12 “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'”
[27:51]John 3:19 “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.”
[31:38]Luke 5:30-32 “And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, 'Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?' And Jesus answered them, 'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.'”
[37:26]Deuteronomy 6:4-9 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
[45:17]Observation questions- In Acts 1:8, what places are named for the witness of believers, and who would “Jerusalem” include in everyday life? [18:54]
- In Matthew 5:14-16, what four pictures are used to describe the witness of believers: light, city, lamp, and good works?
- According to John 8:12 and John 3:19, what contrast is made between light and darkness, and how do people respond to the light? [31:38]
- In Deuteronomy 6:4-9, what ordinary settings are named for teaching and talking about the Lord, and what does that show about where spiritual influence begins? [45:42]
Interpretation questions- Jesus says believers are the light of the world, and John 8 says Jesus is the Light of the world. How should that shape the way a Christian thinks about influence, especially the difference between producing light and reflecting it? [28:16]
- John 3:19 says people loved darkness rather than light because their works were evil. How does that help explain why truth-telling and good works can sometimes draw hostility instead of gratitude? [59:19]
- Jesus says a lamp gives light to all in the house before he speaks of public shining before others. Why is witness in the home such an important test of whether the light is really shining? [44:14]
- Ephesians 2 says people are saved by grace and then created in Christ Jesus for good works. Why is it important to keep that order clear, and what goes wrong when good works are treated as the way to earn life with God? [54:31]
Application questions- “Jerusalem” includes family, friends, coworkers, and the regular people nearby. Who are two or three people in that circle who need to see a life that trusts and treasures Jesus, and what might faithful presence look like with them this week? [18:58]
- Salt has to make contact to do any good. Where is there a temptation to stay wrapped up in a safe “Christian ball of salt” rather than moving toward people who need love, truth, and hope? [24:18]
- Light does more than expose darkness; it calls people out of darkness. Is there a situation in life right now where it is easier to point out what is wrong than to step in with costly love and offer a better way? [40:19]
- The lamp is meant to give light to the whole house. What would it look like for faithfulness to become more visible at home—in conversations, repentance, prayer, patience, or the way time is spent with family? [44:41]
- The world can eclipse witness when money, worry, status, or busyness gets between the soul and Jesus. Which of those is most likely to cover the light right now, and how is that showing up in everyday habits? [48:40]
- Good works do not create salvation; salvation creates good works. When there is a desire to prove worth to God or to others, how can the heart return to grace and then walk in obedience from that place? [55:20]
- Jesus expects reviling and persecution, yet the response is not retreat or bitterness but more good works. When treated unfairly or misunderstood, what would it look like to answer that darkness with visible goodness this week? [01:00:25]
