Called to Preserve and Shine

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Have you heard about all the people on social media called influencers?

They do many things that attract millions of followers. They then begin to get sponsors and are paid by the social media companies for the revenue they bring in.

Most of the influencers use some form of sexual attraction and/or social ideology to attract their followers.

They’re the ones right now who have the most influence on our society right now. Especially the youth and young adults.

Even celebrities have lost their attraction to these new influencers. In Matthew 5:13-20 Jesus tells us, His followers, that we are supposed to be those influencers.

I have talked a lot about how only by having the Holy Spirit in us and being aware of His presence that our souls are transformed.

Today I want to talk about what that transformed soul should look like. How as our souls are transformed we naturally start living our lives.

How we live isn’t merely about personal conduct but is a fundamental transformation that influences society around us by:

Preserving Presence

Shining Steadfastly

Righteous Realignment

Dr. E. Stanley Jones, the famous Methodist missionary/author/evangelist, was asked in 1970 to name the number one problem of the church. He replied quickly that the number one problem was irrelevance.

Here we are 55 years later and that problem has become ever more glaring. Social media influencers have more impact on society today than God does through the church.

We as Christians are supposed to be a preserving presence that influences society more than anything else.

Preserving Presence

Jesus tells those listening and us today in:

Matthew 5:13 NKJV

13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

During the NT times salt was far more than just a seasoning sprinkled on food for flavor. It was an important commodity used to preserve food.

In fact the term “worth his salt” comes from the Roman soldiers pay called salarium.

Shine Steadfastly

Mt 5:14-16

Maybe you'd like to highlight Jesus's metaphor of light, considering how light dispels darkness and is visible for all to see. The purpose of light is to guide and reveal. You could suggest that Christians are to shine brightly, exhibiting deeds that reflect the glory of God's kingdom. Encourage congregants to allow their faith to manifest in ways that illuminate the truth and beauty of the Gospel, promoting justice, mercy, and love. Highlight the communal imperative here: collective light shared among believers can shine even brighter in a world needing guidance.

Righteous Realignment

Mt 5:17-20

Perhaps focus on Jesus's relationship with the Law: fulfilling rather than abolishing it. Here, Jesus sets a higher standard of righteousness that goes beyond strict adherence to legalistic practices; it encompasses heart transformation. Encourage the congregation to consider how living as salt and light involves aligning with Christ's example and teachings. Discuss how believers can live ethically and spiritually authentic lives that go beyond mere rules, pointing to Jesus as the ultimate example of love, justice, compassion, and integrity.