This Little Light of Mine

Greeting

Isaiah 2:3 ESV

Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.

Good morning and welcome to the Baker Heights Church of Christ. We are a group of imperfect disciples who love the perfect Lord and try to please him every day. We gather on Sundays to lift our hearts in his worship together. Visitors are always welcome and wanted here. Please connect with us through the QR code on the back of the pew or the visitor’s card in the slot there.

Grabber

Pollution. First, we feared trash. Everywhere we looked, it littered the landscape, brought a tear to the eye of Iron Eyes Cody, and we called it pollution. Then we turned our attention to the water, fearing debris, poison, and contamination, and called it water pollution. Then we looked up and saw towers belching smoke and particulates and called it air pollution. Then AC/DC came along, and we feared that rock and roll was noise pollution. We shot men into space and left a trail of NASA capsules, panels, boosters, and fuel tanks, and now we fear space pollution. Once in space, astronauts looked back at Earth and discovered every major city in the world cast light into the vacuum of space and we call it light pollution. Jesus was right: a city set on a hill cannot be hidden. But is it truly light pollution?

Introduction

People appreciate light. It is inviting, drawing most people to bask in the warmth of its glow, trusting in its revelations, embracing its joy, and putting it to work.

When it comes to Kingdom Living, Christians’ lives shine like a beacon in the night. Drawing the weary, burdened, seeking, longing, questioning soul to Christ’s mercy and God’s glory—the source of our Christian light.

Jesus said, Matthew 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.”

Cities cannot be hidden. On a clear night we can see the glow of Wichita Falls or Fort Worth.

But Jesus isn’t talking about Dallas, NY, LA, or even Abilene. He is talking about the holy city, one so vast it engulfs the entire world. One so ancient it was instrumental in Rome’s fall, but so contemporary that it challenges the moral fabric of our own country today. It is the church. A diversified city that scorns pride and selfishness to bring all people together.

The church, New Jerusalem, is the world’s, history’s, and mankind’s greatest city. It is us.

Let’s examine the light of God’s city on the hill to find our place within it’s shining.

Discussion

The City of God

Matthew 5:14 ESV

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

Cities by nature attracted people. Families became tribes. Tribes became camps. Camps became villages. Villages became cities. Cities offer protection in numbers. Shared labors and rewards. Better infrastructure, more individual opportunities, and socialization. Cities built in high places could be seen for miles around, beckoning people from the countryside to join in the benefits of the city. Such cities could not be hidden—their opportunities drew more people, creating more opportunities.

Psalm 46:4–7 “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah”

The Psalmist speaks of the “city of God” the holy habitation of the Most Hight, an allusion to the city of Jerusalem where God established his presence, “God is in the midst of her.” He offered her the ultimate protection when nations raged, kingdoms tottered, and the earth melted. God would help her…. Then she rejected God.

Once God withdrew his protection, Jerusalem was susceptible to destruction from the Babylonians. Yet, God was looking forward to a new city, a new dwelling place—the church.

The church is the new city of God, where he dwells in his people.

John 14:23 “Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”

1 Corinthians 3:16 “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?”

Together we are the city which God set on a hill. We cannot no be hidden. Our light must shine.

Church of Lights

The church is made of individuals, whose hearts burn brightly with love and thanksgiving for God’s work in their lives.

That’s us. Our hearts burn, and out lights shine

Matthew 5:16 “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.”

Ephesians 5:8 “for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light”

Gazing at the earth from the moon, those astronauts saw the greatest cities shining in the night. They could not make out individual lights, but one great beam made up of millions of individuals. Even so, the church shines because each individual Christian lets his light shine before the world. And the world looking on ought to be mesmerized by the Great light of the church. Not by the individuals, but by the whole body—the brightest place on earth! A city set upon a hill.

Ephesians 3:21 “To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

Application

How can we keep our lights shining brightly?

Fellowship. Fan each others’ flame. The bellows of fellowship stoke our fires. By spending time together, our light is intensified. As the world walks up to our lighted windows, let them long to be part of that fellowship.

Compassion. Demonstrate love and compassion as we reach out to our community with kindness. Some churches get so inwardly focused that they pull the shades and dampen their lights. Let the world look through our windows and see the light of generosity, support, and hope in each Christian.

Outreach. Set the world on fire with the gospel. May it burn across the land taught from every pulpit, sung from every pew, heralded from every street corner, and exemplified in every Christian. Our holy excitement should spark a blaze, calling, beckoning, pleading with friends, neighbors, relatives, and strangers to “Come.” May they walk up to the lighted windows and see the offer of salvation and abundant life.

That makes us look like Jesus who offered fellowship, compassion, and salvation. When we mimic the Great King, his light shines through us. The more we work together, the brighter our light shines.

There is a pollution greater than trash, poison, and particulates. It threatens more than air, water, land and space. It threatens our souls. It is sin. Left to itself, sin destroys, but God saves

So, What?

We are the city on hill—unhidden, unashamed, and undimmed, so shine out!