1 - Light Our World
The Kingdom Is Near • Sermon • Submitted
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· 8 viewsYour character and good works stand out to expose the world to our Father. Salt means character of Christ. Light means life of Christ by His Spirit in us. Good works point to the Father.
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Introduction
Introduction
Welcome - thankful to be here at Mt. Rock
We’ve come to teach, preach, equip, shepherd, love, model. Those are spiritual and practical activities. The motivation is living the Kingdom together.
Getting to know everyone - names, families
Series on Parables = The Kingdom is Near.
Parables and word pictures - taken roughly in chronological order
to see the amazing picture of Jesus’s purpose and teaching
To establish the Kingdom on earth.
I start with this one Light Our World to help express my motivation for coming as pastor.
Background to message:
Jesus teaching the disciples on the mountain. This section known as Sermon on the Mount.
This passage in Matthew comes just after the Beatitudes.
Attitudes or values. Growing in us internally by the Holy Spirit.
What Jesus says next seems disconnected and yet it holds great importance.
Read passage for today
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled on by men.
“You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
You Are Salt
You Are Salt
You are the salt of the earth.
You are the salt of the earth.
What is the significance of salt?
What is the significance of salt?
seasoning - enhances flavor
preservative - stops decay
distinctive
Salt changes flavor and character, is often used as a symbol of Character
Salt symbolically represents the Character of Christ
What if salt isn’t salty?
What if salt isn’t salty?
English Standard Version Chapter 5
but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
Salt that doesn’t taste salty isn’t distinctive, doesn’t stand out.
Christ-like Character lost or absent
Examples of Salt:
Beatitudes
Fruit of the Spirit
Mark 9:49-50 For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
Mark 9 = first/last, other servants, temptation to sin, wrap up with charge.
You Are Light
You Are Light
You are the light of the world
You are the light of the world
What is the significance of light?
What is the significance of light?
conspicuous - city on a hill, not to be hidden
exposes - eliminates darkness
illuminates - room, path, etc.
directs - shines for all to see
Light represents the outwardly visible Testimony
Wait, I thought Jesus said He is the Light of the World.
Wait, I thought Jesus said He is the Light of the World.
Then Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”
Jesus healed a blind man
Who sinned?
Not because of sin but so the work of God is displayed in him. (Make hay while the sun shines)
Then:
As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
Paul and Barnabas quoted Jesus who quoted Isaiah:
For this is what the Lord has commanded us:
I have made you
a light for the Gentiles
to bring salvation
to the ends of the earth.”
Paul in Philippians - continue to obey, work out your salvation:
Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
Blameless and innocent/pure = character
Light shining in the world
Concluding
With Jesus in us, we are light in this dark world.
Therefore - Matthew 5:14 you are the light of the world. Don’t hide the light.
Let Your Light Shine
Let Your Light Shine
In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
Let your light shine before others
In the same way - conspicuously
Before others - to see your good works
Glorify your Father in heaven
Didn’t Jesus warn about doing good deeds publicly?
Didn’t Jesus warn about doing good deeds publicly?
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of people, to be seen by them. Otherwise, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
The difference:
Motivation - to be seen by others for reward, to look good, be admired
Heart of darkness = seeking reward for self
Heart of Light = sacrificing to love
Just like “ears to hear” Jesus uses this picture of light on a lampstand to say, “Live out the character principles I just taught you.”
Just like “ears to hear” Jesus uses this picture of light on a lampstand to say, “Live out the character principles I just taught you.”
Salt and Light = Character and Good Works
Salt and Light = Character and Good Works
Big Idea: Your character and good works stand out to expose the world to our Father.
Salt and Light lived out
Not will be salt and light tomorrow - You are today.
It’s about intentionality - not being good but doing the good works
If you are in Christ, and you are developing that loving relationship with Him, you are transformed and His life comes out in you.
Salt and Light demonstration
flashlight, oil in lamp
Fuel for the light is Holy Spirit.
Our light burns dim if we fail to fuel up each day.
Conclusion
Let’s Light Our World Together
Let’s Light Our World Together
We are here because we want to salt the earth.
We want to light our world.
We want to join you in salting the earth and to light our world together.
To grow together in our understanding of God’s Word.
To exemplify the character and life of Christ.
To glorify our Father.
Prayer opportunity - join me in praying for our start together as salt and light
Men - 1 minute challenge:
flashlight keyring to reflect on the salt and light with their families.
Looking ahead – Why did Jesus teach in parables?
Looking ahead – Why did Jesus teach in parables?
Other Examples of Light For Further Study:
Other Examples of Light For Further Study:
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light within you is darkness—how deep is that darkness!
He also said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed? Isn’t it to be put on a lampstand? For nothing is concealed except to be revealed, and nothing hidden except to come to light.
“No one, after lighting a lamp, covers it with a basket or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand so that those who come in may see its light. For nothing is concealed that won’t be revealed, and nothing hidden that won’t be made known and come to light.
“No one lights a lamp and puts it in the cellar or under a basket, but on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see its light. Your eye is the lamp of the body. When your eye is good, your whole body is also full of light. But when it is bad, your body is also full of darkness. Take care then, that the light in you is not darkness. If, therefore, your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be entirely illuminated, as when a lamp shines its light on you.”