Sermon Tone Analysis

Making A Difference

In the sequel to the beatitudes the Lord gave two illustrations to show how what we are will have an impact on what others do.

We who are “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” are living in a world of

Decay - salt

Darkness- light

We are to have an impact on both conditions.

Decay - to become gradually damaged, worse, or less;

Darkness - the in ability to see your surroundings

We (Christians) are to help prevent destruction and give direction.

Ladies and gentlemen we are here to make a difference

Note that the Lord said we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.

Note that the Lord said we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.

Note that the Lord said we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.

Jesus calls you to be salt and light in the world, and in so doing he calls you to make a difference.

[1] Phillips, J. (2014).

Exploring the Gospel of Matthew: An Expository Commentary ().

Kregel Publications; WORDsearch.

So, you are the salt of the earth, and you are the light of the world.

What in the world did Jesus mean by this?

The basic theme of this section is this.

The Christian is meant to be different from the world.

When we looked at the Beatitudes, we saw that the Beatitudes were all about Christian character, whereas this section on salt and light are all about Christian influence.

And here’s the deal.

You cannot influence the world if you are the same as the world.

You cannot change something unless you are different.

As Christians we are to be people of influence, and so we must be different from the world.

There’s a reason God doesn’t take you to heaven as soon as you accept Christ.

You have a job to do.

Your Christian job description has two parts: salt and light.

And where do you fulfill your job?

Right here on earth.

The kingdom of heaven belongs to those who exhibit the characteristics of the Beatitudes, but we are still to live out our lives on earth, here in this world.

Jesus calls you to be salt and light in the world, and in so doing he calls you to make a difference.

Whether as a parent to your children or as a teacher to your students, or as a boss to your employees, who you are will have a far greater influence on others than anything else in your life.

Jesus calls you to be salt and light in the world, and in so doing he calls you to make a difference.

You are to be an obvious Christian, and your Christian character should have a redeeming influence in the world.

You are to be an obvious Christian, and your Christian character should have a redeeming influence in the world.

The presupposition in this text is the decay and darkness of the world.

The very text presupposes decay and darkness.

Where you need salt,you have decay, and where you need light, there is darkness.

I.

The Salt of the Earth

What You are - “You are the salt of the earth.”

A. What You are - “You are the salt of the earth.”

So let’s talk about the salt of the earth first.

Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth.”

()

Jesus is talking to Christians here, and notice Jesus says that this is what you are.

He doesn’t say this is what you should be, he doesn’t say this is what you will be, he doesn’t say this is what you can be if you want to – he says this is what you are.

You are the salt of the earth.

If the church does not fulfill its function as salt, there is no backup plan.

There are no salt substitutes.

Look around at each other.

We are it!

Jesus declares to the church, “You are the salt of the earth, and no one else.”

Notice the contrast in his statement between salt and the earth.

Jesus used the concepts of salt and light a number of different times to refer to the role of His followers in the world.

We are the salt and light in our community.

Salt had two purposes in the Middle East of the first century.

Because of the lack of refrigeration, salt was used to preserve food, especially meat, which would quickly spoil in the desert environment.

Believers in Christ are preservatives to the world, preserving it from the evil inherent in the society of ungodly men whose unredeemed natures are corrupted by sin (; ).

Salt Stops Decay

We are to identify to others Life and incorruption

We are to live a life as salt intervening in the affairs of others to help with the decay brought on by sin.

Look at decay from the worlds perspective

salt is rubbed in as a warning

exegete

james 5.1-

Salt is rubbed into the meat to stop decay

We are to engage the unsaved and bring them to Christ .

Illustration

Our life and testimony - Fred and Ann Ayers

our priories - our money , our time our talents ....

We are to be a community church not an isolated band of religious zealots.

Salt is only good if you have an object to apply it to.....

We are to antidote to decay ...

Illustration - refrigeration goes out food is spoiled and must be disguarded...

We are the salt for our community

We must be in the community ....

Race - Ed Ramon, Bible promise Book, freedom track and you ....

2nd use -enhancer

Salt was used then, as now, as a flavor enhancer.

In the same way that salt enhances the flavor of the food it seasons, the followers of Christ stand out as those who “enhance” the flavor of life in this world.

Second, salt was used then, as now, as a flavor enhancer.

In the same way that salt enhances the flavor of the food it seasons, the followers of Christ stand out as those who “enhance” the flavor of life in this world.

Christians, living under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and in obedience to Christ, will inevitably influence the world for good, as salt has a positive influence on the flavor of the food it seasons.

Where there is strife, we are to be peacemakers; where there is sorrow, we are to be the ministers of Christ, binding up wounds, and where there is hatred, we are to exemplify the love of God in Christ, returning good for evil ()

Christians, living under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and in obedience to Christ, will inevitably influence the world for good, as salt has a positive influence on the flavor of the food it seasons.

marriages - should be salty

Families - salty

Where there is strife, we are to be peacemakers;

where there is sorrow, we are to be the ministers of Christ, binding up wounds,

and where there is hatred, we are to exemplify the love of God in Christ, returning good for evil ()

A salty church is one that gets into the community and rubs salt into wounds.

Lifting up the hurting ‘

Lifting up the needy

caring for the discouraged

When the salt has lost its flavor its used as road bed material and put on roofs of homes because its property of Harding the ground and soil.

mathew 22.36-40

When a Christian stops caring for others and their condition he is just another person in the community.

ignored and become like a pharisee