The Disciple's Influence

Vignette

Narrator: This week we are once again at the coffee shop Celestial Beans but someone is missing. Today, we see Sally, Bob’s wife, arrive at the coffee shop

(Bob & Sally enter the coffee shop, grab a coffee and move to the table) Bob: [looking around] Where is he? He’s usually right here. (Sits down on the chair) Sally: Who? Bob: My Ear Buddy…me and him are discussing this book together Sally: [disbelief] book? Bob: Yes, book…[sees the book on the table], hmm..he’s not here, but the book is Sally: [still not believing] You’re reading *that* book [picks it up and reads the title] “Title of the book”. This must have some great pictures in there! Bob: [sadly] no pictures…but I have been reading it. Sally [flips through the pages] You have, have you? Well then…What is the definition of a disciple? Bob: [starts slowly, as if trying to remember] A disciple…is…someone seeking to….seeking to…know…God…while…being Sally: [confirming her suspicions that he hasn’t really read the book] uh huh… Bob: [triumphantly] transformed in the image of Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, in the context of community. [ends with a ‘so there’ kind of look] Sally: I’m impressed. But what does that really *mean?* Bob: Well..you gotta have the right [trying to sound ‘hip’] ‘tude dude Kairen: say what? Bob: attitude…beatitudes to be precise. Descriptions of what it means to be a disciple Sally: yeah, but those are a whole bunch of rules that are impossible to live up to. Bob: not rules really, more like…a code of conduct…a way to live. If I have a right relationship with God, then I will be more like Christ…..and if I have a right relationship with others, my life will show that I am merciful, forgiving and patient…more than just showing kindness. Sally: Wow, this book is really changing your life, maybe I should be reading this book.

Bob: You mean I am recommending a book for you? (Bragging)

Sally: Whatever, (begins to leave the restaurant)

Introduction

It looks to me that the character, Bob is beginning to grasp the concepts we have been covering.

The Beatitudes covered the last two weeks are sinking in, if you have been away that last couple of weeks, I encourage you to go to the church’s website and listen to the last two sermons. They will give you background to where this series is going.

We have been making our way through the Sermon on the Mount and applying it to modern times.

Times for us today as disciples of Christ. A practical guide for life as a disciple

A reminder, or if you new to the series, the definition of a disciple is

one who is seeking to know God, while being transformed into the image of Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit in the context of Community.

If you are here this morning and you are seeking to know God for the first time. You have come to church wondering if there really is a God or does it make a difference in my life, I encourage you to continue to seek God. Listen to the words of scripture and specifically Jesus’ words through this sermon on the mount. It will give you a glimpse of who God is, who Jesus is and that God desires a relationship with you.

If you are sitting here this morning and you are a disciple of Christ,

you have chosen to seek God more and more each day, you are being transformed daily into the image of Christ,

let’s look at today’s scripture and see what God has in store for us to transform us to be more like Christ.

The beatitudes which we discussed the last two weeks, are there to show us who we are to be as disciples of Christ.

What a disciple should look like if we are to be in the image of Christ, how we are to act to others as examples of Christ.

Jesus now moves onto how we must be, What we are called to be.

Let’s look at the text

Matthew 5:13–16 ESV

“You are the salt of the earth, 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. “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.

Let’s pray!

Salt

Salt,

How many of you cook with spices? Do you have them on a spice rack, in a drawer, jammed into a container on a shelf.

How many different types of spices do you have?

I once heard a comedian talk about the spice area in the cupboard and explained the rivalry and jealously between them. Salt and Pepper are by far the favourte. Chosen almost in every recipe in fact, when the meal is served, they are removed form storage and earn a rightful place on the table, ready to be used by all. Meanwhile others sit in the cupboard for years, some even still have the plastic safety cover on there lids, you thought a playground was rough, the spice drawer bidding you to be used.

But salt, by far the most used.

Look at most recipes and you will find at least a pinch of salt.

It’s no wonder why Jesus would use something so common as salt to illustrate his purpose for a disciple.

Who is the salt

You are the salt of the earth.

In order to fully understand this principle, this statement from Jesus, we must remember the audience and its intention.

First the audience.

There were the disciples gathered around him. He had them nearby and was teaching them. There were his regular followers. Those who were not the chosen 12, but those who followed this teaching, his ministry. Then there was the crowd.

If you remember, the crowd were those who were coming for something. They were coming to be healed. They were the average person who heard of the fame of this man named Jesus and were coming to get something.

Where do you fit?

Have you ever been to Costco? Especially during the free give away times.

If you haven’t let me set you the picture.

There on almost every aisle is a booth of someone handing out samples and promoting the next latest and greatest product that in most cases is on sale that day.

They range from laundry detergent to food, veggies, dessert, and the likes.

AS the people make their way through the aisles trying hard not to run into each other and Look there is a sample.

Have you ever stopped and watched the sample tables?

I do, I take the cart and park it out of the way while heather goes up and down the aisle picking up items.

I begin to watch.

People come to get. To try the sample. To snack. The question is do they buy?

I mean this system must work or why else would they continue to do it, to give away a product without cost.

As I sat and watched, I noticed a trend. There were two types of workers

The engaging person behind the kiosk, or

The one that just cut-up, cooked up, placed out the product.

The result was different as well.

Engaged worker, often had people take a second look and pickup item then the non-engaged person.

It got me thinking.

What motivates us for Christ’s kingdom?

Are we engaged with the people, or just there?

As a disciple of Christ what is our influence for God’s Kingdom?

What is Jesus saying when he tells the people you are the salt of the earth?

What was Christ’s intention for saying this

What is its purpose

We need to first understand its purpose.

1. You need to be in the world

As I said before being in God’s kingdom does not have dual citizenship; however, we are currently in this world.

We need to be making influence for God’s Kingdom where we are.

Many years ago I applied at a church for a position to serve in that church. In discovering each other, we soon realized that our purposes were vastly different. There goal was to be anything but the salt of the world. It was all about keeping the salt all to themselves.

Jones writes,

“the function of the disciple in the world as it is today is one of the most urgent matters confronting the church and the individual disciple at this present time.”

Pg 149-150

Many speakers have use the idea of salt and its properties and directly applied it to this world.

We are to bring flavour to the world. To make it better

We are to be a cleansing healing property to the world and its corruption

We are to be a preservative, to bring about redemption for the people.

All of these themes are true, but it simple states that we are to be out there.

As you walk out those doors this morning, you are an influence in the world.

The second part of being salt is that you are to be different.

We are not to be apart of the world and its thinking.

Left to its own, the world, and the thinking of the world,

leads to destruction,

death,

but we come into the world to bring life.

its more than making it look better, taste better, Jones even argues that it is a negative sense. The difference needs to emphasized and stressed.

When we stand as salt in this world there will be criticism and persecution, but that negative to the world will bring about restoration to the world.

A disciples life should make a difference.

Folks, I get this all the time.

Once people hear that I am a pastor, they expect a difference. That difference in their mind, is not compatible with what they believe.

It often the reason I don’t lead with, Hi, I’m Pastor Paris. I want my message of salt to be opened, tested, before the expectations against come to the fore front.

But our presence should make a difference.

The other day, I joined the men at Tim’s morning coffee. A joke was made as I sat down, “Look out boys, you’re going to have to change your language now.”

Salt in this world should make a difference.

Are you making an influence in the world in which you are living.

Are you acting as salt?

Is there a difference in your life that will bring about change or questions from the world?

Is your lifestyle that of kingdom mind or the worldly mind?

Jesus didn’t say,

You might be the seen as the salt of the earth

or

You should try to be the salt of the earth

He looked at his disciples and stated,

You ARE the salt of the earth. Act like salt.

Be salt to your neighbor.

Living the sermon on the mount in Modern times is being salt in the world. Not separate, but difference makers.

It’s critical that we know that and understand this truth.

Jesus now moves onto a topic less encouraging.

Salt that is worthless.

Could you image the disciples and the followers and the crowd respond to this saying.

Worthless. Salt has so many different purposes how could it ever be worthless.

Again Jesus is pointing the the practical side of salt and not actually salt.

Salt and its influence in the Kingdom of God.

So the question we must ask ourselves is what happens when our influence is worthless.

There are a couple of angles to look at.

Our Methodology

How we approach being an influence in society.

Over my many years of ministry, I have seen the way “Salt” has been applied to be “Salt” in the world.

Ways in which we look at and wonder how they every worked.

let me give you one, and there are many.

Bus ministry.- people would load up a bus, drive around the neighborhood and pick up children to bring them to Sunday School class to tell them about the kingdom of God. Effective in its day, but, not today.

In our methodology, the way we do it should be evaluated whether it is effective today as it was it started. If it isn’t shouldn’t we take a hard look at it.

Can it be changed to once again be “Salty” or has it gone past its life of effective salt. If so, what use is it.

Our Influence

This is the toughest one to realize and the hardest to hear. Are we making a positive influence in the world today? Is our attitude, lifestyle and words making an influence to those who God has put in our path. There are so many options in the world today for people to follow. Are we one of those paths?

It is like the bulk barn of spices. Every were you look there is a new direction or choice people can make in their lives.

Have we lost our effective influence in the world today. We have the greatest story, the God of creation desires to have a relationship with us, his creation, so much that he came to this world took our place of judgment upon himself so that he can call us his own.

He did that for me, he did that for you, he did that for your neigbour, he did it for the world.

Are we out in the world seeking to influence one person at a time. One neighbor at a time, one co-worker at a time.

We have lost our influence when we stop reaching out,

When we stop connecting with the world in a way to bring them God’s unconditional love for them all.

As disciples of Christ, we are the salt of the world. Let’s go and be all that God has made us to be.

Light

Jesus then makes an even more outstanding statement to the people. A statement that does not need illumination.

It stands alone.

If the Salt is who we are, Light is the who we reflect.

Shining our light is for the purpose of letting others see the light source.

Who is the light

Once again, Jesus speaks with clarity as to who he is referring, Us.

Let the light shine. The light source placed within you.

The drive to bring about a change in people’s lives.

What is its purpose

So what is the purpose of the shinning the light.

The world is in darkness. The world has been blinded by their sin.

Their inability to grasp the situation they find themselves in today. They are like one who is stumbling around in the darkness of the night, only the switch for the light will cease the stumbling, but it needs to be located.

I recall when I was 17, I was given an opportunity to accompany a blind and deaf fellow to a conference. CNIB plaid the way for me to fly with him from Regina to Toronto. His world, well most of it was in completed darkness as he could only see a fraction of light.

I began to get to know Brian and became accustom to his situation and lifestyle. On the third night, as he was up brailling notes, I decided to head to bead. After a few moments, I realized, that I had become accustom to his world. There he was working away and I had in respect for him working, left the light on for him. Coming to my senses, I got up and said,

“I guess you don’t need the light on!”

Spiritual Blindness is much different than the blindness that my friend Brian was experiencing.

As light bearers, we are to present the light to the world. It is our job. Our function.

People in this world are walking around, many are looking for the light switch in so many ways.

They feel that money, happiness, fame, self-identity, health are the things of this world that can bring them peace.

They are spiritually blind. Lost to the Kingdom of God.

It is us, disciples of Christ that are to spread the light to the world.

Jesus uses the illustration of a city placed on a hill.

We too are called out.

1 Peter 2:9–10 ESV

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Jesus stated, “ I am the light of the world.”

He also stated we are the light of the world.

Do you see the connection? When we are disciples Seeking to know God, being transformed into the image of Christ, that image is the light to the world.

It shines Christ unconditional love for us to those who need it the most.

The blinded world, blinded by their sin. We bring the light

Light no matter how small, or large is always stronger than any darkness. A small flicker can light the whole room.

1 John 4:4 ESV

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

The contrast between salt and Light for Jesus is that Salt, can become useless, But the light will never fade.

It will always overpower the darkness. It drives the darkness away.

What happens when we fulfill its purpose?

What happens when we fulfill the purpose of Light. Simple, it brings light to God.

The Message of the Sermon on the Mount 2. The Light of the World (14–16)

It seems that ‘good works’ is a general expression to cover everything a Christian says and does because he is a Christian, every outward and visible manifestation of his Christian faith.

Matthew 5:16 ESV

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.

Good works are not to bring favour of oneself to God, rather to show others to Christ.

Tammy’s illustration

In the same way,

Setting your light on a hill for all to see.

Christ was crucified for our sins on a hill, they did it to bring mockery to what he said.

He did it to show triumph over the grave.

He met with people where they were. To bring his kingdom to us.

His love was there for all to see.

Discipleship is good works, empowered through the spirit to bring Glory to the father.

The world will see the difference and be drawn to the light, God’s light.

He is the light of the world.

Conclusion

Let me read you this quote about living out these truths found in these passages for this morning:

The Message of the Sermon on the Mount 2. The Light of the World (14–16)

Rather are we to be ourselves, our true Christian selves, openly living the life described in the beatitudes, and not ashamed of Christ. Then people will see us and our good works, and seeing us will glorify God. For they will inevitably recognize that it is by the grace of God we are what we are, that our light is his light, and that our works are his works done in us and through us.

openly living the life described in the beatitudes, and not ashamed of Christ.

Then people will see us and our good works, and seeing us will glorify God. For they will inevitably recognize that it is by the grace of God we are what we are, that our light is his light, and that our works are his works done in us and through us.

This morning, as you leave, remember, that Christ has called you to be two things.

Salt to this world

Light to this world.

So let’s leave the cupboard and go out into the world to shine God’s glory.

Amen.

We now move into a time of celebration at the table. A table prepared for us By Christ.

We celebrate what Christ has done for us, so that we can be the salt and light of the world.