Why Are You Here?

Matthew 5:13–16 The Message

13 “Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. 14 “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. 15 If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. 16 Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

Why are You Here?

   "Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.

Matthew 13:33 NKJV

33 Another parable He spoke to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.”

"Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.

 "Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill.

 If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand.

 Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

  NLT. 

  Jesus also used this illustration: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough."

Values are “who you are and why you do what you do?

Values shape the future and the reason you are “Here” 

We are:

A Bible Believing church.

Spirit empowered church.

A disciple making church.

A mission sending church.

A faith based church.

A church that believes in the power of prayer.

A church that develops leaders.

A church that believes in the five fold ministry.

A multi-site church.

A church that believes in miracles.

A church that believes peoples should prosper.

A Church with a strong foundation.

A practical church that teaches people how to live.

A church that values and practices relationships.

A church that gathers weekly as a congregation and in small groups. 

Why are you Here?

I.  Engage the Culture. 

Tell everyone about Jesus.

Share your story.

Build personal relationships

Make friends. 

II.  Live in Authentic Relationships.

Practice the “one another scriptures”.

Life is about God and Me and You. 

III.  Empower Potential. 

Empower the future of God’s People and help people become all they are called to be in God’s church in the World.

IV.   Driven by Compassion. 

Feed the hungry.

Adopt the orphan.

V.  For all Generations. 

God’s Great Church is an Abraham, Isaac and Jacob Church.

Why are you Here?

I.  Salt – Makes the Meal Taste Better.

II.  Light – Dispels the Darkness.

Light is truth – revelation – the knowledge of God.  

III.  Yeast changes the Substance. 

When the yeast touches the substance everything changes. 

Discussion Questions:

What’s the hardest you’ve ever worked?

What stood out most to you about “Why You Are Here?” What is so impactful to you about that idea/conviction?

Please read and share how you can live this scripture a bit more than you have been.

How can you do a better job of “engaging the culture” around you?