Parable fo the Hidden Lamp

Intro

A light!

Flash Light!

Parable reading:

Matthew 5:14–16 ESV

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 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. 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.

What are some things you can say are true about the light?

It is bright

It pushes back the darkness

A small light makes a big difference

It helps me see things

It shows the ways to better things!

Jesus was reminding the people about the purpose of the light -

What do you think the purpose of a light is?

The purpose of a light is to show you something

The purpose of the light is to help you see

The purpose of a light is to brighten a room

When Jesus says, you are the light of the World - He means that you have a purpose like a light has a purpose.

When Jesus says that people do not hide a light under a basket - He means that you should be the light that He wants you to be and now hide it .

I heard about one of you kids who is really great at being a light to those around them - This little friend of mine regularly asks his teacher at school to come to Family Night and to come to church on Sunday. He went so far as to have his mom and dad write out the details to give to the teacher so she could come.

Maybe all of you do that sort of thing - maybe you all are inviting your friends and your teachers and others to come to church and learn about Jesus.

When Jesus said that:

we are being a light like we should and

we do good things like He expects us to

we are able to make Him happy and glorify His name.

I want to remind you that for us to be the right kind of light for Jesus requires us to be sure that we have decided to follow Jesus with our lives.

Have you done that tonight?