Do Good | COMMUNION SUNDAY

Matthew 5:13-16

“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.

Opening: Vision Series (Do Good. Multiply Disciples. Worship God.)

1. We are Called to Be Here for a Reason (Eph. 2:10)

2. Salt

Flavoring, Preserving, Purifying, Cleansing, Brighten Light of Lamps

Salt was a Fundamental Human Necessity.

Main Point: Salt is Beneficial is a Variety of Ways.

Bizarre to Think That Salt Loses Its Saltiness: How Do You Salt Salt?

Tasteless Salt is Worthless.

3. Light

Light Must Be Visible for It to be Useful

A City on a Hill is Meant for Prominence; Not to Be Hidden.

4. Main Point:

A Professed Disciple Without Real Commitment Proves Valueless for the Mission of the Kingdom.

Such “Christians” Have No Part in God’s Kingdom. They are “Thrown Out & Trampled On.”

Salt & Light Imagery Points More to Who We Are Than What We Do.

I. To Be Salt & Light, We Must Be Disciples.

so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Discipleship is Assumed: Jesus is Speaking to His Disciples Within Earshot of the Crowd (Matt. 5:1-2).

Disciples are “Learners” (Matt. 28:18-20).

Disciples Have a Distinctive Character (Beatitudes: poor in spirit, mourn, meek, hunger & thirst for righteousness…) (Matt. 5:3-12).

God as Father of His People - Common Jewish Designation.

Followers of Christ are Children of God & Relate to God as Father (Gal. 3:26; Gal. 4:7; John 1:12).

We Need Jesus to Be Salt & Light. If We Don’t Have Grace, We Can’t Be Salt & Light (2 Cor. 12:9; James 4:6; )

II. To Be Salt & Light, We Must Be Different.

You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored?

I Used to Think that to Be Holy Meant to Be Boring. It Means to Be “Set Apart” or “Different” (Lev. 11:44, 45, 19:2; 1 Pet. 1:16).

Disciples Insist That Orthodoxy Must Lead to Orthopraxy (1 Tim. 4:16).

Those Who Learn From Jesus Become Like Jesus (1 John 2:6; 1 Pet. 2:21; Eph. 5:1-2).

Don’t Be Un-salty Salt or Dark Light (Hypocrisy Hinders the Mission).

If You Haven’t Become Different, You Probably Don’t Know Jesus (Eph. 4:22-24).

III. To Be Salt & Light, We Must Be Devoted to God’s Glory.

so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Changed Lives Point to God & Glorify Him (Eph. 3:20-21; 2 Pet. 3:18; Rev. 11:13).

We Don’t Give God Anything. We Rightly Attribute to Him What is Already His (Hab. 2:14; Ps. 29:1-2; Ps. 115:1).

If You Own Something & I Give It To You - That’s the Right, Expected Thing to Do.

Disciples are Humble Because Jesus is Humble (Phil. 2:5-11; Mark 10:45; 2 Cor. 8:9).

Disciple Devote Themselves to God’s Glory; Let’s Devote Ourselves to His Glory (1 Cor. 10:31; 1 Cor. 6:20; Rev. 14:7).

IV. To Be Salt & Light, We Must Be Present.

In the same way, let your light shine before others

“Christians Must Permeate Society as Agents of Redemption.” C. Blomberg

Christians Aren’t Meant to Hide or Retreat (John 17:15; 2 Cor. 5:20;

Consider the Incarnation (John 1:14; Heb. 1:1-2; Gal. 4:4-5).

Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them. (1 Cor. 7:20)

Don’t Look for the Spectacular. Embrace the Ordinary (Rom. 12:2; James 5:17; Matt. 6:1-34).

V. To Be Salt & Light, We Must Do Good.

so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

When I Say “Do Good,” I’m Not Advocating for Moralism (Rom. 3:27; Eph. 2: 9; Gal. 6:14).

By Grace You Have Been Saved Through Faith, Not Through Works (Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 3:24; Rom. 11:6).

Christians That Aren’t Passionate About Good Works Are Un-salty Salt or Dark Light (Titus 2:11-14).

Do Incalculable Good Because Good Points to God (Mark 10:18; Nah. 1:7; Ps. 34:8).

Do Incalculable Good Because God in Christ Has Done Incalculable Good for Us (Ps. 145:9; Ps. 119:68).

Closing: 4 Be’s & 1 Do

1. Doing Flows From Being. Being Doesn’t Flow From Being.

2. “Must”: Emphatic for a Reason. It’s Mission-Critical.

3. Tim: Agape Bags