Salty

Introduction

Holiness and Unity

The example of salt

Salt is good because of its saltiness

It’s saltiness gives flavor

It’s saltiness enables preservation

Salt that loses its saltiness loses its value

No flavor

No preservation

Disciples of Jesus

Ought of be distinct. “The first half, “salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again” (9:50a), assumes that one recognizes salt by its distinctive tang. If salt fails to salt food, it is not salt and is worthless. The same applies to disciples. If they do not manifest the distinctive characteristics Jesus requires, they are not real disciples and are worthless to him.”

David E. Garland, Mark, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 370.

Ought to add flavor

Ought to preserve

Christians are distinct

One distinctive of Christian living is peacefulness within

Cultivate humility.

Grow in Appreciation.

There are times we need to have harder conversations with one another. Even these should be gentle. But they can come off as harsh, uncaring, and unhelpful if the only conversations we’re having with one another are the hard ones.

Take Responsibility.

We need to take care not to cause our brothers and sisters to stumble

Direct temptation

Approval of sinful behavior

Promoting false Ideas

Withholding the care God intends for us to give

Fight Sin.