Throw Salt and Shine Light
This week, we take a break from Galatians to celebrate a family service, run by the youth. The theme is salt and light. In His sermon on the mount, in the Beatitudes, Jesus tells His people that they are to be the salt and light of the world. The message could never be more relevant, we are living in a dark, corrupt and decaying world. Christians need to be salt to stop the decay and light, to shine into the darkness and to bring God’s people into His light. Enjoy, as we take a look at what this means to be Christians and to bring Salt and Light into the world that desperately needs it.
Scripture
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. (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.
Bible Study Questions
A tasteless world
Jesus tells us to be the salt of the world. Salt adds flavour, tang to things. How can we bring tang to the world?
Matthew 5:13 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.
Psalm 34:8 ESV Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
1 Peter 2:2-3 ESV Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
A decaying world
In ancient times, salt was of immense value. Roman soldiers would take a portion of their wages in salt. Hence the word salary. But one of its most valuable properties was it’s ability to preserve and prevent decay of food. How can we be a decay-stopping salt in the world today?
Matthew 5:13 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.
Galatians 6:8 ESV For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
Romans 8:21 ESV That the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
Being the salt
There are many ways in which we can be salt in the world, by stopping decay and corruption, and by bringing zest and flavour into a tasteless world. Practically, what is one of the best ways for us to do this?
Matthew 5:13 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.
2 Timothy 1:8 ESV Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,
Psalm 119:99 ESV I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation.
1 Corinthians 1:4-7 ESV I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, (5) that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— (6) even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— (7) so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Cities and hills
Jesus says that we are to be like cities on hills. He never let anything go to waste. From the mount where His epic sermon was delivered, no doubt you could see at least a couple of cities from the mount, surrounding the sea of Galilee.
Matthew 5:14 ESV “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Matthew 4:12-17 ESV Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”
Luke 3:1 ESV In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,
Light of the world
Light is a common and powerful theme in the Bible. God started light in the beginning, and now He is passing the banner to us to be the light. What do you understand to be the significance of light?
Matthew 5:14 ESV “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Genesis 1:3-4 ESV And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. (4) And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.
John 8:12 ESV Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
1 Peter 2:9 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.
Shine your light
The world tells us today that we can be what we want and do what we want. Some preachers even use this scripture to promote the same idea. But there is something very specific about the way we shine that makes the difference between Godly shining and worldly shining.
Matthew 5:15-16 ESV “ 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.
1 John 1:5 ESV This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
Psalm 119:130 ESV The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.
James 1:17 ESV Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
Throw salt and shine your light
The challenge for you this week is to throw salt and shine your light in the world. Ask God to reveal one person to you who doesn't know Jesus, and share your testimony with them!
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. (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.
Matthew 28:19-20 ESV Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”