The Lord’s Blueprint for His Church 9th May ’04
The Church is called to be the Salt of the Earth and the Light of the World.
Introduction: Here in Matthew 5, Jesus sits down and preaches the Sermon on the Mount. V1 Tells us to whom this sermon in primarily addressed: His disciple. He begins with the Beatitudes, which we will leave for another time. We will dwell on the rest of His Sermon.
Jesus introduces His sermon with this most challenging thought; ‘You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.’
Notice Jesus’ Emphatic Language
* Not you should be or you could be, but you are.
* This is what the Lord has left the Church in the world for
* This is something that the world cannot prevent us from being.
The Two Main Purposes of Salt
1. To be used as a Preservative
* Salt was very important in Biblical times; they had no fridges or freezers
* Food was salted to prevent it from rotting.
* Salt keeps the seas of our world pure.
God calls His children to preserve and purify. The Church is to preserve Modesty 1 Tim 2 v 9
Morality Eph 5 v 3-12
Honesty and Integrity John 8 v 44-47.
2. To be used for Flavouring
* Food without salt is tasteless. It adds flavour and enhances food.
* Salt that loses it saltiness is useless Col 4 v 5.
The Two Main Purposes of Light
1. To be used to Enlighten
* Nothing is of greater value in a dark place, than light.
* Our world is in darkness and the Church is to be the Light. Phil 3v14-15
* Shine like stars in the Universe Acts 13 v 47.
2. To be used to Expose
* Light exposes everything hidden by darkness
Note John 3 v 19; 1 Cor 4 v 5; Eph 5 v 8 –11.
Conclusion: Salt must remain salty Light must not be hidden
Those who walk in the Light of Christ will cause even the world to praise Him. Verse 16.
Questions for the Bible Study..12.05.04
1. Explain what you think Jesus meant when He said, ‘When salt loses its saltiness it is good for nothing, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.’ Matthew 5 v 13.
2. Explain; how on one hand Jesus said,He was the Light of the world and on the other; you are the light of the world.
3. In what ways could we hide our light under a bushel?