Matthew 5:13-16
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL
VERSION ®. NIV®. COPYRIGHT © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by
Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Two metaphors are given to help us think through our involvement in the world. Kingdom citizens are salt (preserving and seasoning the world) and light (shining forth so that others can see the goodness of God). If we fail to embrace this missional calling, we are, in the words of Jesus himself, “no longer good for anything”. Listen in as we consider how we can each live life on mission and how together we can become a more missional church.
Discussion Questions
- Why should Christians engage with the world around them?
- In what ways can we fall short in seeking to be salt and light?
- What are the consequences of those errors?
- In contrast, what is the effect of the body of Christ living according to God’s desire?
- What does it look like for the Christian to engage productively with culture, especially when the culture has differing views than the Christian?
- How can you reflect the heart of Christ in these situations?
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