Sermon Notes

Passage:   Matthew 5:13 - 16              

Intro: Contrary to what we may think,  Jesus is not about to call all His followers to join Him in some commune in the mountains.  He is not about to say ‘have nothing to do with people that are not like you’.  He does the exact  opposite. In these verses, Jesus calls His disciples to actually engage with  the culture, to be involved in the world around them and actually make a positive difference. 

Jesus said to make disciples, not join disciples.         

- A statement of fact  -  “You are the salt of the earth”  
               
- A statement of caution  “If salt has lost its taste…It is no longer good for anything”  Be aware

- A statement of fact      “You are the light of the world”         

- A statement of caution  “Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket”   This is just

- A statement of purpose   -  “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.”

Let your life point people to God and then He gets the glory for it all!                            

Matthew 5

(13)  “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.

Luke 14

(34)  “Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored?   

(35)  It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Matthew 5

10)  “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

(11)  “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

(12)  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

John 15

(20)  Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

(21)  But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.

(22)  If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.

(23)  Whoever hates me hates my Father also.

1Peter 4

(12)  Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

 (16)  Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.

2 Corinthians 4

(8)  We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;

(9)  persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;

(10)  always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.

1Corinthians 4

(11)  To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless,

(12)  and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;

(13)  when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.

2Thessalonians 1

 (4)  Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring

1Peter 4

 (12)  Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you

Acts 5

(41)  Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.

1Peter 4

(13)  But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

James 1

(2)  Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds

James 1

(12)  Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Revelation 2

(10)  Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

2Corinthians 4

(17)  For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,

(18)  as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.