Transcript
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Running head: Delivering an Effective Sermon
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Delivering an Effective Sermon
Delivering an Effective Sermon: Matthew 5:13-16 “Salt and Light”
Troy L Clark Jr
Grand Canyon University: MIN-430
3/6/19
Delivering an Effective Sermon: Matthew 5:13-16 “Salt and Light”
I. Introduction
a. Opener: When you buy salt at the grocery do you ever question whether or not that bottle of salt will contain a salty flavor? When you walk into a dark room do you turn on the table lamp and immediately throw a blanket over it? The answer to both of these questions should be “of course not”. In Jesus’ day salt During the Sermon on the Mount Jesus used the metaphors of salt and light to convey and explain what Christians are to the earth. We have a dual citizenship in both the Kingdom of God and earth. This dual citizenship means that we must participate in the world, but in a way that is set apart characterizing the Kingdom of God.
b. M.P.T: In Matthew 5:13-16 Jesus describes to His disciples during the Sermon on the Mount the characteristic being righteous and a part of the Kingdom of God, which is that they are metaphorically the salt of the earth and the light of the earth.
c. M.P.S.: If we are truly among the Kingdom of God, we will give evidence to Christ-like character, allowing God to shine through our actions for His glory.
d. Title: Being the Salt and Light within a Dark World.
II. Body
Being a salty Christian
Explanation: So, what does it mean when Jesus’ refers to His followers as salt of the earth? Well, Christians are the salt of the earth due to the sole fact that we are a part of God’s Kingdom. During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus refers to his followers as salt of the earth because in that day salt was regarded as very valuable. First, this salt that Jesus is referring to was to be known as something that added goodness. This goodness is seen in Colossians 4:6, which states “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone”. Also, salt was known to have medicinal value, which is shown in Ezekiel 16:4. Ezekiel 16:4 states “on the day you were born your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to make you clean, nor were you rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloths”. As Christians, we aid and add to the earth with both goodness and medicinal value.
Application: But how do we add both goodness and medicinal value among the earth and non-believers? In other words, how do we keep our salt full of flavor and “salty”? The answer is only through following the footsteps of Jesus, which is being of Godly character without the infection of worldly character. We must pursue Christ every day, mature in our faith walk, and deepen our relationship with the Lord. Loving God and loving our neighbor and the actions behind those statements is what keeps our salt from becoming tasteless among the earth. For if we call ourselves a Christian but have no characteristics and actions of a follower of Christ, then what makes us different?
Illustration: As most of us have experienced, salt can lose its flavor and become tasteless and impure. Tasteless salt is caused by it being exposed to condensation or rain water, adding to the element of salt. When salt has become tasteless and impure it becomes useless, for it cannot produce the effects it was intended for. In the same way, Christians can lose their character like Christ if they let the world pollute them, being transformed by the world rather than the Holy Spirit. In the same way as the effects of impure salt, those who call themselves a Christian but have no characteristics and actions of a follower of Christ, do not produce the effects of being among the Kingdom of God.
Proclaiming God’s light among a dark world
Explanation: Also, within Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus refers to His followers as the light of the world. But what does Jesus mean when he says we are the light of the world? Well, as Christians our good works are the light of a dying and dark world, which radiates the glory of God. If we as Christians let our good works shine without hiding it or subduing it, we share a testimony for the Kingdom of God. This testimony has the purpose of often causing non-believers an intense desire to know what makes Christians different. However, this light that radiates virtuous acts within a dark world is due to the sole fact that we have God living in and through us.
Application: How can we then radiate the glory of God to the world through our actions? To act as a walking testimony, radiating God’s light, we must be the hands and feet of Jesus with our words, actions, and interactions with everyone we come in contact with. The light of our good works will and should come naturally when we are pursuing the Character of Christ and striving to imitate him.
Illustration: In the past, cities used to be built of limestone, to act as a waypoint for travelers on foot or at sea. During the day, the limestone cities would protrude light and acts almost as a glowing beacon. This light that protruded off of the limestone during the day was because this rock naturally reflects sunlight. In order to continue its purpose of being a waypoint for travelers, the limestone cities were lit up with oil lamps during the night. Whether day or night these limestone cities acted as a much-needed point of reference for travelers. The light of Christians works the same way for unbelievers. A Christian’s light that protrudes based on their actions, acts as a beacon in which points the unbelievers of this world towards God’s Kingdom.
III. Conclusion
Summation: In conclusion, Jesus told us that we already are the salt of the earth and light of the world, a characteristic we automatically inherited the moment we became a part of the Church. Therefore, we as Christians need to focus our life on being both salt of strong flavor and displaying God’s light on the world around us for all to witness. But we must realize that if we only focus on good works (which is the light) without pursuing Christ (which is the salt) our works are wrongly motivated and are in vain. In the same way, if we pretend to be of Christ like character (which is salty salt) and do not produce good works, we do not have genuine faith. For John 15:4-6 states, “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned”. Like Jesus said, if we truly abide in Him and His teachings, we will then bear fruit. So, as you part ways this morning and go out into the world and your daily life, do not become salt that becomes tasteless or hide your light. For we must understand that as Christians our testimony both verbally and actively can be the difference between a life of eternity or death for unbelievers.
Response: Before you leave this morning, I want to provide four different ways in which you can respond to both God and His message.
First, if you have not yet accepted the gift of Jesus Christ and his sacrifice on the cross for your sins, I want to give you the opportunity to do so. God daily gives you an invitation to enter into His Kingdom and receive the gifts He has waiting for you.
Secondly, I want to invite you to enter into a time of personal prayer and worship, glorifying the Creator of all things.
Thirdly, if you want to receive prayer for anything that you might be going through or want prayer for, the prayer team and Church leaders will be around the room for you.
Lastly, I want to provide the opportunity for you to partake in Communion, to remember and give thanks for what the Lord did for us through the sacrificial blood of Jesus in order to cleanse us of our sins. For Paul states in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, “for I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes”.
