John Lloyd - The Sermon On The Mount - Salt and Light

Seeking God First:  A Study on the Sermon of the Mount

God’s Way to Impact our World Matthew 5:13-16

June 10, 2018

Pastor John Lloyd

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus expresses His desire for us to live for Him in an upside down world.  This greatest sermon ever given, is uplifting, yet challenges us to live a life with Jesus that is far better than any other!   It is our prayer that you will be encouraged and challenged by studying and applying this great sermon to your life. Small groups are also available throughout the week to further discuss and put into practice the lessons taught from the Sermon on the Mount.

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. 16In 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.

Big Idea:  God has called us to make a public difference by displaying His sweetness, direction and deeds for His glory. 

Realizing that the Beatitudes are essentially interior, one might be tempted to think they can be lived in isolation—away from the world that is so contradictory to the things of God. But actually it is impossible to live these eight norms of the kingdom in private. They are powerfully social and outward when put to work. That is why Christ crowns them with two brilliant and searching metaphors (salt and light) that tell us how those who live the Beatitudes must relate to the world.  Kent Hughes

Saved people serve people. Saved people love people.

Saved people reach people.

I.               Salt makes a difference by displaying God’s sweetness.

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.”

Salt’s main role is to prevent putrefaction and decay.  Salt first and then light?  Why this order? 

Mark 9:50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.  I Peter 3:15

Acts 17:26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,

Matthew 5:13 “Let me tell you why you are here.  You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth.  If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.”  (The Message)

Prayer: I have a greater opportunity today than I have ever had before.  Lord, use me to be salt in every situation and relationship in my life.

Reflective Questions:  How can I bring God’s sweetness to the people God has placed in my life? At my job, school, and to my neighbors?

Salt brings God’s sweetness to difficult situations.

 Saved people serve people. 

II.              Light makes a difference by bringing direction.

Matthew 5:14 “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.

I John 5:19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.  John 1:5

John 8:12 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.”

Psalm 36:9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.

John 12:35 So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”  John 3:19

The purpose of light is to expose darkness.  The purpose of light is to show a way out of darkness.

Ephesians 5:8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. 

2 Cor. 4:6

2 Cor. 3:18

I have received light. I have been made light. May I become a transmitter of light. Saved people love people.

III.            Good deeds make a difference by glorifying God.

Matthew 5:16 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.

I Peter 2:12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Titus 2:8

Eph. 2:10

I Peter 2:9-10

The first beatitude insists on self-renunciation; now Jesus offers self-expression in world-compassing terms.  He can make that offer now, for the kind of self-expression that has a renunciation at it center is safe for the man and for the world. E. Stanley Jones

I Corinthians 3:6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.

Saved people serve people.  Saved people love people. Saved people reach people. 

Brighten the corner where you are!