REaD Text is the study of the Sermon on the Mount. These are the actual words of Jesus, God on earth. This is the greatest sermon ever preached and it only lasted 10 minutes! The Greek philosophers had come and gone, the religious leaders were teaching earthly, works-based religion. Jesus came and taught how your earthly actions have eternal consequences or blessings.
Salt and Light – At first read it seems very random, but Jesus is brilliant with words. Both salt and light are distinctive, both make a difference, both are meant to be used, and both are instant.
Salt = Character, who a person IS.
1 Samuel 16:7 (NLT), But the LORD said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
- The Lord looks at character, integrity, morals, values, attitude, and the heart.
- Who are you when no one is watching?
- If salt gets mixed with dirt or impurities, it is useless. It really hasn’t lost its salt characteristics, but it has become useless in adding flavor to anything.
- It is much easier to keep your integrity than to gain it back.
Light = Conduct, what a person DOES.
Philippians 2:15 (NLT), so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.
- A light is most effective in darkness.
- Being a godly person at church is nice, not very effective. Be a light in a dark place.
- A light should be used to turn people to Jesus, not blind them. Light shouldn’t scare people or point to us. It is all about showing people Jesus and the difference He can make in their life.
- Your outward conduct should match your inward character.
When our outward conduct matches our inner character; we can turn people to Jesus! That’s what it’s all about!
Click here to watch this message online.
