Salt & Light
Salt & Light THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT
C3 Bible Study June 19, 2011
June 19, 2011
Please take time to read/re-read the sermon handout from the past Sunday. Based on the themes in the sermon, your C3 group will delve deeper in study and discussion of the key themes. 10 Minute 5 Minute 10 Minute 15 Minutes 35 Minutes Fellowship Announcements Outreach Care & Pray Bible study
Jesus uses two images in the Sermon on the Mount to describe your impact in the world: Salt and Light. Both are marked contrasts to the world; and both are needed in the world. Have you ever thought about your CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE on others in your life? Christian influence captures the essence of what it means to be the Salt of the earth and the Light of the world. Read Matthew 5:13-‐16.
This passage follows on the heals of the “Beatitudes” for a reason. In the Beatitudes, the Lord’s grace and mercy is seen as He blesses you in multiple ways. Because of those blessings, you belong to God. As a believer, you have a new status in the world: you are the salt of the earth and the light of the world! By faith, this is “who you are” because you have been baptized, forgiven, and empowered as a disciple of Jesus Christ! Keeping in mind that both Salt and Light are good things that benefit those who have them, what are the implications of each?
Why would Jesus use the image of “salt”?
Why would Jesus use the image of “light”?
Can you think of other images that the Bible uses to describe your Chris=an influence? Your Christian influence involves both words and actions. Read Psalm 66. What mo=vates us to speak about God to others?
What does 1 Peter 3:15 teach us? True or False: “A silent witness is no witness at all.” What do you do if you have failed to be a vocal witness to Christ? (see 1 John 1:8-‐9). Share some of the ways that you have found to speak about Christ in a winsome way.
Your ac=ons, then, will back up your words. Your good works show a genuineness and a transformed life as you live a godly life in a pagan world. Good works by themselves are not light -‐-‐-‐ unbelievers do good things, and some=mes they do good things beLer than you do! Good works are not the primary witness you have-‐-‐your words are. Your good works are secondary, they reinforce your words; your good works prove that you speak the truth; your good works show that your words are honest and faithful. The Small Catechism summarizes Good Works as those things that you do that are done in faith, to the glory of God, and for the benefit of your neighbor. The last seven Commandments outline good works to our neighbors for us. BELOW, list the Commandment that corresponds to the value on the leT, and discuss how these are “good works”. (This is like a test: they are not in order, the 9th/10th commandments are combined, and there are two extra words that don’t even apply to commandments!) REPUTATION WEALTH PURE HEART LIFE HAPPINESS MARRIAGE POSSESSIONS AUTHORITY
Note: if you say one thing and do another, you are a hypocrite. Discuss how and why that discredits your witness. Discuss this: “ The world usually welcomes the Chris=an’s good works, but cannot tolerate the Chris=an’s vocal witness.” o How does this work against Christ? o How does this play right into Satan’s hands? o Have you seen this in your own life? o Summarize the rela=onship between words and works in Chris=an Influence. DISCUSS THE VIDEO in worship today.
(hLp://www.sermonspice.com/product/16167/a-‐students-‐unspoken-‐plea) Do you know people like the girl in the video? How do they need “salt and light” Tell of a time when you reached out to someone like her.
When you say one thing, and your good works back up your words, then that is powerful witness – it is YOUR CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE in the world! Jesus says, it is the “Salt of the earth and the Light of the world!” It is who you are because of God’s blessings in your life -‐-‐-‐ it is your status in God’s eyes as a bapGzed, forgiven, and empowered disciple of Jesus Christ!
C3 Bible Study June 19, 2011
June 19, 2011
Please take time to read/re-read the sermon handout from the past Sunday. Based on the themes in the sermon, your C3 group will delve deeper in study and discussion of the key themes. 10 Minute 5 Minute 10 Minute 15 Minutes 35 Minutes Fellowship Announcements Outreach Care & Pray Bible study
Jesus uses two images in the Sermon on the Mount to describe your impact in the world: Salt and Light. Both are marked contrasts to the world; and both are needed in the world. Have you ever thought about your CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE on others in your life? Christian influence captures the essence of what it means to be the Salt of the earth and the Light of the world. Read Matthew 5:13-‐16.
This passage follows on the heals of the “Beatitudes” for a reason. In the Beatitudes, the Lord’s grace and mercy is seen as He blesses you in multiple ways. Because of those blessings, you belong to God. As a believer, you have a new status in the world: you are the salt of the earth and the light of the world! By faith, this is “who you are” because you have been baptized, forgiven, and empowered as a disciple of Jesus Christ! Keeping in mind that both Salt and Light are good things that benefit those who have them, what are the implications of each?
Why would Jesus use the image of “salt”?
Why would Jesus use the image of “light”?
Can you think of other images that the Bible uses to describe your Chris=an influence? Your Christian influence involves both words and actions. Read Psalm 66. What mo=vates us to speak about God to others?
What does 1 Peter 3:15 teach us? True or False: “A silent witness is no witness at all.” What do you do if you have failed to be a vocal witness to Christ? (see 1 John 1:8-‐9). Share some of the ways that you have found to speak about Christ in a winsome way.
Your ac=ons, then, will back up your words. Your good works show a genuineness and a transformed life as you live a godly life in a pagan world. Good works by themselves are not light -‐-‐-‐ unbelievers do good things, and some=mes they do good things beLer than you do! Good works are not the primary witness you have-‐-‐your words are. Your good works are secondary, they reinforce your words; your good works prove that you speak the truth; your good works show that your words are honest and faithful. The Small Catechism summarizes Good Works as those things that you do that are done in faith, to the glory of God, and for the benefit of your neighbor. The last seven Commandments outline good works to our neighbors for us. BELOW, list the Commandment that corresponds to the value on the leT, and discuss how these are “good works”. (This is like a test: they are not in order, the 9th/10th commandments are combined, and there are two extra words that don’t even apply to commandments!) REPUTATION WEALTH PURE HEART LIFE HAPPINESS MARRIAGE POSSESSIONS AUTHORITY
Note: if you say one thing and do another, you are a hypocrite. Discuss how and why that discredits your witness. Discuss this: “ The world usually welcomes the Chris=an’s good works, but cannot tolerate the Chris=an’s vocal witness.” o How does this work against Christ? o How does this play right into Satan’s hands? o Have you seen this in your own life? o Summarize the rela=onship between words and works in Chris=an Influence. DISCUSS THE VIDEO in worship today.
(hLp://www.sermonspice.com/product/16167/a-‐students-‐unspoken-‐plea) Do you know people like the girl in the video? How do they need “salt and light” Tell of a time when you reached out to someone like her.
When you say one thing, and your good works back up your words, then that is powerful witness – it is YOUR CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE in the world! Jesus says, it is the “Salt of the earth and the Light of the world!” It is who you are because of God’s blessings in your life -‐-‐-‐ it is your status in God’s eyes as a bapGzed, forgiven, and empowered disciple of Jesus Christ!
