Shine Where You Are | Matthew 5:13-16

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“Shine Where You Are”

Intro:

Good morning everybody, welcome to City Awakening! Welcome to everyone here onsite and to everyone watching this service online. We’re glad you’re joining us online. At this time we can dismiss our children to our City Kids leaders in the back for children’s church, and if you’re a 1st time guest with us this morning, welcome to our church. My name is Louis, I’m the lead pastor here at City Awakening, and we’re glad you’re here...Today we’re continuing our teaching series called Something To Give, and it’s about how everybody gives their life to something. The question isn’t, are you giving your life to something? It’s what are you giving your life to?...What are you giving your life to, and are the things you’re giving your life to worth it?...Like I said a few weeks ago, you can’t choose to give your life to nothing. If you’re a skeptic or a believer, you’re giving your time and energy to something, and last week Zack talked about giving your time and energy to things that are worth it. This week we’re talking about giving your talents to things that are worth it. We want to give both our time and talents to things that are worth it, and in today’s text Jesus will teach us something we can use our talents for. He’ll teach us we can use our talents to be salt and light in our dark world. That’s what we’re talking about today, so let’s turn to Matthew 5 and get into it. If you open your bible to the middle and keep turning right, you’ll find Matthew. We’ll be in Matthew Ch. 5:13-16. Title of the message is Shine Where You Are, and the big idea is Jesus has you in this city for a purpose. It’s to season it with salt and shine light in the darkness... Jesus has you in this city for a purpose. It’s to season it with salt and shine light in the darkness...

Context:

Here’s your context. In Matthew Ch.’s 5-7 we have the longest sermon Jesus preached in recorded history. It’s called The Sermon On The Mount, and he’s primarily preaching on how to live our lives. He covers several topics like how to pray, how to live a blessed life, and how to live a content life. The part we’re focusing on is where he’s preaching on being salt and light in our dark world. Now as we study this text we’ll learn what it means to 1st Be Salt, 2nd Be Light, and 3rd The Purpose for being both salt and light. It’s salt, light, and purpose. Let’s check it out.

The Word:

            Matthew 5:13-16 states, “You are the salt of the earth.” Jesus says you are the salt of the earth, meaning his followers are the salt of the earth. But what does that mean? What does it mean to be the salt of the earth? Salt in ancient civilizations was used in two primary ways. It was used to preserve and season food. They didn’t have refrigerators back then, so they’d use salt to preserve food like fish or meat. They’d pack their fish or meat with salt to preserve it and prevent it from decaying. But they also used salt to season their food like we do today. When I was growing up, I remember my mother switching our family to a low-sodium diet because she had high cholesterol. I hated it! The food was very bland without salt! I told my wife if the doctor ever tells me I can’t eat salty brisket anymore, I’m out! Jesus can take me home early, because I’m not giving up my brisket!...Salt is used to both preserve and season our food, which is exactly Jesus’ point! He says you are the salt of the earth, meaning you’re to both preserve and season the earth with your life!

            Now to preserve the earth means to prevent it from decaying and fully falling apart. But to season the earth means to help flavor it and make it better. So Jesus is saying to preserve the earth so it doesn’t fall apart, but also season it to make it better. Colossians 4:5-6 says, “Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt...” We’re to season the earth with salt through our actions and our speech. Jesus wants you to be salt in your marriage, family, workplace, school, city, and neighborhood. He’s placed you around specific people in specific places to be salt that preserves and seasons them in ways that make their lives better. Are you doing that? Are you preserving and seasoning the people and places where Jesus has you?...Are you helping make their lives better, or are you nothing more than a bland, low-sodium diet to their lives?...Jesus says you are the salt of the earth, meaning you’re to preserve and season the people and places around you, not sit in a cabinet doing nothing.

Again vs. 13, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything, but to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.” When Jesus says if the salt loses its taste, then it’s no longer good for anything, he isn’t saying we can lose our salvation. He’s saying we can lose our impact. Seasoning doesn’t have any impact if it has no taste. It doesn’t have any impact if it remains in the cabinet. But this is exactly what many Christians are doing! They’re diluting their saltiness by either blending in with the culture or by remaining in the cabinet, and they’re having little impact on the people and places around them. If our faith never makes it out of the cabinet, if it never makes it out of the church into our relationships, workplaces, schools, and neighborhoods, then we’re not living the salty life Jesus wants us to live. He’s called us to season the world with salt to preserve it, to make it better, and to reach more people so they can be a part of his eternal kingdom. In the parable of the lost sheep Jesus was willing to leave the 99 to reach the 1, but many of us are neglecting to reach the 1 because we like the comfort of the 99. We’re far too comfortable hanging with the 99, unless it’s our kid who’s the 1 that’s lost. Then suddenly we’re willing to leave the 99, we’re willing to do whatever it takes to reach them and bring them home. City Awakening Jesus was willing to leave the 99 to reach you, so you should be willing to leave the 99 to reach the 1. Who’s that 1 more person Jesus wants you to reach?...Who’s that 1 more person that’s close to you, but far from Jesus?...Whoever that person is, be praying for them and season their life with salt. The empty seats in our church should always be a reminder that there’s still room for 1 more. There’s still room for your mother, father, brother, sister, son, daughter, family, and friends. Jesus says you are the salt of the earth, meaning he’s sent you to reach them. You can’t do that sitting in the cabinet.

Vs. 14, “You are the light of the world.” Jesus says you are the light of the world. But what’s that mean? What’s it mean to be the light of the world? Light illuminates and guides people through darkness. If you walk in a dark room, you become disoriented and stumble over things because you can’t see where you’re going. You need light to illuminate and guide you through the darkness. The truth is many of us are walking around disoriented and stumbling through life because we’re often navigating the darkness of life without Christ. Just like you need light to navigate through a dark room, you need the light of Christ to navigate through the darkness of life. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.” (ESV). You need the light of Christ and his word to guide you through the dark paths of daily life. This is one of the reasons we say our church is a place for both skeptics and believers to seek truth, find joy, and live with a purpose in our city. It’s because we believe Jesus is the light who can illuminate our minds, transform our hearts, and help us find the truth, joy, and purpose we’re seeking. We believe Jesus is the light who can shine into the darkness and help us make sense of our lives. We believe Jesus doesn’t just help us see our circumstances more clearly; he helps us understand our lives in light of who God is, why we’re here, and where hope beyond the darkness can truly be found.

 If you aren’t sure what you believe about Jesus, you’re still welcome to attend our church. We welcome your questions and invite you to investigate Jesus and his claims. Because if he really is the light of the world, it means he can help make sense of your life. Jesus said in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.” City Awakening Jesus is the light of the world! He’s the source of our light. He’s like the sun; we’re like the moon. The sun is the source that gives the moon light. Without the sun, the moon wouldn’t have any light. Likewise, Jesus is the source that gives us light, and without Jesus we wouldn’t have any light. Just like the moon reflects the sun’s light, we’re to reflect Christ’s light. We’re to shine light into the darkness of the people and places around us.

Again vs. 14, “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house.” The image we’re getting is like driving to the mountains at night. You’ll see a few lights flickering from cabins on the horizon. Even though they’re surrounded by trees, their lights can’t be hidden. Jesus says a city on a hill cannot be hidden, meaning their light can’t be hidden. He also says light from a lamp isn’t meant to be hidden under a basket. It’s meant to be visible so others can benefit from it. His point is the light of Christ is supposed to be shared, not hidden. We’re to shine the light of Christ, not hide it. There’s darkness in the people and places around you that only the light of Christ can overcome, and Jesus wants you to shine light into that darkness. In the words of Martin Luther King Jr., “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” That’s what Jesus is saying we should be doing. We should be shining the light and love of Christ into the darkness, not hiding it. We should be striving to be a light that makes Jesus visible to the people and places around us.

Vs. 16, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” Jesus doesn’t just tell us to let our light shine. He tells us to let our light shine with a purpose—it’s for others to see our good works and give glory to God. It isn’t so we get glory; it’s so God gets glory. In fact Jesus addresses this later in The Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 6:1 he says we shouldn’t do good works to be seen by others for our glory. Jesus is clear that the purpose for doing good works, for being salt and light in the world, is so others will come to faith in him and give him glory. This goes back to what I said earlier about being willing to leave the 99 to reach 1 more. It also aligns with our church’s mission statement to Reach People and Reach The World. You’re the salt and light Jesus sends into the world to reach more people. You’re the one he sends to help shine his light into the darkness of their lives. City Awakening you might be the only glimpse of Jesus some people get this entire week...Some of your friends aren’t willing to sit in a church and listen to a sermon, but they’re willing to sit and listen to you...Jesus sends you to be salt and light in their lives, not to hide in a cabinet. He’s placed you in your job, school, city, neighborhood with a purpose, not by accident. It’s to season it with salt and shine light in the darkness, so more people will come to faith in Jesus and give him glory.

            Now something to keep in mind is there’s an individual and collective aspect to all this. We’ve talked a lot about being salt and light from an individual perspective, but we reach more people and give God greater glory when we all do this collectively. In fact when Jesus says you are the salt and light, the Greek word for you is plural, not singular. Jesus is saying all his followers need to be salt and light individually and collectively, which we have the chance to do through our local City Serve. City Serve is where we come together as a church to serve our city, and this time we’re serving Eastbrook Elementary right around the corner from us. They need help restocking their food pantry for families in need with the upcoming holidays. You can be salt and light by bringing as many nonperishable food items as you can to church next week. Then on Saturday, Nov. 14th, you can be salt and light by helping us serve at Residing Hope Children’s Home. We’ll be doing yardwork, improving their facilities, and spending time with the children in the cottages. On your seat is a flyer for more info, and it’s a chance for us to be salt and light collectively.

            But like I said, it’s about being salt and light both individually and collectively. So who’s your 1?...Who’s 1 more person Jesus wants you to reach, and how does he want you to reach them?...How does he want you to be salt and light in their life?...What about the places where Jesus has you? How does he want you to be salt and light at home, work, school, your neighborhood?...I recently received a testimony from a woman in our church who’s trying to be salt and light in one of our local public schools. Her name’s Naomi, and she’s leading something called The Good News Club, which shares Jesus in the public schools to children 5-12 yrs old. Here’s what Naomi said...

Several years ago, a group of moms and I wanted to bring the Good News of Jesus into our public schools. So we started on our knees in prayer, asking the Lord to open a door for us. We prayed for a door to open for 5 years! But then in 2024, the Lord answered our prayer when City Awakening started sponsoring The Good News Club at Audubon Park Elementary. So we’ve been spreading the good news of Jesus in that school, and in our first year we had 80 kids attending!

But several parents and teachers were angry, and started spreading lies about us and our teachings. They even started a counter club against us. Their club eventually fizzled out, but the persecution didn’t stop. Last fall the principal told us we weren’t allowed to meet anymore. So we went back to praying, and several months later the Lord opened the door for us to meet again. 

It’s been hard, but it’s also been a joy seeing God work in the lives of these children. We’ve been able to provide some of them with Bibles, but more importantly, we’ve been able to provide them with the good news of Jesus. We still need help with volunteers, snacks for the children, and people praying for each child by name. But I’m thankful for the pastors and members of City Awakening supporting us—so we can keep bringing the good news of Jesus to these children.

City Awakening let’s praise God for this testimony!...Naomi will be at the next steps table after the service if you’re interested in helping her out. But I wanted to share her story because she’s an example of somebody who’s trying to be salt and light in our city. She’s an example of somebody who’s been willing to leave the comfort of the 99 and face hardship to reach the 1. Are you willing to do the same?...Are you willing to leave the comfort of the 99 to reach the 1?...Are you willing to be salt and light to the places and people around you, or just hide in a cabinet?...

The Big Idea:

The big idea of the message is that Jesus has you in this city for a purpose. It’s to season it with salt and shine light in the darkness...We’re to use our time and talents to be salt and light to the people and places around us. John 3:16 says God so loved that he gave; we should so love that we give. We should so love Jesus and others that we want to give up our time and talents to be salt and light in a dark world that desperately needs Jesus. I think both skeptics and believers would agree that the world doesn’t need more darkness; it needs more salt and light. The good news of the gospel is thatJesus died on the cross for our sins, and then he rose again on the 3rd day proving his resurrecting light has the power to conquer humanity's greatest darkness, which is sin and death.

Communion