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Scripture

Matthew 5:13-16 NIV

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.

He said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Main Idea

 Jesus sends us into the world, to be different from it, as salt and light.

Going Deeper
Questions from this weeks message.

 1.  What insight, principle or observation from this week’s message did you find to be most helpful, eye opening or troubling?  Please explain.  

2.  Christians are called to be different. Do you think there is a good different and a bad different? How would you define or explain that?  

3.  Read Matthew 5:13. What uses does salt have? How might this relate to what Jesus means about Christians on the earth.  

4. If salt can’t really lose its saltiness, but it can become contaminated, how might contamination in the Christian life work? How would that make us ineffective as salt on the earth?  

5.  Alvin talked about salt as preservative and flavor. How are Christians to be both of these on the earth? If you are a Christian, what is your role in this?  

6. Read Matthew 5:14-15. How have you experience the confusion of darkness and the joy of light physically in your life? How might Christians be considered light in the world?  

7. Jesus sends us into the world as salt and light, though we are to be distinct from the world too. How have you navigated the tension of being in the world but not of the world, as a Christian.  

8. In what ways have you, or have you seen other Christians pull away too far from the world and lost their influence? How have you seen contamination in Christians cause them to lose their influence.  

9. Read Matthew 5:16. How can you shine you light by being in the middle of the darkness of the world? What is something you can do this week? Is your life engaged in the world? How might Jesus be calling you into it more? What might that look like for you? How cold you take another step of influence with your pray for 4? 

Summary Points

The Kingdom of Heaven is upside down to the Kingdom of this world.

When we become contaminated with the world, we lose our influence in the world. 

Preservative & Enhance Flavor 

When we remove ourselves from the world, we lose our influence in the world. 

Jesus calls us out from the world, but not out of the world. 

Jesus sends us into the world, to be different from it, as salt and light.
Jesus sends us into the world, to have influence in it, as salt and light

Call to Action

 Jesus sends us into the world, to be different from it, as salt and light.  Are you making a difference in your world?