Salt and Light

Matthew 5:13-16 let your light shine

Clay Smith JFBC
Parables

20 new families have joined JFBC in the past month.
If JFBC wasn't here any more, would people notice?

Salt and light. V 13 true of all believers -

1. I am the salt of the earth. True of the Dead Sea. Salt was valuable, used for many purposes. Used for purity in sacrifices.

Salt used as a preservative. Things that rot will stink.

Jesus says we are sent to prevent decay from happening. Currently facing the eradication of human rights, gender. We live without the sanctity of life, etc.

If the salt has become tasteless how can it be made salty again? If I cease to serving God, how can I find my way again?

2. You are the light of the world. Hard to be a believer these days - at work, in college, etc. We are to reflect God's light. The heavens reflect the glory of God, like the moon reflects the light of the sun. We are to be a city set a hill.

We wouldn't light a lamp and set it under a basket. Back then it took effort to light a lamp. Why live as if you're not a light? As hard as it is to be a light in the world today. But if I'm not where I'm supposed to be, who would God use in that place? Your good works should glorify your Father in heaven.

Moody: "if you set yourself on fire for the Lord, the world will come and watch you burn."

If you are a follower of Jesus, we can isolate or dedicate. God doesn't want me to isolate or integrate into the culture of the world today. Jesus sends us out into the world. We have work to do, to follow God's mission.

JFBC mission statement: We exist to help people find truth, belonging, and purpose in Jesus. To do so we have to do 3 things…

1. We have to stand up for the truth of God's Word.

2. We have to be a counter-cultural community of belonging, made up of different nationalities, ages, income levels, etc

3. We have to live out God's purpose by sharing the gospel, creatively and with wisdom.

Clay: I've been here 4 years but with Covid it seems like 28. Johnson's ferry was run by a man actually named Johnston. One day most of us will be forgotten. Hopefully we can help people by being salt and light to others.