Oct. 25, 2020

Salt & Light

 Primary Text:  Matthew 5:13-16                   October 24 & 25, 2020

 1)  To the World

 Matthew 5:13-14:  You are the salt of the earth….  You are the light of the world. 

 DQ 1) How effective has the church been as salt and light in

          American culture for the last several decades?  Why?

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 2)  Requirements for Effectiveness

 Matthew 5:3-10:  Blessed are the poor in spirit….  Blessed are those who mourn….  Blessed are the meek….  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness….  Blessed are the merciful….  Blessed are the pure in heart….  Blessed are the peacemakers….  Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness…. 

 DQ 2) How is it possible that people who profess to be Christians

          can radically disagree over critical moral issues?  

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 3)  Spirit & Truth

 John 4:23-24:  Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.  God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.

DQ 3) Why is worshipping in spirit and truth essential to being salt

          and light?

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 4)  Useless

 Matthew 5:13:  You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
DQ 4) In what ways has the church lost its saltiness?  Can it be 

          regained?

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 5)  Lightless

 Matthew 5:14-16:  You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. 

DQ 5) What would it be like for the ‘True Church’ to be a 

           powerful light to the world today?

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