Sermon on the Mount Pt. 2: Light of the World

Matthew 5:13-16 NLT - 13 "You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. 14 "You are the light of the world--like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

1. Are we being salt?

• Salt - (Halas) - salt with which food is seasoned, and sacrifices are sprinkled, wisdom and grace exhibited in speech.

• Are we being salt or are we being salty?

Salty - (Gen-Z slang dictionary) Being "salty" means being bitter, angry, irritable, or resentful, often over something trivial, a loss, or a slight, like being upset after losing a video game or feeling annoyed by someone's attitude.

Colossians 4:6 ESV - 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

2. Are we shining our lights?

Matthew 5:14-15 NLT - 14 "You are the light of the world--like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.

• We are to shine our lights before men.

Matthew 5:16 NLT - 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

• The aim is not self-promotion.

• The goal is God-exaltation.