OH! MY GOODNESS!

Matthew 5:13

THE DISCIPLE’S HANDBOOKStudies in the Sermon on the Mount

THE DISCIPLE’S HANDBOOK

Disciple’s Character

Code

Worship Economy

Relationships

Choices

THE DISCIPLE’S CHARACTERLifestyles of the Poor and Nameless (5:1-5)

With Liberty and Justice for Me (5:6-8)

Peace Without Honor (5:9-12)

Oh, My Goodness! (5:13)

Now You See Me (5:14-16)

ONE WHO MADE A DIFFERENCEFather Damien of Molokai

FATHER DAMIEN OF MOLOKAI

A METAPHOR: SALTMatthew 5:13

Matthew 5:13

"You are the salt of the earth.

Preservative

Seasoning

Medicinal Restorative

Agricultural

Sterilization

Religious Ceremonial

EconomicUses of Salt

Preservative

Seasoning

Medicinal Restorative

Agricultural

Sterilization

Religious Ceremonial

EconomicUses of Salt

Preservative

Seasoning

Medicinal Restorative

Agricultural

Sterilization

Religious Ceremonial

EconomicUses of Salt

Preservative

Seasoning

Medicinal Restorative

Agricultural

Sterilization

Religious Ceremonial

EconomicUses of Salt

Preservative

Seasoning

Medicinal Restorative

Agricultural

Sterilization

Religious Ceremonial

EconomicUses of Salt

Preservative

Seasoning

Medicinal Restorative

Agricultural

Sterilization

Religious Ceremonial

EconomicUses of Salt

Preservative

Seasoning

Medicinal Restorative

Agricultural

Sterilization

Religious Ceremonial

EconomicUses of Salt

Preservative

Seasoning

Medicinal Restorative

Agricultural

Sterilization

Religious Ceremonial

EconomicUses of Salt

Preservative

Seasoning

Medicinal Restorative

Agricultural

Sterilization

Religious Ceremonial

EconomicUses of Salt

26%

30%21%

7%2%2%

9% 2%

1. Salt had a variety of uses in the ancient world. Of the fol-lowing, which do you think Jesus had foremost in his mind

when he said disciples are "the salt of the earth"?

PreservativeSeasoningMedicinalRestorativeAgriculturalSterilizationReligiousCeremonialEconomic

5% 16%

2%

2%

7%

19%9%

14%

26%

2. Which of the following do you think least represents what Jesus meant when he said disciples are "the salt of the

earth"?

PreservativeSeasoningMedicinalRestorativeAgriculturalSterilizationReligiousCeremonialEconomic

Mark 9:50

"Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves,

and be at peace with each other."

Colossians 4:5-6

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

The influence of the Bible

Elevated women

Eliminated slavery

Promotes equality

Basis of western law

Inspired freedom

Moral compass

Vital principles

Promotes peace

Matthew 5:13

"You are the salt of the earth.

Notice the end of the verse: 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.

21%

19%

42%

9% 9%

4. How can salt lose its saltiness?

It gets old through disuseIt combines with other substances chemicallyIt becomes weaker as it is mixed with impuritiesIt leaches from material it is mixed withIt cannot lose its saltiness

What does this mean?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.

WHAT WE’VE TRIEDBeing Confrontational

84%

16%

3. Salt can be beneficial in small quantities, but harmful in larger quantities. Do you think that disciples sometimes do

more harm than good by trying to overpower the world, rather than simply influencing it?

YesNo

Westboro Baptist Church, Topeka, KS

Westboro Baptist Church, Topeka, KS

Westboro Baptist Church, Topeka, KS

Incendiary Christians

The Bible on Christian Activism

John 3:17

God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world

through him.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall

not perish but have eternal life.

John 16:8

When [the Holy Spirit] comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness

and judgment:

2 Corinthians 5:18-20

God ... gave us the ministry of reconciliation: … 20 We are Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore

you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.

WHAT WE NEED TO DO1. Pursue Personal Morality

Philippians 2:14-15

Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure,

children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation.

The Biblical way to influence the world

Sin exists in the church

WHAT WE NEED TO DO1. Pursue Personal Morality2. Advocate Morality as a Citizen

1 Peter 3:15-16

Do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience.

Imagine how we come across to unbelievers!

ARE YOU MAKING A DIFFERENCE?