HOME GROUPS | As It Is

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"You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

Matthew 5:13–16

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We are exiting the season of Advent as a church and entering a new year. In December we remembered that we are a waiting people; in January we now consider the gospel work we do in the waiting. This month we jump back into the Sermon on the Mount series and will spend the month in verses 13-16 of chapter 5. 

Break the ice. Were you afraid of the dark as a child? What was the cure?

Discuss the text. God does not just call us into His love, He also commissions us into His work. We are participants, not spectators. These are the questions we will look to God's word to answer this month:

What does it mean for the people of God to be salt and light? 

Why do you think Jesus transitions to salt and light directly after he tells them that they will suffer persecution? 

How does that inform our engagement and concern with the brokenness around us? 

Does that impact how we see our neighborhoods, our jobs, our family?

Summarize the text. As the salt of the earth, we preserve the world from moral decay by forming the kingdom character spelled out in the beatitudes. As light of the world, we proclaim the hope of the world: Jesus.

Close in prayer. Know with full assurance that the Word of God dwells richly in you, brothers and sisters. Ask God to give you and your group boldness to live with kingdom character and proclaim the hope of Jesus to a dark world.

Encourage our church-wide practices. As a church, we are invited throughout this sermon series to engage in three practices: Morning Prayer, Evening Silence and Wednesday Fast. The practices are a way to become satisfied in God. May you abide in Jesus and access the presence of God this week. Amen.