READ | SERMON NOTES
Summary l Salt and light portray the illuminating influence and role Christians have in society.
1) You are the salt of the earth (V13)
– An example (V13a)
Timor Leste, a young nation where approximately 70 percent of the population is below 35 years old, faces unemployment, education, livelihood and healthcare challenges in raising the next generation with hope. A couple from a Methodist church saw the needs of the people and established, from humble beginnings, St Paul Methodist School, providing education and nutritious meals to students. The couple and their children lived in modest quarters which served as a school in the day. The school has since grown and moved three times to the current modern building. The principal and his wife, who is the head teacher, led a team of caring staff and gained a reputation for their love and care. The school now has more than one thousand students and a long waiting list. This couple is an example of salt and light in Timor Leste.
– A stern warning (V13b)
If salt loses its saltiness, it is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
How do we taste to the people around us?
A friend of the speaker rejected Christianity because he saw how his boss gossiped and berated other colleagues while promoting Christian activities and evangelism. People judge us by the way we conduct ourselves, how we treat others, our attitude towards work, the way we show care – not what we proclaim. Are we genuine and transparent? Is our friendship transactional? When our actions cause others to be bitter, we lose our taste as salt.
Salt that is tasty is not just about not being bad. The church in Laodicea (Rev 3:15,16) felt secure in their wealth and did not feel they needed anything. Jesus judged them to be wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked, in need of healing. Unlike hot water that provides balming and healing and cold water that provides refreshment, they were like lukewarm water that tastes so distasteful it was to be spat out . Though rich in material possessions, the church did not address unethical practices, injustice and the cries of the needy. We may not commit evil or live sinful ways but we become lukewarm and lose our saltiness by inaction, indifference and attitude.
We need the transformative power of Jesus to be sensitive to injustice in a culture where goals are more important than people, to stand up for fairness when people in power bully those who are weak, to help those who have fallen and support those who are burnt out. Are we willing to go further than not doing evil and walk the extra mile for those in need? Relationships are soured when we fail to help, have an arrogant and judgmental attitude. Do we pause to listen to understand others? Do we talk down to others or show care to listen, understand and influence others for good?
To be worthy salt, we need to be “Micah 6 disciples” – act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8).
2) Light of the world (v14-16)
When we become Micah 6 Christians we become shining lights before others and give glory to God. Good salt is like shining lights. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
Wesley Methodist Church’s Vision 2035 is to be a welcoming church in the city, making disciples, building godly families and caring communities to serve God’s mission to the last, the least and the lost. For example, we welcome tired workers to come and pray during lunch time, students to come to be guided, elderly to participate in activities, tourists to come to share faith, families to gather for meaningful activities and small groups to support and encourage one another. May we be a welcoming, missional and caring church and draw people to seek direction and meaning in life.
(Sermon notes by Woo Choi Yin)
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- In what way would a Christian fall into the situation where “the salt loses its saltiness”?
- What are some habits we can cultivate that will make us be ‘tasty salt’ to those around us?
- How would you contribute towards making Wesley Methodist Church a Welcoming, Missional, Caring church?
