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THE MISSION You Are the Light of the World
Matt. 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.
John 3:18-21 – Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God. We are people of LIGHT, God’s light. He puts his light on us and in us that we might be his light in this world.
Rom. 13:11-13 – And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.
Light… • Shows the way; illuminates the path • Reveals obstacles; dangers and pitfalls • Dispels darkness; removes Satan’s advantage • Energizes; provides power; cuts through • Reflects God – “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5).
Keys to Shining Brightly • Light up your city • Light up your household • Do good to everyone everywhere
1. Light up your city A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Light up a region. A city on a hill… Represents hope, represents community, represents protection, represents provision, represents destination…
What a Person of Light Looks Like (Matt. 5:1-10): • Poor in spirit = full of God not self • Mourn = contriteness; penitence • Hunger and thirst for righteousness = being “right” with God through Christ • Meek = surrendered • Merciful = broken and full of grace • Pure in heart = singularity of life and purpose • Peacemakers = priests serving others for God • Persecuted = rejected by man; accepted by God
Acts 13:47 (Isa. 49:6) – "I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth."
Show up. • Step up. • Stand out. • Stick up. • Stick out. • Get high. In other words… “Live life out loud.” (Kale Worsham, NEXT Camp, 2008)
2. Light up your household 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. Light up your household (oikos).
Eph. 5:8-9 – For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)…
Live godly lives at home • Walk the talk • Set the pace at home • Be an anchor, a beacon, a guidepost • Be the biggest fan and supporter • Be positive and hopeful • Be an awesome mate • Be an awesome parent • Be an awesome son/daughter • Be an awesome sibling
Light up your home • Light up your family • Light up you neighborhood • Light up your workplace • Light up your network
3. Do good to everyone everywhere In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Eph. 5:8-10 – For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
1 Tim. 6:17-19 – Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
Ja. 2:14-26 – What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
John 13:34-35; 15:8 – A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another…This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. Jesus said the marks of genuine discipleship were: • Christian’s love for one another (as Jesus’) • Bearing much fruit
Matt. 25:34-36 – Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” Fed hungry, watered thirsty, befriended stranger, clothed naked, tended the sick, visited the prisoner.
We are not saved BY our good works, But we are saved TO DO good works. Illustration of the green valley… There are thousands of ways to do good works…
Help the weak • Help the poor • Serve one another • Share with others • Bear burdens • Visit the sick • Visit those in jail • Show hospitality • Show love and concern • Spend time with the lonely • Teach others • Share the gospel • Share your faith • Share your community • Set an example • Show mercy • Help others • Show up during losses • Visit the aged • Love your mate • Love your children
Mentor a kid • Tutor a kid • Buy clothes for a kid • Teach English to an immigrant • Mentor a new person at work • Help others get jobs • Mentor another young husband/father or wife/mother • Host a Bible study or home group • Take food to the sick, new parents, bereaved • Work in NEXT • Work in JaM • Help out FOCUS • Do mission work/take a mission trip • Volunteer for the countless services
Be a foster parent • Adopt a “hard-to-adopt” child • Clean for the sick or aged • Take care of someone’s lawn • Be a true, consistent and loyal friend • Smile at people • Make others laugh • Carry jumper cables and tire sealant/inflator • Carry extra change/cash • Pay for someone else to do what they’ve never done • Be a little too extravagant for others • Be a little too kind • Be too forgiving • Make others feel special
Conclusion 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.
