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TITLE: Are You Salty?
TEXT:
Matthew 5:13-16
PROPOSITION:
Jesus expects us to possess the qualities of salt.
QUESTION:
How?
KEY WORD:
Qualities
SCRIPTURE READING:
Same

INTRODUCTION:

  1. After the beatitudes in the sermon on the mount

  2. Jesus uses two metaphors – salt and light.

  3. What are the qualities of salt that we should have?

  4. Are we salty?

 

Improve all things around it

  1. We have the power to make all things better.

  2. Within us is SALT – We can make other men better.

Purify

  1. The church must maintain its purity.

  2. Ephesians 5:27

  3. 1 Corinthians 5:7 Purge out the old leaven

Season, flavor

  1. It makes the bland, unpleasant – become pleasing.

  2. Imaging a meal without salt.

  3. Imagine a world without Christians – to make things better:
    A. Art, Music, Literature
    B. Government, Morals, Behavior, Compassion

 

Preserve, protect

  1. Salt will penetrate, preserve and protect meat.

  2. Make pickles – 14 day – water salty enough to float an egg

  3. Must be in contact with those on whom we act.

 

Salt without savor = mixed with things that reduce its power and effectiveness

  1. A saltless Christian is one who has gone back to the world.

  2. James 4:4 friends of the world, not the friend of God

  3. 2 Peter 2:20-22 sow returns to mud, dog returns to vomit

  4. We often turn from the way we know is true and right

 

Signs of deterioration of salt

  1. Loss of distinction between salt and that upon which it is supposed to act.

  2. Stop seeking companionship with the Lord, Reading the Word, Fellowship with God’s people

  3. A growing indifference toward the work of the church.

  4. When we look, talk, act like the world around us, we become useless salt.

 

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