Week 3: Salt and Light – Matthew 5:11-16
Jesus told His disciples that they are the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world”. What does that mean? And how do we live out that purposeful presence in our world?
LIVE OAK CONNECTION POINT:
It is our mission at Live Oak to “Lead Small” in all areas of our Next Gen Ministries. One way we accomplish this is when leaders are present consistently over time. What this often looks like is many of our small group leaders for PreK-5th graders serve each and every Sunday! Over the summer these leaders go on vacation and need a rest just like everyone else and this is where SUMMER SERVE and potentially YOU come into play…
Live Oak Summer Serve Volunteers help us fill the void while our regular leaders are taking a break! Would you consider filling in for Kids Ministry one or two times this summer? You can do so HERE or on Sign Up & Events on our App & website.
DISCUSSION/REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
- What is your favorite road trip snack?
- If you could have a special meal to celebrate something, what would you choose to eat or where would you choose to eat?
- Talk about a time when you were in a situation and needed light. (Example: blackout, middle of the night, in the woods, etc.)
READ: Matthew 5:11-16
Spend some time SOAPing this passage. You can either spend time SOAPing individually and documenting for a several minutes and then spend time sharing with each -OR- SOAP in real time with each other. Either way make as many observations as you can.
- Observations: What are the things that stand out to you about this passage?
- What do you think it means to be the “salt of the earth”?
READ: Colossians 4:6.
- What do you think it means to live that verse out?
- What do you think it means to be the “light of the world”?
READ: Matthew 5:16 and John 8:12.
- Doug pointed out that Matthew 5:16 says “you are the light of the world” but in John 8:12, Jesus tells us that He is the “light of the world”. How do these verses fit together?
- Who is someone that God has used in your life to be salt and light? Who and how?
- What holds you back from living as the salt of the earth and the light of the world?
- What is one thing you could do to be Salt and Light in the places God has already strategically placed you? Where? Who? How?
- What is one thing you could do to be Salt and Light in NEW places, in NEW ways, and/or with NEW people? Who? Where? How?
- What else stood out from this week’s sermon?
- APPLICATION: What is your big takeaway from this week’s sermon? Be specific.
NEXT STEPS:
- Everyone has a next step to apply what we have learned. What is your next step? Be specific.
MEMORY VERSE: *Challenge yourself or your group to commit this verse to memory:
Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
PRAYER:
Spend some time praying for each other.
Scripture References:
Matthew 5:13-16; Matthew 4:17; Matthew 5:1-2, 3-12; Colossians 4:6; John 8:12; 1 Peter 2:9-10
