Sermon Central
-
Salt Of The Earth PRO
Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008 (message contributor)
Salt of the Earth
Matthew 5:13 says to Christians, "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men."
Our Lord is telling His disciples that true Christian character is like salt. Salt is totally different from the food or object on which it is placed. Believers are to be like salt, different from the world. The power of their lives and their testimony lies in their being different and distinctive. "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." (James 1:27)
Salt preserves. It keeps things from going bad and decaying. It cleanses and disinfects. The Christian life being truly lived out before the eyes of people in the world will cause them to make a decision about the Christian faith. God has sent His Holy Spirit to call people unto Christ, who have been exposed to Christians who handle trials and deal with temptation under the direction of God's Word, the Bible. All who accept Jesus Christ as personal Savior and Lord will be preserved eternally.
Salt penetrates, spreads all about and flavors. It inserts a new quality, substance and life. It can take bland, tasteless food and makes it enjoyable. A sprinkle of salt has a widespread effect. It changes that which it is put upon. Obedient Christians likewise penetrate and so flavor the world for Christ. True Christians salt those in the world with God's Word, thus intriguing them to "Taste and see that the Lord is good..." (Psalm 34: 8)
Too many Christians overlook their purpose in God's ministry to people in the world. Thus they pay little attention to what is happening to people around them, their needs, their turning from bad to worse, their decay and corruption. Those controlled by the world, the flesh and the Devil are corrupting and foul, decaying and rotting. They are bland and tasteless to the Lord God. "[His] eyes are too pure to look on evil; [He] cannot tolerate wrong." (Habakkuk 1:13)
Too much salt is being stored up in the church building and not gotten out those in the world. Way too much money is spent on programs, buildings and Christian entertainment. This makes for fat lazy Christians feeding only themselves, bland and tasteless, unable to have an effect on those out in the world who are overcome by sin and its deceitfulness.
Therefore, our...
Continue reading this sermon illustration (Free with PRO)Related Sermon Illustrations
-
A Woman Went To The Doctors Office, Where She Was ... PRO
Contributed by Jonathan Busch on Aug 18, 2002
A woman went to the doctors office, where she was seen by one of the new doctors, but after about 4 minutes in the examination room, she burst out, screaming as she ran down the hall. An older doctor stopped her and asked what the problem was, and she told him her story. After listening, he had her ...read more
-
A Natural Example Of This Point Can Be Found By ...
Contributed by David Schaal on May 20, 2004
A natural example of this point can be found by looking at the two seas in the Holy Land. The Sea of Galilee freely receives and gives out water. It has an abundance of life, nurturing many different kinds of fish and plant life. The water from the Sea of Galilee is carried by way of the Jordan ...read more
-
Four High School Boys Were Late To Their Morning ...
Contributed by Jason Cole on Mar 15, 2004
Four high school boys were late to their morning classes one day. They entered the classroom and solemnly told their teacher they were detained due to a flat tire. The sympathetic teacher smiled and told them it was too bad they were late because they had missed a test that morning. But she was ...read more
-
There Was Once A Christian Celebration On The ... PRO
Contributed by David Elvery on Nov 14, 2004
There was once a Christian celebration on the west coast of Africa, when converted natives brought of their meager possessions to show their devotion to Christ, a young girl only recently saved from paganism brought a silver coin worth about eighty-five cents, and handed this to the missionary as ...read more
-
What Kids Need PRO
Contributed by Lyn King on Jun 15, 2002
WHAT KIDS NEED Today’s kids desperately need Dads who: . . . play catch, enjoy tea parties or wrestle because the heart of a child is there and they set out to capture it. . . . laugh till their belly hurts and tears fall from their eyes while secretly creating deep friendships and memories ...read more
Related Sermons
-
"Being" In Relation To The Lord
Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Apr 20, 2011
We put so much emphasis on DOING things for the Lord. But God is not just concerned about what we are DOING for Him, but what we are BEING for Him. Here are 5 things we should BE as believers.
-
Leaving An Impression
Contributed by Lloyd Grubbs on Sep 10, 2008
Every Christian is leaving their mark on society. Even after were gone our lives will still be making an impact.
-
I Have My Rights!!! Series
Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 2, 2017
We live in nation of "rights" but if my rights conflict with yours we can end up in court, in a church split or in a family division. How do we avoid letting our desire to defend our rights to ruin our lives?
-
"Breaking Out - Unconventionally"
Contributed by Pastor Gbenga Shadare on May 4, 2010
The sermon seeks to challenge believers to break out of their shells by becoming more Christ-centred and focus on the Kingdom. It is an attempt to try to correct the imbalance in seeking God's kingdom benefits only without wanting to do the right things.
-
Paul's Charge To Timothy Series
Contributed by Ron Freeman, Evangelist on Dec 6, 2016
This lesson deals with Paul's charge to Timothy to remember the things that he had heard of Paul among many witnesses, and to commit them to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. This lesson silences the notion of evangelistic oversight.
