Vision Sunday - Salt And Light

Vision Sunday

Be These: Salt and Light

Matthew 5

Pastor Jefferson Williams

Chenoa Baptist Church

09-07-2025

Walker and Craig

Walker Hayes, the grammy nominated country singer who had a seven time gold number one song “Fancy like” and his wife Lainey decided to move to Nashville so he could pursue his dream of being a songwriter.

Walker, the son of a pastor, had just seen too much hypocrisy in the church and really thought it was a scam. By that time, he considered himself an atheist.

He drank way too much and his anger and frustration would boil over sometimes at home. Lainey loved Jesus and Walker loved Lainey so he humored her as she tried to find a church to take the kids to.

They walked into Redeeming Grace, which was in the middle of nowhere, with their six kids, and Walker a little drunk and reeking of beer.

Craig Cooper, the pastor, made a beeline for Walker, shook his hand and said, “I’m glad you’re here.” Walker thought to himself, “Doesn’t he smell the beer on my breath? Can’t he tell I’m a little wobbly? I think this guy really means it.”

That handshake started a journey that changed not only the Hayes family and the Cooper family, but would give Walker a platform he never dreamed of having.

The Mountain

It is important that we always keep the text within its context. Matthew records Jesus sitting on the side of this hill [slide] and preaching the most famous sermon of all time. It was Augustine who gave it the name that we call it today, “The Sermon on the Mount.” and it starts with the Beatitudes (which we studied verse by verse a couple of years ago in a series called The Jesus Manifesto).

 In this section of Jesus’ first extended discourse, we will find what Tim Keller calls, an “upside down Kingdom.” Jesus gives us a picture of Kingdom life. He doesn’t give us a to-do list. It’s much deeper than that. These are the characteristics that a Christian exhibits in a lost and dying world.

“Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. He said:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.  

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,  for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness;  for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:1-12)

The next verses are our focus this morning, but you cannot understand them without the preceding section. Jesus gives us

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the 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 underfoot.

“You are the light of the world. A town built 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 others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16)

What does it mean when Jesus calls those of us who are ?Christ-followers “salt and light?” How does that play out in our everyday lives? How can we be salt and light in our community and beyond?

Please, turn with me to Matthew 5.

Prayer

Influence and Impact

There is a new “career” opportunity that didn’t exist when I was growing up - social media influencer. Some of the top social media influencers make more than $200,000 a year!

Before Jesus left the earth to go back to heaven, He gave us our marching orders:

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

These verses are all about the kind of influence and impact we are to have in our families, at work, in our communities, in our churches and the world.