The Right Season

Sermon title:  The Right Season

Sermon text:  Matthew 5:13-16 (The Message) Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.  Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We are going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous father in heaven.” 

·        What Does Salt Do? It Makes Things better.

·        What Does Light Do? It Makes Things brighter.

What You Need to Know as You Share Your Faith

1.     Most People Do Not Have a Correct picture of God.

        “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that  person, and they with me.”  – Revelation 3:20 (NIV)

2.     All Lost People Need to Be unconditionally Loved.

        “If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help those   who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that’s charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that.  I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You’ll never—I promise—regret it. Live out  this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we’re at our worst.  Our Father is kind; you be kind.”  – Luke 6:32-36 (The Message)      

3.     Most Lost People Will Not Come to church for Help.

Matthew 10: 5-8 (The Message) “Jesus sent his twelve harvest hands out with this charge: Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood.           Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons.  You have been treated generously, so live generously.” 

4.     Most Christians Do Not Connect strategically with Lost People.

Luke 15:2 (The Message)   “He takes in sinners and eats meals with them, treating them like old friends.” 

5.     Most Christians Need training to Effectively Share Their Faith.

 Matthew 28:18-20 (The Message) “Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do  this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.” 

6.     All Christians Need to Be Spiritually empowered to Share Their Faith.

1 Corinthians 3:6-7 (NIV)    “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one  who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” 

What You Need to Do to Share Your Faith

7.     Every Day  connect  with and care for Lost People.

Matthew 9:35-38 (RSV)     “And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom,  and healing every disease and every infirmity. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” 

        Jesus connected with lost people in four distinct and important ways:

        •  Jesus went.                    He connected physically. 

        •  Jesus saw.                     He connected personally

        •  Jesus had compassion   He connected emotionally

        •  Jesus prayed.                He connected spiritually    

8.     Every Day Pray for an opportunity to Share Your faith.

 James 5:16 (NLT)     “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”  –

9.     Every Day Intentionally Share Positive thoughts About God.

1Peter 3:15 (NIV)      “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.        But do this with gentleness and respect.” 

10.   Every Day Build respect and relationship with Others by Adding Value to Them.

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (NIV)   “You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” 

11.   Every Day Find Some Way to Bring the Lost People in Your Life closer to Christ.

        Matthew 18:12 (NLT) “If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on  the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost?” 

Pray this simple prayer to ask God to reveal how you can be salt and light:         God, who have you put into my life that you want me to connect with, love unconditionally, and intentionally talk to about faith?

Life Application

1.   Create a list of people who you would like to see come to know Christ.

2.   Be intentional about praying for each person on your list each day.

3.   Find ways to demonstrate and live out your faith authentically.

4.   Seek opportunities to talk to them about God.