Change YOUR World
Being Salt and Light
February 6, 2022
Pastor Mike Rippy
Change Your World
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone. The new is here. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the Godflavors 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—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’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make You lightbearers, 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. Matthew 5:13-16 (MSG)
We make changes when we...
➢ Hurt enough that we have to.
➢ See enough that we are inspired to.
➢ Learn enough that we want to.
➢ Receive enough that we are able to.
“How can I be Salt and Light?”
1. Value people: Connecting
I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink, I was homeless, and you gave me a room, I was shivering, and you gave me clothes, I was sick, and you stopped to visit, I was in prison, and you came to me. Then those sheep are going to say, “Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?” Then the King will say, “I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me- you did it to me.” Matthew 25:35-40
2. Add value to people: Serving
Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of
view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn’t just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it! I Cor. 9:19-23 (MSG)
3. Live good values: Attracting - Galatians 5
4. Share good values: Transforming
- Value People
- Add Value to people
- Live Good Values
- Share Good Values
The Value of Values.
Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?” Romans 15:1 (MSG)
Good values create stability. Good values establish trust.
MY NEXT STEP TODAY:
➢ Begin a relationship with Jesus.
➢ Join a Lifegroup.
➢ Check out ChangeYourWorld.com.
➢ Attend NEXT STEPS next Sunday by checking the back of the connect card.
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