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Week Three

Salt & Light

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
Matthew 7:24 (NIV)
Week Three

Salt & Light

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
Matthew 7:24 (NIV)

Word

Listen—really listen—to what Jesus is saying. Listen to these words on Sunday, and then come back to them throughout the week, on your own and with others.
CONSIDER WHILE READING
The first hearers of these words were mostly low-status, powerless Israelites on the fringes of mainstream society.

13 “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.

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 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. 16 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 (NIV)

process on your own and/or in community

Name one thing the Holy Spirit was highlighting to you through the scripture. What does this scripture reveal about the kind of person Jesus calls us to become?

Take it Deeper

Go deeper into the Word through daily readings.

2 In the last days

the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established
    as the highest of the mountains;
it will be exalted above the hills,
    and all nations will stream to it.

3 Many peoples will come and say,

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
    to the temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
    so that we may walk in his paths.”
The law will go out from Zion,
    the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
4 He will judge between the nations
    and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
    and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
    nor will they train for war anymore.

5 Come, descendants of Jacob,
    let us walk in the light of the Lord.

Isaiah 2:2-5 (NIV)

3 Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

Exodus 19:3-6 (NIV)

1 “Arise, shine, for your light has come,
    and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
2 See, darkness covers the earth
    and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
    and his glory appears over you.
3 Nations will come to your light,
    and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

4 “Lift up your eyes and look about you:
    All assemble and come to you;
your sons come from afar,
    and your daughters are carried on the hip.

Isaiah 60:1-4 (NIV)

8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

11 Here is a trustworthy saying:

If we died with him,
    we will also live with him;
12 if we endure,
    we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
    he will also disown us;
13 if we are faithless,
    he remains faithful,
    for he cannot disown himself.

2 Timothy 2:8-13 (NIV)

4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For in Scripture it says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
    a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
    will never be put to shame.”

7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,

“The stone the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone,”

8 and,

“A stone that causes people to stumble
    and a rock that makes them fall.”

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

1 Peter 2:4-12 (NIV)

9 And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
    and with your blood you purchased for God
    persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
    and they will reign on the earth.”

Revelation 5:9-10 (NIV)

Practice

Listening is important, but Jesus says change really comes when those who hear His words put them into practice. So—based on what you’ve heard, take a moment to ask God—what’s one step of obedience I can take today?

Here’s something to get you started:

HABIT STACKING: Habit stacking is where you attach a new habit to an existing one, using the habit you’ve already established to get you started on the new one. Try habit stacking this week to help you meditate* on God’s word.

  • Every time you eat something salty this week, read Matthew 5:13 or recite it in your head.
  • Every time you turn on a light this week (lamp, lightswitch, candle), read or recite verse 14, 15, or 16 in your head. (Or … stretch yourself. Go for all 3!)
  • Notice at the end of the week how this practice made a difference. Share with someone.

 

*Meditating is a Biblical word that is used to describe the way words are repeated, so they really sink in and begin to change us from the inside out. Many people, without realizing it, “meditate” on lyrics to songs … anxious thoughts … fears about the future … etc. Followers of Jesus are called to meditate on the words of God; see Psalm 1.

 

BLESSING: Jesus wants His people to be generous in good works. It’s a way we carry His light into the world and point others to God as the source of true goodness. Find an intentional way to bless or serve someone around you this week. If they happen to ask why … tell them about what Jesus says in these verses.

 

September 2, 2026 | 6:30-8 PM: Lean in and learn about how we can be salt & light through relational evangelism, hospitality, and throwing parties like Jesus would. Join us!

Equipping Night: Relational Evangelism

Prayer

Lead us, Jesus, to the dark places. Scatter us, Father, into all the world. Fill us, Holy Spirit, with Your light.

Resources

Watch & Listen

Watch: Visual Commentary—Beatitudes, Salt & Light

Listen: The Salt of the Land and Light of the Earth