Sermon Synopsis for June 1, 2008

“You are the light of the world” Matthew 5:13-16

We are called to be light!
We are called to let that light shine!

Do you know …
How many Mennonites does it take to change a light bulb?

Answer 1: 160. First you need 40 people in the light bulb selection committee, then 40 people in the light bulb purchasing committee, then 40 people in the light socket location committee, and finally you need 40 people in the electricity modulator committee.

Answer 2: Seven, one to make the actual switch, and six to stand around complaining that they liked the old one better.

Answer 3: Change? We don’t change anything!

Some people prefer to live in darkness rather than change anything. (Ouch!)

SALT AND LIGHT
Last week I talked about a story at the end of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5-7). Today I go to the other end of the sermon.

Jesus began his Sermon on the Mount with the beatitudes (showing us how to be happy and blessed). After that he told the people that they were salt and light in this world.

“You are the light of the world!”

Do you feel bright?

People see us – our lives – we are a witness and testimony to the light in our lives.

Jesus tells us how he sees us; he names our potential and his expectations for us: light!
His expectations are high, yet just by saying it, he assures us that we are up to the task.

Here are some things to remember:

IT IS GOD’S LIGHT, NOT OURS

“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5)

When we invite God into our lives – he lights us up. We are to shine like disciples, not like self proclaiming stars. The light we proclaim doesn’t glorify us – it glorifies God.

Are you on fire for God?

WE ARE CALLED TO BE LIGHT TOGETHER

Jesus said, “You are the light of the world.”

This is an odd grammatical construction out of the Greek language.
You is plural (all of you followers together)
Light is singular (there is only one light – God’s light in each one of us)

Jesus said, “All of you together are the one light of the world.”

We shine together as a community of faith, a church, to show the world the light of God that burns in us.

DISCIPLESHIP IS PASSING THE LIGHT

The Olympic Torch has been in the news lately. It’s on its way to China.

Analogy: in some ways our lives in Christ are like carrying that torch …
… we run with all our mind, soul and strength
… at the end of our journey, we pass it on to others

There are possible scenarios for tragedy. It would be tragic …
… if the light goes out
… if the light is not passed on

It’s a great privilege!
It’s a great responsibility!

THE LIGHT OF GOD IN US IS TO BE SEEN BY OTHERS

You can’t see faith … unless, of course, it’s displayed in the way we live.

Jesus said, “Let your light shine before men, so they can see your good deeds, and praise God.”

We need to let others see Jesus
not me
not my actions

How can they see Jesus in us?
“Good deeds”

Others see the light in us by both our lifestyle and our proclamation – word and action together.

That’s how Menno Simons understood it. In 1554 he wrote, “where the true church of Christ is, there she will be made manifest among this wicked and perverse generation by words and work, for she can as little be hid as a city upon a hill, or a candle upon a candlestick.”

A joint word and deed witness is also evident in the Mennonite Confession of Faith (article 23): “We witness to the nations by being that ‘city on the hill’ which demonstrates the way of Christ. We also witness by being ambassadors for Christ, calling the nations (and all persons and institutions) to move toward justice, peace, and compassion for all people.”

I showed the children a reproduction oil lamp from the time of Jesus. We put in a wick; we put olive oil in the lamp, but it didn’t light. What a tragedy. I didn’t have a good object lesson to help us sing “This Little Light of Mine.”

I trust we won’t be like that lamp, but that the light of God will catch fire in our lives.

We are the light of the world!

[I thank the new members for sharing about the light that is within them, and to Allen Umble for sharing about how he will be that light in Albania. Allen will depart for missionary service to Albania on June 25]