Matthew
5:13-16
The
Message
13 “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.
14-16 “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’re 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.
We
change when...
...
we hurt enough that we have too.
...
we learn enough that we want too.
...
we receive enough that we are able too.
1. We
need to value people and connect with them.
Matthew
25:35-40
The
Message
34-36 “Then the King will say
to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s
coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s
foundation. And here’s why:
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.’
37-40 “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.’
2. We need to add value to
people, so we can influence them.
A. Think of ways to value people
beforehand and while you are with them.
B. We don't see people the way they
are, but how we are.
C. We should influence others to
add value.
If we see people as valuable, we
will serve them.
3. When we live good values, we
attract others.
Galatians
5:22-23
New
Living Translation
22 But the Holy Spirit
produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There
is no law against these things!
4. When we share good values, it
transforms the people in our world.
When we have good values on the
inside, we need less validation on the outside.
Romans
15:1-2
New
Living Translation
We who are strong must be
considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just
please ourselves. 2 We should help others do what is right and
build them up in the Lord.
