Farmerville Church of Christ

Sermon Outlines

Sermon on the Mount #12

You Are The Salt Of The Earth Mt 5:13

By Bill Denton

INTRODUCTION

• A. We now leave the Beatitudes altogether and move into the next section of the Sermon on the Mount
• 1. Remember, however, that the beatitudes have to do with two things
• a. faith -- beginning, growth, maturity and testing
• b. character of people who would be disciples of Jesus
• 2. It is essential to remember the beatitudes because they set up a foundation upon which the rest of the sermon is built
• B. Tonight we look at Jesus' statement about salt
• 1. Matt 5:13
  You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. (NKJ)
• 2. This must have amazed the people who heard it for they were not among the world's powerful or elite, or in any way in a position to think of themselves as able to impact the world
• 3. However, Jesus knew something about both the world and them that is not always readily apparent
• C. Tonight, then we will concentrate on this idea of being the salt of the earth

I. THE STATEMENT REVEALS SOMETHING ABOUT THE WORLD

• A. We are tempted to begin immediately talking about the people and the fact that Jesus said they are the salt of the earth
• 1. First, we must understand that whatever the statement means, we must first understand the clear implication about the world
• 2. We must understand what Jesus knew about the world before we can understand about salt
• B. Jesus clearly implies that the world is full of decay, full of things that lead to illness and death
• 1. The world has something called sin which is loose and on a rampage
• 2. The tendency of the world is toward that which is evil and bad
• 3. The world is corrupt and offensive, it is polluted, decaying and dying
• C. Note a few verses that give us the biblical concept of the world
• 1. Ps 14:1-3
  The fool has said in his heart, ""There is no God.'' They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one. (NKJ)
• 2. Jer 17:9
  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? (NKJ)
• 3. Gen 6:5-6
  Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. (NKJ)
• 4. Rom 1:18ff (read)
• D. If you understand the implication about the world in Jesus' statement, his intention for us as salt becomes clear
• 1. Salt works because it is fundamentally different from that to which it is applied
• 2. Just as the beatitudes taught us, we are to be different from the world
• 3. Only when we are different, can we really have the effect that Jesus had in mind

II. THE STATEMENT REVEALS SOMETHING ABOUT GOD'S PEOPLE

• A. To understand what Jesus reveals about God's people, now we must understand some things about salt
• 1. Salt is a preservative -- rubbed into meat, for example, it prevents the meat from decaying, and keeps it good to eat
• a. note that salt doesn't make something good
• b. salt can only keep something from becoming bad
• 2. Salt is an antiseptic -- dissolved in a glass of water, it helps kill the germs that cause a sore throat
• a. you don't gargle with salt-water to stay healthy
• b. you gargle to kill the germs
• 3. Salt is a seasoning agent -- sprinkled on bland food, it helps to enhance the flavor
• a. salt by itself doesn't taste so good
• b. salt applied to food makes it better
• B. When we make the application of this image of salt to the people to whom Jesus spoke, it becomes clearer what Jesus wanted his disciples to do
• 1. We are to function as a preservative in the world
• a. this applies specifically to the tendency of the world toward the rottenness of sin
• b. we do this by being different from the world in which we live
• c. I think you see this effect when a godly man or woman makes his or her presence known to the world
• d. often, the fact that a godly person is present, stops the trend toward sin and worse sin
• 2. We are to function as an antiseptic in the world
• a. again, this applies specifically to sin in the world
• b. we do this by living faithfully to God
• c. I think you see this effect when our involvement in life not only stops the trend toward sin, but turns the trend back toward God
• d. we do this when we have opportunity to help set the pace and the agenda by which the world lives
• 3. We are to be a seasoning agent in the world
• a. this applies to the fact that without God, life becomes dull and bland and causes people to seek the ever-elusive thrill
• b. without God, man is on a never ending quest for meaning and satisfaction
• c. you see the salt-effect in the changed lives, values, meaning and purpose in God's people
• d. we do this by helping people see there is an alternative to the constant downward spiral of despair
• C. Consider what these verses say about the Christian and the world
• 1. Eph 5:1-4
  Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks (NKJ)
• 2. John 17:15-18
  I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. (NKJ)
• 3. Phil 4:4-8
  Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-- meditate on these things. (NKJ)
• 3. Phil 4:11-12
  Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. (NKJ)
• 4. Rom 12:1-2
  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (NKJ)
• 5. I Jn 2:15-17
  Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world-- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-- is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (NKJ)

III. WHAT IF SALT LOSES ITS SALTINESS

• A. Essentially, the question is:
• 1. "What happens when salt is no longer different from that to which it is applied?
• 2. "What happens when salt no longer functions as salt?"
• B. We know something has happened to the salt
• 1. Basically, about the only way this can happen is for the salt to become mixed with another element to the extent that it is made ineffective
• 2. This happens when the people who are to be different from the world become just like the world
• 3. It that happens, we can no longer preserve, purify or season the world because we will have the same need of salt as they do
• C. Such salt is useless to both God and man

CONCLUSION

• A. We are called to change the world in which we live
• 1. We do it by being different from that which is normally found in the world
• 2. We do it by practicing the life of God in the midst of a sinful world
• B. Here is where we need to begin making some real examination of ourselves
• 1. Is there a clear distinction between your life and that of the people who live around you and with whom you work and associate?
• 2. Is there a resistance in your life to learning from God's word and to seeking fellowship with the Lord and with his people?
• 3. Are you indifferent to the condition of the world and to your respon- sibility to affect your part of the world for good?
• C. I said once before that Jesus comes right at us in the Sermon on the Mount
• 1. We need to understand the great challenge of this sermon
• 2. We need to know it demands a lot from us
• D. Invitation

Copyright © 1995, Bill Denton. Permission granted to use sermon outlines for personal study and preparation of sermons, Bible classes or other teaching format. Sermons may not be reprinted in any form without written permission of the author.

Additional Resources

Sermon on the Mount Index Page
CrossTies Home Page

You can reach me at: BillDenton@crossties.org