Salt & Light

Sermon outline
Matthew 5:13-16 “Preserve & Purify”

Introduction

I. THE PRESUPPOSITION (vv. 13-16)
• This world is rotten & dark (2 Tim. 3:13)
• God's restraint of evil (Gen. 6, 11, 19)
• Christians are “called out” of the world, but left “in” the world with a purpose.

II. THE PRESERVATION (v. 13)
• The “salt” metaphor (Ezek. 16:4; Lev. 2:13; 2 Chr. 13:5; Ezra 4:14)
• Avoiding contamination & maintaining our distinctness (1 Pet. 2:9)

III. THE PURIFICATION (v. 14, 15)
• Light is a metaphor for purity (Jn 8:12)
• The foolishness of hiding our light (vv. 14b, 15)

IV. THE PURPOSE (v. 16)
• To glorify your father in heaven.
• The contrast: earth/world and heaven
• THE city on a hill