Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Influence of a Servant

I'm leading bible study tonight... here's my outline. It's loosely taken from Charles Swindoll's book Improving Your Serve.
Matthew 5:13-16
·         Implies personal responsibility

Salt of the Earth
            “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is them good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”
·         Who is He talking to?
o   Jews, multitude
·         What historical significance does salt have?
o   Leviticus 2:13 (flavor to God’s table)
·         In relation to us:
o   Mark 9:49-50
o   What does salt do?
§  Preserve
§  Heal
§  Creates thrist
§  Adds flavor
o   Special characteristics?
§  Loses its distinctiveness
§  Shaken or sprinkled
o   How are we to preserve?
§  1 Tim 4
§  1 Peter 5:8
§  Matt 7:15
§  Mark 16:15-16
o   Create thirst?
§  John 4
o   Add Flavor?
§  Colossians 4:6
o   Heal?
§  Luke 4:14-19 & Acts 28:27
·         If we lose out flavor?
o   Jesus says we’re good for nothing

Light of the World
            “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.”
·         Where does our light come from?
o   Psalm 27:1
o   Prv 13:9 – joy
o   Ps 119:105
o   John 1:4-5
o   2 Corinthians 4:6
o   Revelation 21:23
o   Imagine luminaries
·         In relation to us:
o   What does light do?
§  Dispels darkness
·         1 John 1:5
§  Gives direction
·         1 Peter 2:9
·         Ephesians 5:8
§  Attracts attention
·         1 John 1:7
§  Cannot be hidden
·         Isaiah 58:8
·         Unbiased – Prv 29:13
o   “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine…”

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