The Salt of the Earth

Introduction:
What kind of value do you put on your influence? There is nothing more important than maintaining a proper influence in this life—especially in sharing the gospel with others. The Beatitudes teach us how we can be happy in this life and enjoy the blessings God has rained down upon us. God will bless those who serve Him! See Gen. 22:17-18; Mt. 5:13-16. We can have such a personality that we will have a most wonderful influence upon others. Why does Jesus use salt as a metaphor in 5:13? Answer: It was something they could easily relate to.

I. In what way are we the salt of the earth?
    A. We are ________________...just like salt.
        1. See 1 Pet. 2:9-12—love different things; different set of values; etc.
    B. We play a role in ____________________ the world.
        1. Could we not say that the world would rot w/o the presence of Christians?
        2. We play a role in the ______________ of others—1 Cor. 4:16; 1 Cor. 9:22 How? Rom. 1:16.
        3. Must plead w/others to be saved—2 Cor. 5:19-20.
    C. We save the world through our _________________ ______________________.
        1. Save by example as well as _________________. 1 Tim. 4:12; Titus 2:7; 1 Pet. 3:1
    D. We preserve the earth from _______________________ simply by our presence.
        1. God has been know to spare whole societies just because of a righteous few. Gen. 18:32….
    E. We are to work ________________. No _______________; broadcasting.

II. We must guard against losing our ___________________.
    A. Mt. 5:13….salt can become useless.
        1. Only that which remains ___________ keeps it’s savor/usefulness.
    B. What good is a Christian w/o a positive influence?
        1. Must be proper influence for ______________; _______________; _________________________; everyone!
        2. 1 Cor. 15:33 –with whom do I _________________?
        3. Rom. 12:1-2—must not conform to the ___________.
            a) see also Eph. 4:21-24. Be like Jesus!
            b) ____________! ______________________!
    C. Bad influence can damage spiritual lives of others.
        1. Salt was ___________ into street in olden days.
        2. Words of Christ: ___________ _______: _____________ under by men. Can’t be tolerated.
        3. Poor pitiful influence on account of some have ruined many a Christian!
        4. This will not be tolerated: 1 Tim. 1:19-20; 2 Tim. 1:15; 4:10; Heb. 10:26-31, 39; 2 Pet. 2:20-22

Conclusion:
    A. Christians are the salt of the earth. Does this describe you? If not, why?
    B. Christians don’t compromise your reputation/influence & be a harm to the cause of Christ!
    C. You can be molded into the kind of Christian that God desires. Phil. 4:13



The Salt of the Earth Introduction: What kind of value do you put on your influence? There is nothing more important than maintaining a proper influence in this life—especially in sharing the gospel with others. The Beatitudes teach us how we can be happy in this life and enjoy the blessings God has rained down upon us. God will bless those who serve Him! See Gen. 22:17-18; Mt. 5:13-16. We can have such a personality that we will have a most wonderful influence upon others. Why does Jesus use salt as a metaphor in 5:13? Answer: It was something they could easily relate to. I. In what way are we the salt of the earth? A. We are ________________...just like salt. 1. See 1 Pet. 2:9-12—love different things; different set of values; etc. B. We play a role in ____________________ the world. 1. Could we not say that the world would rot w/o the presence of Christians? 2. We play a role in the ______________ of others—1 Cor. 4:16; 1 Cor. 9:22 How? Rom. 1:16. 3. Must plead w/others to be saved—2 Cor. 5:19-20. C. We save the world through our _________________ ______________________. 1. Save by example as well as _________________. 1 Tim. 4:12; Titus 2:7; 1 Pet. 3:1 D. We preserve the earth from _______________________ simply by our presence. 1. God has been know to spare whole societies just because of a righteous few. Gen. 18:32…. E. We are to work ________________. No _______________; broadcasting. II. We must guard against losing our ___________________. A. Mt. 5:13….salt can become useless. 1. Only that which remains ___________ keeps it’s savor/usefulness. B. What good is a Christian w/o a positive influence? 1. Must be proper influence for ______________; _______________; _________________________; everyone! 2. 1 Cor. 15:33 –with whom do I _________________? 3. Rom. 12:1-2—must not conform to the ___________. a) see also Eph. 4:21-24. Be like Jesus! b) ____________! ______________________! C. Bad influence can damage spiritual lives of others. 1. Salt was ___________ into street in olden days. 2. Words of Christ: ___________ _______: _____________ under by men. Can’t be tolerated. 3. Poor pitiful influence on account of some have ruined many a Christian! 4. This will not be tolerated: 1 Tim. 1:19-20; 2 Tim. 1:15; 4:10; Heb. 10:26-31, 39; 2 Pet. 2:20-22 Conclusion: A. Christians are the salt of the earth. Does this describe you? If not, why? B. Christians don’t compromise your reputation/influence & be a harm to the cause of Christ! C. You can be molded into the kind of Christian that God desires. Phil. 4:13