NEXT - 2024

Leaders Note: For those who are starting back this week:

If there are any new members joining your group spend some time getting to know new members and making everyone feel settled and comfortable.

At dinner it might be a good idea for everyone to share one evidence of grace in their life over the past two months while groups have been on break.

PRAY TO START

OPENING QUESTION:

Read the following quote:

"I am not religious, so it is not my place to dictate to Christians what they should and should not believe. Still, if someone has a faith worth following, I feel that their beliefs should make me feel uncomfortable for not doing so. If they share 90 percent of my lifestyle and values, then there is nothing especially inspiring about them. Instead of making me want to become more like them, it looks very much as if they want to become more like me”

-BEN SIXSMITH

What do you think about this observation? Have you seen this play out in your own experience?

READ MATTHEW 5:13-16

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

DISCUSS

1. In pairs/ small groups: What stands out to you from this passage?

2. Jesus in this metaphor says that visible goodness is to the church, what saltiness is to salt, and light is to a lamp. Do you tend to see noticeable ‘good deed’s as being essential to the church’s purpose?

3. Jesus starts this passage with a warning about salt losing its saltiness. What are some factors or behaviours that can cause Christians to lose their effectiveness in the world?

4. The motivation for visible acts of goodness is that people would ‘glorify your Father in heaven”. Why is it important that this is the motivation, rather than other potential motives for goodness, such as becoming liked or respected?

APPLY

  1. Jez summed up this passage by saying that the church should be different to make a difference:

    a) What would look for City Light to be ‘different’ from the world around us retaining our distinctiveness as salt.
    b) If City Light were to actually ‘make a difference’ namely in shining a light that points people to the Glory of God, what might that look like in reality.

  2. How could we as a community be helping one another live out our identity as salt and light this year?

    PRAY