The Method of the Church: Be Salt and Light - Matthew 5:13-16

1.  What does our church do that makes our community a better place?  v. 13 

- The church should make a difference in the flavor of its community.   

 

2. If our church ceased to exists would anyone in our community know we were gone?  v. 13b

- The church ought to be good for something.

3. Does our community even know that we (Union Missionary Baptist Church) are here? v. 14

- The church ought to be a light that is extending the gospel in its community and around the world.

4. Do we minister to ourselves or do we share the blessings of God with the community? v. 15

- Is it about us or them?

5. Does our church seek to bring glory to God or to ourselves by the good works that we do? v. 16

- The purpose of all that the church does is to bring glory to God in the eyes of the community that is watching. 

Help our church be salt and light to this community.  If there are ideas of how we can do this and bring glory to the Lord, please comment!  We won't know otherwise!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

This is one of the most “romantic” days of the year, yet true love was not first demonstrated by roses, candies, or a lovely dinner.

True love came when the all-supreme, all-powerful God of the universe saw His creation – man – was separated from His holiness, and He chose to do something about it. 

You see, every human has done “something” wrong in his/her life.  It could be as little as a “white lie” to a parent or as “big” as murder.  Nevertheless, it is human “nature” to sin.  But the Holy God cannot be in the presence of sin.  So what to do?

God over 2,000 years ago sent His one and only Son down to earth to be born as a human and live a human’s life, but that son Jesus never sinned.  Now, I don’t fully understand it, but as a parent, I know how hard it would be to let my child leave and live with people I know are going to mess up.  Anyways, Jesus was born on this earth and lived a perfect life.  He had to obey His earthly parents, He got hungry, and He was emotionally drained at times. But He never sinned. 

 From the beginning, there has been a punishment for sin.  Ultimately, the punishment for sin has been death – an end to the sinning.  God had chosen sacrifices by His people to help pay for sins.  There were sacrifices for the best and first of the flock or harvest because those were the “prized” accomplishments of success on earth.  Those sacrifices were helpful but not fully satisfying.

 So God chose Jesus to be the perfect sacrifice for the ones He loved so much – mankind. 

 Why?

 
I don’t know.  All I do know is that Jesus was killed by His heavenly Father’s own creation - man, but because He was perfect, His sacrifice was fully satisfying, He was able to defeat death itself and return back to life on earth.  Then He went back to heaven to live with God where He lives today. 

 Jesus’ sacrifice is a gift from God to all of mankind who humbly accept it. It’s that simple.

This Valentine’s Day, just think about a few things:

1.       Would you give away your child?

2.       Would you allow your child to die for someone else?

3.       Would you do ANYTHING to help your fellow man live with you in Heaven?

 That is what God did for YOU!  He loves you so much, and He wants to be your Valentine today and forevermore!