THE JESUS QUESTION                                                                EAST BAY FELLOWSHIP

(Series, #4)                                                                                                                March 2, 2008

EMBRACING THE PROCESS

TEXT: Luke 5:27-32

· "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 by men.

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 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. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may

see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

                                        Matt 5:13-16 (NIV)

· Being salt and light is not a destination.  It is a process.

THE PROCESS OF BEING SALT AND LIGHT:

1) IS ABOUT SEEING, HEARING, AND SAYING

· Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and

those who see will become blind." Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this

and asked, "What? Are we blind too?" Jesus said, "If you were blind, you would not be

guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.

                         John 9:39-41 (NIV)

2) REQUIRES NO PRE-REQUISITES

· All that Matthew had going for him was that Jesus had called him to follow.

3) HAPPENS IN THE CONTEXT OF EVERYDAY LIFE

· If you take the Christians out of everyday life you take the salt and light out of the

world.

CONCLUSION

· “If that’s what it means to be a Christian, I want to be one.” (Mark, as a pre-Christian)

John Trent, The Hidden Value of a Man

· Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know

how to answer everyone.                                 Col 4:6 (NIV)