Key Passages:

Matt. 5:13-16 — Salt of the earth, light of the world.
Mark 9:50 — Have salt in yourselves and be at peace.
John 8:12 — Jesus is the light of the world.
2 Cor. 4:6 — God has shone the light in our hearts.
Eph. 5:8 — Live as children of light.

Examples of light and salt:

2 Kings 5 — Little maid serving Naaman’s family
Acts 8 — Philip and the eunuch
Heb. 11 — Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses’ parents, Moses, Israel leaving Egypt, fall of Jericho, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, the prophets.
Dan. 2, 6 — Daniel

Jesus, the ultimate example of salt and light:

Luke 4 — Jesus in the Nazareth synagogue
Matt. 9 — Jesus eating with sinners
Isa. 53 — Bearer of our transgressions
Rom. 5 — Dying for sinners and enemies

Discussion Questions:

1. Both salt and light refer to the outreach of the church to the larger world. To what extent should the work of the church be directed externally instead of internally? Will the outreach of the church be natural or must it take special planning and effort? Does “salt” or “light” imply effort or a natural result?

2. If one presses the figure of “salt,” one could conclude that the salt affects the world in three basic ways, all of which are largely invisible: a. Purifying; b. Preserving; c. Flavoring. How does the church perform these tasks? Is it likely or essential that the world will appreciate the role of the church in these respects?

3. In contrast with salt, “light” implies a more visible role for the church in the world: a. Guiding; b. Warning. Is it likely that the world will appreciate the work of the church in these respects?

4. How does the work of the individual Christian and the work of the church as a corporate body compare and/or contrast with the work of Jesus Himself as salt and light?