string(7) "m-66998" Burnt Hickory Baptist Church

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Jul 12, 2026

Called to Be Salt and Light | The Verse That Changed My Life

Called to Be Salt and Light | The Verse That Changed My Life

Passage: Matthew Matt. 5:13-16

Speaker: Mike Wynn

Series: The Verse That Changed My Life

Category: Sunday Sermons

How can Christians faithfully influence a world that feels increasingly divided and uncertain? This sermon from Matthew 5:13-16 explores Jesus' call for His followers to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Rather than withdrawing from culture, believers are called to engage it by living out their faith with truth, compassion, and courage. Through practical application and biblical teaching, this message reminds us that every follower of Jesus has been placed where they are for a purpose. Our role is not simply to observe the world around us but to faithfully reflect Christ in our homes, workplaces, schools, and communities.

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Called to Be Salt and Light

 

July 12, 2026

Matthew 5:13–16
13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. 14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

BIG IDEA: The world may be growing darker, but our call to be salt and light has never been clearer, or more urgent.

John 8:12
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

“If godly people don’t lead, the godless will.”
— Tim Barton

1. You are the salt and light, called to others.

Matthew 5:3–12
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5:13–15
13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. 14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
Galatians 5:22–23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

2. You are called to engage, not .

“These are not statistics of unbelief. They are statistics of silent belief.”
— Michael Youssef

Matthew 5:13
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.”
Matthew 16:18
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

“A scared world needs a fearless church.”
— A. W. Tozer

Ephesians 1:13–14
13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

“Church buildings are places where God's people meet to be encouraged and equipped and to be ready to go out and serve Him, but the real Church is not here. The real Church is out there.”
— David Jeremiah

“Instead of blaming the world for its corruption, we should ask where the salt is. Instead of condemning the darkness, we should ask where the light is.”
— John Stott

John 17:15–16
15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

3. We are called to be the world, but not it.

John 16:33
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

We can endure the now because we know the future.

4. Even though the battle is , the victory is .

Genesis 3:15
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.
Revelation 20:10
And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

S: Seek God in prayer

A: Ask others for advice

L: Look for ways to serve

T: Take one step forward

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