Transfiguration of Our Lord

Exodus 24:12-18

Psalm 2
2 Peter 1:16-21

Matthew 17:1-9

First Lesson: Exodus 24:12-18

Challenges:

Seems like a pretty straightforward story as you read it.  Moses goes up the mountain and he leaves Aaron and Hur behind to take care of things in his absence.  Moses encounters God on the mountain and God like a devouring fire.  Again, a bit terrifying, but still pretty straightforward.  This brings up to me the question of our access to God. I feel that we humans push to one extreme or the other.  Sometimes we feel that God is totally and completely aloof and "other" and "alien."  This can make us feel separated from God in a way that isn't healthy. At other times we act like God is hear always and is something like a warm, cuddly teddy bear that we can hold when we're feeling bad.  This is an image of God that never challenges us.  It's so very easy for us to fall into one extreme or the other...even to the point where we over-correct one extreme to the other.

Opportunities:

This could be a good chance to talk about the awe and majesty of God.  The phenomenal power that God wields can indeed be impressive.  Have you experienced power like this? Has it inspired you? Terrified you? Both at the same time?  This could also be a chance to talk about the importance of delegation when you are a leader. Moses leaves Aaron and Hur behind to settle disputes, etc. (Of course, things go bad when the people convince Aaron to make other gods for them at the foot of the mountain in chapter 32...)

The Good News: 

God comes and meets the people through Moses.  God reaches out and gives the people a way of life and a leader.  God has saved the people from slavery and is now giving them a way of life that will bring joy and happiness and community to them.

Psalm: Psalm 2

Challenges:

The image of "the LORD" here isn't too positive.  The Lord is something of a bully: acting with derision toward enemies and other peoples.  I don't particularly like the way God is portrayed here.  How can this work for us today?

Also, it can be very surprising for us to learn that Ancient Kings claimed to be 'the Son of God' all of the time, since they are "God's Annointed." This could take you aback if you're only thinking of Jesus as having that role.

Opportunities:

It's easy to feel like there is no control in the world, as if it will all fall apart in a minute or two. Maybe your life or the lives of the people who will be listening to you feel like they are teetering on the edge of falling apart. This can be a good chance to talk about how God is indeed in control. It doesn't mean that absolutely everything that happens comes from God, but that ultimately God's Kingdom is coming one way or the other.

The Good News: 

There are many ways to view God and we get many different descriptions of God throughout the bible. It is always good news for us that we get to view God through the "lens" of Jesus, who we proclaim as God's Anointed One every time we call him "Christ."

Second Lesson: 2 Peter 1:16-21

Challenges:

Wow, big stuff going on here.  This is Peter telling people about his experience.  Granted it can be a bit hard to follow his line of thought, especially if your attention is taken elsewhere in the middle of the reading of the lesson.

Opportunities:

There's that moment in most of our lives (hopefully when we're relatively young) where we realize that just because something is written in a book doesn't make it true.  It's an astounding and rather disorienting experience.   It means that we need to think critically about the sources of our information.  It also means that deciding what is really truth, fact or anything else is very difficult.  How do we know what to believe.  I love history and I read lots of books about World War II.  Thousands of scholars have written books about this subject, and each has a slightly (or drastically) different view on the conflict.  Which one is right? That's where critical thinking comes in.  The author of this passage is talking about something similar.  How do we know a prophecy comes from God or not? How do we know what is "of God" or not?  We have a community of faith around us, of course. It also helps if a voice from heaven says, ""This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased." 

This could be a great chance to talk about how we decide what is true, what is right and what is "fact." How do we know who to trust? It's not an easy question, but one we really need to be asking constantly.

The Good News: 

Throughout the New Testament you get a sense that the people who are writing these gospels and letters were profoundly changed by something that they experienced.  Their lives were changed.  They encountered SOMETHING and it was powerful and inspiring and wonderful (even if they were terrified from time to time). I get a sense of that encounter here.  It is really amazing.

Gospel: Matthew 17:1-9

Challenges:

I think it's really, really easy for us to be down on the tired, stupid disciples (especially Peter) and the sad way they react to this glorious experience.  Now, it is true that Peter says something colossally stupid, but dwelling on this seems to miss the point.  Would you have done any better? I'm sure I wouldn't have.  Besides, if we dwell on how wrong Peter is, it's possible we can miss the absolutely amazing thing that is happening here: something that is totally beyond Peter's (or our) experience.  JESUS' FACE SHINES LIKE THE SUN! THERE'S A HUGE CLOUD! THERE'S A VOICE FROM HEAVEN! Are you kidding me?!?! Criticizing Peter for saying the wrong thing seems to miss the point. I'm surprised he got out any words at all.  We certainly don't have to say that he was right in what he said. But criticizing Peter feels like being a "Monday Morning Quarterback" or in this case a "Valley Disciple." Now, their performance at the Garden of Gethsemane is another matter....

Opportunities:

This is a great chance to talk about the experience of God's mystery and "otherness."  Having a brush with the Divine can be completely and totally awe-inspiring.  What are ways that we can experience this awe or otherness?  On an actual mountain-top?  In a great crowd of people?  In a beautiful building?  It's so easy for us to get so "comfortable" with God that maybe we need a bit of awe-someness.

This is also the perfect "you had to be there to understand it" moment.  I wouldn't be surprised if Peter, James and John kept quiet for a long time.  How could you explain what happened? Have you ever been on a religious retreat or some other profound experience that cannot be completely described to someone who was not there?  

The Good News:

There seems to be a tremendous convergence of grace here.  Jesus has the opportunity to speak with Moses and Elijah.  While Matthew doesn't mention the subject of their conversation (that comes in Luke) I think we can safely assume that the conversation was positive and helpful to him.  The disciples had the amazing chance (while terrifying at the time) to experience Jesus in his glory and God the Father in action. This experience must have brought them great inspiration and comfort later on.  And for thousands of years believers have been inspired by this story.  That seems to be the way God works: with so much mysterious grace and blessing bouncing around it's hard to keep track of it all.

Epiphany 7: "Perfect, Just Perfect!"

Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18
Psalm Psalm 119:33-40

1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23
Matthew 5:38-48

 

First Lesson: Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18

 

Challenges:

As I read this passage, I found very few challenges initially, but they soon began to crop up. One that came to mind was that many of these commands were geared toward a different society and economy (leaving food in the fields, etc.). Of course, it is totally appropriate to "update" these commands and to show that God expects society to care for everyone.  It is possible that there could be something of a brou-ha-ha over HOW exactly we care for those in need. Some might see this and say "Yep, farmers are supposed to help the poor, not the government!" Getting into the details of HOW we help the poor can put us into a quagmire of incriminations and unhealthy knee-jerk reactions.

Opportunities:

It is often maintained by opponents of "Religion" that our holy books are outdated and archaic. In fairness a great deal of Leviticus, with it's directions on how to slaughter which animal where, provides easy ammunition to the likes of Bill Maher.  But then you get something like this passage in Leviticus 19 and I HOPE that no matter who you are, this sounds like a good way to go. Justice, equity, community, and so much more.  To me these things aren't out of date or archaic.  They point to something amazing and life-giving.  If you are looking at this, perhaps you could joke about how crazy Leviticus is, until you get here and it sounds amazing.

The Good News: 

 

God could say, "Hey, I don't care what you do or how you treat each other as long as I get my nicely smelling sacrifices."  God DOESN'T say this.  God cares about how we treat each other, God cares about justice, God cares about you when you are being mistreated, cheated and oppressed. God cares.

Psalm: Psalm 119:33-40

Challenges:

 

These are wonderful verses, really wonderful. Hard to find a challenge here. The only thing to watch out for is the danger of not describing the actual statutes, decrees, commandments and promise.  What do they look like? What would it look like to live this way?

Opportunities:

This is a great chance to talk about following God's way as an actual "way of life."  It's a way that can change your life and, while not necessarily make it easier, it can make it better.  The Sochi Olympics have been in the news and on people's minds.  How can following God's way be like training as an athlete?  Is there a parallel? (The Apostle Paul certainly thought so!)

 

The Good News: 

 

Perhaps you are looking for a guide in life. Perhaps you feel like a rudderless ship and you need some direction. God provides us this direction, not only in God's Word but also with a community that helps us interpret and live out what's found there.

 

Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23

Challenges:

I mention in the opportunities below that the "you" being referred to in verse 16 is a plural "you" and this means that we're talking about the community here. As a Lutheran and thus a ecclesiastical descendant of the first Protestants, I have to admit that the breaking of community hits home. Of course we Protestants could say, "Well it was the Catholics who kicked us out!" And the Catholics could say, "No, it went this way..." but the point is there was a break in the community that led to individuals or whole groups to die in rather nasty ways.  Breaking community is a tricky thing. I'm not saying it's wrong to do so, I'm just saying it should never be done lightly. It also means that as Christians the burden of proof should be on those who are against ecumenism, rather than those who are for it.

 

Opportunities:

Very important to note that the "you" that is being addressed here is a plural "you" or, to quote my Southern Brethren, "y'all."  Verse 16 has often been used to talk about how you shouldn't drink alcohol or do anything else harmful to your body.  Of course, there's the whole question of what exactly is good or bad for your body (a glass of wine...or a tub of fried chicken), but that's a whole other conversation. This is talking about the community as the temple.  This is a great chance to talk about the value of community and how we can work together.  Perhaps you could show how it is easy to break one small stick, but if you put a bunch of small sticks together they are harder to break.

The Good News: 

The church in Corinth was holy because God made it holy. We are holy because God makes us holy.  The holiness is up to God and comes from God, not us.  We have a community that comes from God and we are not alone.  While it might be tempting to get worried about eloquent detractors of Christianity, it's good to remember that there have been such detractors from the beginning and yet we are still here and still holy because of God.

 

Gospel: Matthew 5:38-38

Challenges:

I'll admit it, I struggle with this one, especially about resisting evil-doers.  Self-defense is important.  Protecting your family is important.  I remember in college our campus ministry group sang a song called "One Tin Soldier" about two groups of people, the valley people and the mountain people. The valley people attacked the mountain people in order to get a treasure kept on the mountain and after all of the mountain people were slaughtered, the valley people discovered that the treasure was the statement "Peace on Earth." The point at the end of the song says, 'Go ahead and hate your neighbor...do it in the name of heaven, you can justify it in the end...but there won't be any trumpets blowing come the judgment day..." Of course the point of the song is that we should NOT be like the valley people.

I myself, take a second, unintended, point from the song: if you are the mountain people you should be prepared to defend yourself because there are valley people out there who will attack you.  Again, not what the writer of the song intended, but there it is. As a character in Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings says, "It needs but one foe, not two, to start a war...and those without swords still die on them."

I get, I really do, the idea that revenge and conquest and "military glory" get us nowhere.  I also write this about hearing of unspeakable oppression and crimes against humanity coming out of North Korea. How do we stop this? I hope nonviolently.  But the reality is always complicated.  

Opportunities:

 

When it comes to "loving your enemies and praying for those who persecute you" I have heard of congregations praying for Osama bin Laden and other hated individuals: I believe this can be powerful. Who is an individual that is hard for you or your congregation to pray for?  What would it be like to mention them in the Prayers of Intercession?  Who would you mention and how would people react?

And another thing, about this whole "perfection" thing in verse 48, there is a book you need to read. It's called Made for Goodness and it's by Desmond Tutu and Mpho Tutu.  You can find it here.  When it was given to me I had my doubts, but as I read it was amazing.  They write an entire chapter on this idea of Godly perfection, which they see not as flawlessness, but rather WHOLENESS. Desmond Tutu remembers his Grandmother's home in the apartheid-era blacktownship of Stirtonville.  It was a home with a dirt floor and was held together with scraps of wire, but he says, "...to me, growing up, the house in Stirtonville was perfect.  It was a place in which we could live a good life.  It was a home that was loved in.  Our life in Stirtonville did not meet the usual definition of perfection.  But our life in that place was whole.  Caring and concern filled the gaps that circumstance created." (pg. 41)

He also says, "As you read "Be perfect" you may find your stomach coiling into an anxious knot as you wonder what is now to be demanded of you that you cannot achieve.  As human beings, we hear in the command to be perfect a demand for flawlessness.  But flawlessness is not the goal of God's invitation....But God's call to be perfect is not just a command-it is an invitation.  It is an invitation to something possible.  It is an invitation to something life-giving, to something joy-creating.  God invites us to a godly perfection.  Godly perfection is not flawlessness.  Godly perfection is wholeness." (pg. 42-43)
 

The Good News:

See above on what Desmond Tutu and Mpho Tutu have to say about "perfection."

Epiphany 6: Setting the Bar Very High

Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Psalm 119:1-8
1 Corinthians 3:1-9
Matthew 5:21-37

First Lesson: Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Challenges:

If you are a Christian, especially a Lutheran, you have a very complicated and complex relationship with "the Law" of God.  For the most part, it'd be hard to deny the value of having the Law around: community, justice, love for neighbor, respect for God, etc. etc.  At the same time the most avid "nomian" (is that a word? "Antinomian" is, so why not "nomian?") has to admit that there is no way that anyone can follow the Law completely or perfectly.  So does this passage, with its blessings and curses lead us to despair? It very well might! Quite literally, thank God for Grace given to us through Jesus Christ! But then, there is a pesky issue of what do we do with the Law now?  Different people have different answers: some are good and some are...not as good.  It can all be confusing.

Opportunities:

A choice between life or death seems rather simple on the outside. It's much like British Comedian Eddie Izzard's "Cake or death?" routine, which you can see here. Of course we choose death all the time (both individually and collectively).  Destructive behaviors, destructive relationships, destructive economic systems.  How often do we always choose short term verses long term benefits? How often do we choose to be conveniently blind at the right moments?  There are so many examples of this, you might as well google "destructive behaviors:"I'm sure there will be plenty of hits.  Not only do we choose death, often we pay money for the opportunity! 

The Good News: 

Again and again throughout the Old Testament, it's important to see that GOD CARES.  It matters to God how we treat each other.  Other gods seem to not care about "petty little things" like, you know, ethical living.  But the God of Israel, the God of you, me and the entire Universe, cares deeply about oppression, corruption and dissolute living.  And as you read Deuteronomy and the prophets you get the true sense that this is because God actually has a heart for the poor, downtrodden, alien, etc.  Deuteronomy shows this to be true. It can be true today too.  Some people will say, "God doesn't care about football games or who wins."  Well, I don't think God really cares who wins, but I do believe that God cares deeply about HOW the games are played and HOW people treat each other.  That's God's M.O.  Thank God for that.

Psalm: Psalm 119:1-8

Challenges:

'Happy are those who..."  Yeah, sure must be nice being them.  In the meantime, give me a second to super-glue my good intentions back together...just so that they can get blown to pieces all over again.

Opportunities:

Maybe not this week, but at sometime it would makes sense to get a Jewish perspective on what Torah means to them: something tells me it'll be different from a Christian view!  (Note I didn't say THE Jewish perspective, there are certainly many different Jewish perspectives, like there are many Christian ones).  I imagine that Torah will look like a way of life that creates a meaningful life.  Connect this with the bold statement that Jesus came to fulfill the Law (see Matthew 5:17) and that packs a punch!

The Good News: 

Once again: Jesus said, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law and the Prophets, I have not come to abolish but to fulfill." (Matt. 5:17) Jesus is in the fulfillment business and that's good news.

Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians 3:1-9

Challenges:

I completely see Paul's point here and I can only imagine what it was like to deal with this congregation in Corinth. At the same time, I find myself wondering when the transition from flesh to spirit will take place. In some ways we're still waiting. Don't we say today "I belong to Luther" and "I belong to Calvin" and "I belong to Rome?" Maybe we're STILL not ready for things of the spirit.  But again, Paul wasn't writing about an abstract, ethereal situation, he was writing to a certain group of people in a certain situation and had to make some sweeping comments and generalizations.

Opportunities:

I made reference to denominations in my "challenges" section, and verses 5-9 is an amazing statement for ecumenism.  If you plant or water, if you are eloquent in words or powerful in deeds (or a combination of all the above) what really matters is the One who gives growth.  This connects very, very nicely with last week's Gospel lesson and how Jesus' followers are to do good works so that others will see them and give glory to our Father in heaven.

Could our present-day denominations treat each other in similar ways?  If so, it would go well beyond "liking" each other.  I doubt Paul and Apollos "liked" each other that well. But Paul is able to see beyond personal likes and dislikes as well. If only we could do the same! I have often seen liberal mainline people make snide remarks about evangelicals, and I'm sure that evangelicals do the same.  Hopefully we can come to the point where we say, "Wow, I might not "like" you, but we don't have the luxury of pettiness.  There are too many important things going on to get distracted."

The Good News: 

It's so very easy to get entangled in tribalism, jealousy and competition when it comes to working with fellow servants of Jesus.  We love to tout numbers, programs, buildings and "relevance." There are too many problems to name with this situation, not the least of which is the fact that even if a Christian "wins" a competition with a fellow believer, they still "lose." Paul struggled with this as well.  He points us toward something new beyond these entanglements: the One who gives growth.  This gives us "common purpose" as he says, and that is transformative, liberating, and darn-right exciting.

Gospel: Matthew 5:21-37

Challenges:

These sayings of Jesus feel like a succession of jabs, uppercuts and hooks to my guilty spirit.  Of course, there's no way that we can live up to this.  Lutheran theology serves very well in a situation like this and I'm able to say "Well, this conviction leads me to the realization that I am saved by Grace through Faith."  Still, I find myself curious: the writer of the Gospel of Matthew was not a Lutheran (or even a mainline Protestant...shocking I know!) and so I wonder if in Matthew, we really ARE supposed to do these things.  Frankly, I just don't know.  And that's a challenge.

You're walking a very fine line with this Gospel Lesson: there's the danger of making people despair and think it's all hopeless and also the danger or people shrugging and saying, "Well, I'm saved by grace, who cares if I don't take any of this seriously?!?!" Holding things in tension is very good and important, but not always easy!

Opportunities:

Sometimes we often equate sin with actions that are "fun."  You know, messing around with someone else's girlfriend or boyfriend, fibbing here and there: that sort of thing.  Then there are the things that might not be "fun" but are still considered "good" or at least "understandible." Like "blowing off steam"or "getting something off your chest" when you are mad at someone.  Of course, many of the people listening to you preach will know full well that there is nothing "fun" about their spouse or partner being unfaithful, or being caught up in a lie, or to be placed into a mental or spiritual place that is dark and rotting because of that downward spiral of negativity that came from "blowing off steam."  Many people have been there.

This could be a chance to call sin what it is: brokeness, falling short, missing the mark.  Jesus is going right at the heart of things here: showing us that outward appearances can simply be a mask for a rotten heart underneath.  Jesus tells us to do good works (be salt and light and all that), so that people will see our good works and give glory to God, but what people see on the outside starts from the inside.

Also: a great opportunity to show how something we do in worship (pass the peace) comes from the teachings of Jesus (i.e. 5:

The Good News:

Finding Good News of "Gospel" in these specific passages is very difficult, unless you bring in other passages.  Of course, one way to look at these statements about anger, divorce and oaths is to say that they are invitations to a new and different life where you get the chance to put down all the baggage you've been carrying.  Look to Matthew 11:29-30.

I mentioned that this passage can be a chance to call sin what it is.  This can also be a good chance for us to look at the kind of life that Jesus is inviting us into.  It's the kind of life where women are not objectified, where people are filled with integrity and where you don't have to get caught up in a cycle of negativity because "that's just how it is."  Jesus is saying, "you don't have to live that way, there is an alternative."

The people behind the "Sermon Brainwave" podcast on the Working Preacher website always do a good job, but they really hit the ball out of the park in talking about this Gospel lesson. Be sure to listen by clicking here.

Epiphany 5: Salt and Light

Isaiah 58:1-9a [9b-12]

Psalm 112:1-9[10]
1 Corinthians 2:1-12 [13-16]
Matthew 5:13-20

Okay, before I even begin, perhaps we should just call this the "Sunday of the Brackets." Choices, choices, choices!  I say, go for all them, why not??

First Lesson: Isaiah 58:1-9a [9b-12]

Challenges:

Quite often, when I hear Scripture read in worship, especially when it does not involve a plot or storyline, it is very easy for the lector/reader to make all of the words string together into a mish-mash of bible-sounds.  This can be especially true if your lector/reader does not prepare beforehand. And I get that: life really is crazy and there are plenty of things to do. Have you ever considered doing a Lector Workshop that can help people figure out how to read the Bible out loud in a way that true communicates what being said? It can be a really fun thing to do!

Opportunities:

What is truly important? What really connects us with God's way?  Isaiah puts it really well. It's not empty or showy worship practices, it's righteous living.  And, yes, this can add a real weight or burden to us.  A passage like this can show us that we fall short constantly.  That's very important.  It can also show us a way to live, a path to follow.  As I was reading this Luther's explanation of the Lord's Prayer came to mind. "The good and gracious will of God is surely done without our prayer, but we ask in this prayer that it may be done also among us."  When it comes to removing yokes and not pointing the finger and offering food to the hungry, I believe it is a good thing to pray that I will be able to do these things with with help of God. (...or that God will do these things with my help)

The Good News: 

I can read this passage and feel depressed that I can't measure up. I can also read this passage and be inspired because I have seen a different way of living.  It's a way where there are no yokes and no pointing fingers, a way of light, strong bones and repaired breaches.  I can yearn after this way and pray that I can be a part of it.

Psalm: Psalm 112:1-9[10]

Challenges:

I read this psalm and it all felt so simple to me.  Fear the Lord and things will be okay!  Of course, then I look at the world around me and all that simplicity falls away. Not only do those who fear the Lord and do all of these things have a tough time, it's not really that simple to 'fear the Lord.' Paul hits the nail on the head when he says "I do not understand my own actions.  For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing that I hate..." (Romans 5:15)

Opportunities:

While, this psalm can seem really simplistic and naieve (see challenges above), it can also serve as an example of what it means to 'fear the Lord.' In other words people can ask you, "So what does it REALLY mean to love God, fear the Lord, be a Christian, etc." In other words, what does Christian living look like? Psalm 112 can be an example of that.

The Good News: 

Verse 8b says "...in the end they will look in triumph on their foes." If this hasn't happened yet, maybe it's not the end.

Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 [13-16]

Challenges:

This is a great chapter. In my opinion, anytime you read Chapter 2 and Paul's words about knowing nothing but Christ Crucified) you should remember Chapter 15 (i.e. statements on the Resurrection). It goes the opposite way as well: when you read Chapter 15 and his statements on Christ's Resurrection, it's very important to remember Chapter 2 (and Chapter 1 for that matter).  Cross and empty tomb, they go together.  You can't have one without the other.

Opportunities:

Sometimes in the church it's tempting to think that we just don't have the coolest, smartest, flashiest methods and that's why things aren't going well. I read Paul's comments about worldly wisdom and I realize that it was a "problem" in his day as well. What makes a difference, then and now? "a demonstration of the Spirit and of power."  That demonstration is not a flashy magic show which wows us all (that'd be worldly wisdom again), instead it is profound acts of community, generosity, selflessness, intergrity and righteousness. That makes people sit up and take notice.

The Good News: 

Flashy trends come and go, the Spirit isn't going anywhere...or maybe the Spirit IS going somewhere, and we get to come along for the ride.

Gospel: Matthew 5:13-20

Challenges:

The challenges here are twofold: first, while the other lessons have brackets and this one doesn't, I believe the Gospel lesson could actually use them.  Verses 13-16 form a section, while 17-20 form their own.  Of the two, verses 17-20 are much more challenging, chiefly because it will take quite a bit of time and effort to really unpack all sorts of weighty concepts like "the law," "least in the kingdom of heaven," or "righteousness." As in other gospel lessons, I feel like you should choose between 13-16 OR 17-20 as you emphasis.  That's what I'm doing, and I'll be going with 13-16.

Second, Jesus' words about 'letting our light shine' appear to contradict his statements in chapter six which say "beware practicing your piety before other in order to be seen my them." Of course, there really is no contradiction because the two actions (shining light and practicing piety) have different motivations AND results.

Second,

In verse 16, we are called to shine our light "...so that they may see your good works and give glory to your father in heaven." In Matthew 6:1, the motivation is "in order to be seen by them."  In other words, what are these actions trying to achieve? Glory for you or glory for God?  To quote the Knight from the Order of the Cruciform Sword in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade "why do you seek the cup of Christ? Is it for his glory or for yours?"  (well, that might not really be relevant, but any chance you get to reference Indiana Jones is a good thing)

The challenge comes with the fact that people will take part in Matthew 6:1 actions while believing they are doing Matthew 5:16 things. It's curious how much God's glory and our own glory can be so conveniently linked at times, isn't it?  I don't have a good cure for this except constant prayer and the grace of God.

Opportunities:

This passge has IMAGERY written all over it.  How about singing "This Little Light of Mine" as a Hymn of the Day.  How about using a flashlight as an example?  Lighthouses?  Whatever. 

Light can be useful in many different ways. It can guide us, it can protect us, it can encourage us.  It can even help us while being "unpleasant." It can show us things that we would rather keep in the darkness but really need to be seen.

Salt might be a bit more a stretch for some people: after all, it's that white stuff in the shaker on the table. You can go into the fact that before refrigeration, salt was used as a very important preservative.  Some people where even given their wages in the form of salt.  AND a little of salt goes a long way.

David Lose, in his preaching blog, talks about how this is a commissioning of the disciples to be who they already are. Lose says (and I wholeheartedly agree) that Jesus says they are ALREADY light and salt and that they should be who they ALREADY are.  A similar thing happens in 1 Corinthians 12 when Paul describes the 'Body of Christ.' He says to this rather disfunctional congregation "Now you ARE the Body of Christ," not 'you should become' or  'maybe you'll improve to be,' but rather YOU ARE.  It's the same way with salt and light.  Jesus is saying BE WHO I HAVE MADE YOU.

 

The Good News:

You could talk about the deep sense of satisfaction and meaning that we can get from having a purpose. We have been given a mission: to make things better, so that it will be to the glory of our Father in heaven. Will we fall short? Of course! Will this mess up God's plans? Nope. Something tells me that God has things well in hand. We just get to be a part of things: that's pretty exciting.

Plus, we always think about the need to be the light and the salt. There's truth to this. But think about it this way: say you're in darkness or you need something to keep your life from being rotten (i.e. salt).  Guess what? God is providing light and salt through the followers of his son Jesus.  If you are in trouble, help is on the way.  That sounds like good news.