Groups Discussion Guide
Read Scripture. Go Deeper. Ask Questions. Take Action.
Stay Salty
Scripture
“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 underfoot. “You are the light of the world. A town built 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 others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Main Idea
Matthew 5 tells us we need to be salt and light in a world in desperate need of a savior. How should we be salt and not just 'salty' in a world that tends to bring out our inner saltiness? Emotions can run big and hot with stress, anxiety, and frustration. While we cannot control the existence of our emotions, we can certainly control them. We must recognize the difference between human anger and righteous anger.
Righteous anger is:
-Triggered by sin, evil, and injustice (not simply a personal offense)
-Fueled by compassion and love for others and God
-Expressed with self-control and humility
-Directed toward restoration not revenge
To be a single light is valuable and useful, but most powerful when gathered. Gathering as a community is so important. Romans 13: 12 tells us to "put on the armor of light", which we do when we gather in cooporate worship and teaching.
We live in world that needs the salt and light we, as Christ followers, carry.
When we see injustice, we should want to act.
When we see need, we should look to help.
When we see sin, we should stand for right.
Are we salt and light or are we salty and lit?
Discussion Questions
1. What are some daily stressors that can easily lead you to anger (aka, saltiness)?
2. Can any of those triggers become an opportunty to be salt and light?
3. What current events in our culture warrent righteous anger, as defined above?
4. Human anger is often paired with revenge. Righteous anger is focused on restoration - take a time to think and talk about this important distinction
Summary
In a world where anger and self-righteousness is applauded and encouraged, we are called to focus on loving others humbly, responding in anger only out of a response to injustice, sin, and evil - not out of our own selfish motives.
To be salt and light, we must gather together to properly equip and refill ourselves with truth, encouragement, and community.
When we see injustice, we MUST respond
We must watch out for and stand against actions that harm and seek to gain at the cost of others
Take action! Get involved!
Put movement to ideals rooted in Biblical truth.
Take Action
1. Instead of responding to a personal offense with anger/frustration - resist; stay silent. Take a breath. Think. Pray and ask God if this rises to the level of injustice/sin/evil, which requires a righteous response
2. Give a word of appreciation or encouragement to someone with a stressful or thankless job (cashiers, service workers, sanitation workers, police/fire/medical workers, delivery workers, our pastors! etc, etc)
3. Work on the practice of seeing people - in the aisle, on the sidewalk, in church, in the waiting room -everyone has a story -what is their story? Anger emerges slower when we truly see our fellow human as a traveler on the same road as us
4. SMILE at someone new today
