Introduction:

KJV Matthew 5:13-16
13.  Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
 14.  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
 15.  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

I. The Salt of the Earth (Verse 13)
Salt does two things – preserves, and adds flavor

If Salt (our preserving) fails what will then be used?
KJV Mark 9:50
50.  Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

Righteousness in a nation will exalt it
KJV Proverbs 14:34
 34.  Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

Think to Sodom and Gomorrah (10 righteous people could have saved the cities)
KJV Genesis 18:32
32.  And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.

We need to be always careful that we do not fall
KJV 1 Corinthians 10:12
 12.  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

Our speech ought to wholesome (pure)
KJV Colossians 4:6
 6.  Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

We ought to speak the word of God
KJV 1 Peter 4:11
 11.  If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Speak words of truth with an understanding of what we speak
KJV Acts 26:24-25
 24.  And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
 25.  But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.

II. The light of the world (Verse 14a & Verse 16) Let our light shine to the world & glorify God

Christ began the light with preaching
KJV Matthew 4:16-17
16  The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
17  From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Evil doers hate the light
KJV John 3:19-21
19.  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
 20.  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
 21.  But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

If we truly follow Christ we will be a light
KJV John 8:12
12.  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

We need to be clothed with Christ (our light source)
KJV Romans 13:12-14
12.  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
 13.  Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
 14.  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

The word is the light
KJV Psalms 119:105
105.  Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

We need to shine out of darkness
KJV 2 Corinthians 4:6-7
6.  For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
III. Do not let it become hidden (Verses 14b &15)

The Gospel will be hid to those who want to be blind
KJV 2 Corinthians 4:3-4
 3.  But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4. In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Whether we sin or do right there will be followers
KJV 1 Timothy 5:24-25
 24.  Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.
 25.  Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.

We need to speak and teach that we are different from the world, in Christ
KJV Titus 2:14-15
14.  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
 15.  These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

We are ALWAYS to preach the word
KJV 2 Timothy 4:1-2
1.  I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
 2.  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

If we continue in doctrine and right things we will save ourselves, and those whom see our shining lights! 
KJV 1 Timothy 4:16
16.  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
 

Conclusion:

Christians need to be a source of teaching in all that they do.  To do so, we must be living our lives properly and always be giving a message of truth, and righteousness in all that we do!
 

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