The Teachings of Jesus: a study for fellowship groups
These are sections from the 'Sermon on the Mount' which supplement of 'Beatitudes' which are featured in Ebe's Autumn 2002 programme of All Age Worship. -revised 12/09/2002

Kingdom principles: The Need to make a difference (Mt 5:13)

Salt was used in olden times as a preservative (e.g. to keep meat and fish from deteriorating). Jesus describes his disciples in this way when he announces to them 'You are the salt of the earth'. Salt that no longer brings any benefit because it has become denatured is of no use - and this is equally true of salt used as a preservative for food and the spiritual equivalent of Christians seeded by God into society but no longer able to make any difference because they 'have lost it'.

Q1 What beneficial effects ought, in an ideal situation, Christians bring to a world in which standards are seen as slipping, and relationships foundering?

Q2 Are there things which can compromise our testimony as Christians and prevent us being the 'Salt of the earth'? Discuss what factors from a non-Christian perspective might negate a Christian's testimony.

Kingdom principles: The Need to see and be seen (Mt 5:14-16)

There are three key words for light which the New Testament uses for Christians (or here, shall we say Jesus disciples):

Phoster - the word for a lighthouse, or for stars in the sky. Both were used for navigation in the dark because they were regarded as fixed positions in the night sky from which direction could be reliably taken. (Phil 2:16-16a)

Q3 Are there such things as fixed points in terms of the Christian position on moral subjects for example, or is the word given confused and confusing to non-Christians?

Pheggos - the word for reflected light as the moon reflects the light radiated from the sun (Mt 24:29) and this idea is used also for Jesus' followers (Lk 11:33-36)

Q4 Do we reflect to the world the true light of God or does a colour correction take place? What might change the colour?

Phos - the word for the light that is God himself. Jesus said 'I am the light of the world'(Jn 8:12) and yet the same word is used in our passage by Jesus of his own followers when he declares 'You are the light of the world'. This is an amazing statement, but there is something of the energy source of God implanted into human personality when a person becomes a Christian.

Q5 Do we hide God's light or display it? Why would want to hide it, anyway?

Kingdom principles: The Need to fulfil the law (Mt 5:17-20)

Any notion that Jesus and New Testament supercedes the law is a mistaken one. The difference for us now is that the demands of the law are not met by us, which we can't anyway (Rom 3:10-12) but by Jesus on our behalf (Rom 3:21-25). The law in the O.T. is there to bring about awareness of sin and lead to faith (Gal 3:22-24). The law does not now have jurisdiction over us (Gal 5:18) but the Spirit at work in us should allow us to break free from the habits of sin (Gal 5:16-17,19-21) and instead show the fruit of the Spirit's indwelling (Gal 5:22-23). Jesus fulfilled the law on our behalf and now we fulfil it (ideally!) through the Holy Spirit within.

Q6 Is that how it is?