True Influencers: Matthew 5:13-16 Senior Pastor Alex Kennedy An influencer is someone who has the capacity or power to be a compelling force on or to produce effects on the actions, behavior, or opinions of others. All of us are influencers in one way or another. Jesus speaks to this reality when He teaches on salt and light. He is saying to let your character overflow into what you do. “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.” Salt was incredibly valuable in the time and culture. It was used to preserve food and to add flavor. Salt is very stable until you start adding impurities to it, and then it can become useless. When it “lost its taste” it was thrown on the footpaths or roof tops to form a hard top seal. Salt influences everything it touches. “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 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.” “You” is written in emphatic Greek plural tense, which would translate, “you all, and you all alone are the light of the world.” Jesus is speaking these words to a people that are seeing the city of Tiberias to their right on the Sea of Galilee. Also, directly across from them were the ten pagan cities of the Decapolis. Both of these cities would have been lit up with light. Jesus is also telling us that our faith is personal, but it’s not private. Hiding a light is contrary to its purpose. “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.” Our good works are done so that we may highlight and make a big deal of God. Our light is a borrowed light. Light influences everything it touches. You don’t need to become salt and light. You ARE salt and light. It is a matter of identity, and our deeds flow from our identity and character. In Christ, we have the power to influence the culture for the Kingdom of God. Questions to Consider Who is someone that you would consider “salty” in your life? Why? Why is it important for followers of Jesus to be salt and light in their sphere of influence? What is the “salt level” in you? How much light is flowing through you? What is your underlying motivation? What “good deeds” do you do for others and does that bring glory to God or glory to you?