Lean In // 5 minutes
What’s your favorite bag of chips?
Leader note: Use this question to engage your group and get everyone playing. Make it fun by having group members describe the brand, flavor, etc.
Look Down // 10 minutes
Leader note: Give your group the Look Down question before reading the passage. For this week’s study, the passage is taken from The Message translation.
What does Jesus say about why we are here?
Sample answers may include…
- To be Salt of the earth, bring out the God flavors of everything (v.13)
- To be Light of the world, illuminating God’s truth (v.14)
- To be like cities on a hill, refuge and guidance (v.14)
- To be like lamps that give light in everyone (v.15)
- To do good deeds that cause people to praise God (v.16)
- To be open with others—generous with our lives (v. 15)
Commentary: In Jesus’ culture, salt was very important to every day life and had multiple uses. It was even used as a medium of exchange in commercial ventures like money. One of the primary uses was a preservative. Before refrigeration, people would rub salt into their fish or meat to delay it from decaying. Salt was also used to enhance the flavor of food. Light, too, was significant in the ancient world as it illuminated the darkness both metaphorically and practically.
Look Out // 10 minutes
Leader Note: Before asking this next question prompt your group to recall the two qualities that both salt and light offer from the sermon. The author says that disciples are here to be salt-seasoning that bring out the God-flavors of the earth and to be light that brings out the God-colors of the world. Salt is a preservative and enhancer. Light is illuminates what is beautiful about God. With these thoughts in mind, lead the questions.
How are the God-flavors preserved in our world?
Sample answers could include…
- Speaking truth—giving a voice to the voiceless
- Standing for justice issues
- Living ethically
- Being good neighbors
- Building healthy marriages and families
How are the God-colors illuminated?
Sample answers could include…
- Being creative—writing, painting, starting businesses, etc.
- Through generosity—giving our time, talent, and treasure
- Bringing beauty to our places of work through excellence
- Discovering and living out our calling and purpose
How are the flavors spoiled and the colors hidden?
Sample answers could include…
- Cut off from God
- Selfishness
- Busyness
- Sin
- Worry/Anxiety
Look In // 15 minutes
Where has God uniquely placed you to be salt and light?
Leader Note: No matter where you are placed there is still opportunity to bring the God-flavors and the God-colors to your unique life positioning.
How are you living this out?
Where do you hold back? And, why?
Live It Out // 5 minutes
What would change in our community and relationships if you lived this out?
Key Verse(s): Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth…You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world…Matthew 5:13,14 (The Message)
Key Thought: Light it up and pass the salt.
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Learn More About Flow Questions: Check out Kenton Beshore’s book Ask in the Irvine Campus Bookstore for more on the Flow Question model.