This sermon is part of One Year Later; a 4 part series that looks back over the 12 months that followed North Village Church moving to its new location. You can watch all 4 here.
Sermon manuscript:
This morning we are continuing our series called “One Year Later.” We moved into our space in north Austin about a year ago and over the last year in north Austin there have been things that were planned, there have been surprises, but our vision doesn’t change. Our purpose doesn’t change.
North Village Church is a family who places Jesus at the center of our lives so that it moves us to chase after every man, woman, and child in Greater Austin to experience the life-transforming power of Jesus Christ.
I hope that vision resonates with you this morning. Our vision doesn’t resonate with me just because I started the church in Austin but because about 30 years ago, I came to faith in Jesus, and I remember what it is like to be “new to the local church.”
I didn’t grow up around church in Austin. I didn’t grow up around the Bible in Austin. I had a friend share the gospel with me and then one day I believed. I told my friend. I want to follow Jesus. What do I do?
He said, “Come to church with me.” I said, “Okay.” I showed up on a Sunday morning and for me, going to church in Austin was confusing. I didn’t understand what people were doing. I didn’t understand the songs people were singing. This guy got up to talk about something I didn’t understand, and it was difficult for me to connect personally.
For the next two years I wondered spiritually. I professed faith in Jesus, but I wasn’t connected to a body of Christ, I wasn’t growing spiritually and then one day I ended up visiting a church where the people in the church took the time to help me better understand what it means to follow Jesus.
They let me ask questions. They let me sit in that uncomfortable place. They opened the Scriptures and taught me how to study the Bible. They taught me how to share my faith with others. They talked me through how to live out my faith in this world and it changed my relationship to the local church in Austin.
I didn’t realize it at the time, but the Lord was using those moments in my life to move me to a place to start North Village Church in Austin, TX. I didn’t know it at the time, but the Lord was stirring in me the importance of a life that is centered on Jesus, a life that is connected to the body of Christ and then what we believe is that when you are connected to Jesus and connected to His body it will move us to chase after those who are far from Jesus.
That’s why we are here in Austin! Maybe some of us are wondering, “Why are we in Austin?” Why does the Lord have us at this church in Austin? God’s Word teaches us that He determines the times and places in which we live, therefore, the Lord has us in Austin for Him and His glory. It’s that simple!
Maybe some of us came to Austin to launch a career? Maybe some of us moved closer to the Domain? Maybe some of us moved to Crestview or Brentwood start a family, explore a hobby, go to school, and those things are great but more than those areas, the Lord has all of us in Austin for Him and His glory.
Therefore, this morning we are going to look at Matthew 5, a part of Jesus’ sermon on the mount, where Jesus turns to the crowds and invites us to live for Him and His glory and we’re going to get to talk about what that looks like practically in Austin so that this morning we will see three sub-points; 1. Salt and Light. 2. Jesus Is the Salt and Light. 3. What Does that Look Like Practically? Let’s look at our first sub-point; 1. Salt and Light.
- Salt and Light.
Matthew 5:13-14, “13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;”
In Matthew 5 Jesus is standing in front of a crowd of people (rich-poor, young-old, religious-indifferent, all types), standing on a mountain side, and as people gathered around Jesus, He begins to speak to them about who He is, what He is doing, and what it means to live out our meaning and purpose in life in Him, what it means to live in His Kingdom on earth.
Did you know that as a follower of Jesus? Did you know we are living in His Kingdom on earth? Please know following Jesus isn’t just a worship service on a Sunday morning. It’s part of it. We’re glad you’re here this morning. But living for Him and His glory in His Kingdom is so much more than a worship service.
In the context of Matthew 5 Jesus is standing before this crowd of people and Jesus starts talking to them about what it means for us to live in His Kingdom. He starts off with phrases like, “Blessed are the poor in spirit” and “poor in spirit” means there is a humility about us as followers of Jesus because we are living in His Kingdom.
Then Jesus says, “Blessed are the meek,” because in His Kingdom on earth we who follow Jesus do so by setting aside our interests for the sake of others. We do this because we’re in His Kingdom.
Practically this means we hold items of this world with an open hand because we have Jesus. We hold our time with an open hand because we have Jesus. The kingdom of this world is about have and have not. The kingdom of this world is about get and got, but we who are in Christ have Christ, so that we are set free to serve others.
Another phrase Jesus uses in the Sermon on the Mount is “Blessed are those who mourn” because when we are in His Kingdom on earth, we absolutely mourn the injustice of this world.
We who are in Christ grieve death. We grieve when those who are hurting. We lament those who are overlooked and neglected, because we know those things aren’t right, we know those things aren’t what He created, therefore, we groan as we eagerly await the day when all of creation will be made right.
This is the context of Matthew 5, this is the context of the Sermon on the Mount, and it’s in this context that Jesus turns to the crowd of people and says verse 13, “You are the salt of the earth.” And again, in verse 14, “You are the light of the world.”
Can you imagine what it must have been like for the original audience to hear those words that day? Men and women from all walks of life, Jew and Gentile, rich and poor, men and women, old and young and then Jesus, the same voice that spoke creation into existence says to you, “In Me, you are salt of the earth, you are light of the world.”
These types of words would have only been used to describe the religious leaders of the day, “A guide to the blind, a light to those who are in the dark,” and Jesus just looks at these men and women, and says, “Nah, it’s not them, it’s you.”
It isn’t because of titles. It isn’t because of status. It isn’t because of physical appearances. It isn’t because of ethnicity. It isn’t even because of morality, but instead when you are reconciled to the Father by grace through faith in Jesus you are, “Salt of the earth and light of the world.” Write that in your notes, “In Christ, I am salt of the earth and light of the world.”
The word salt is used to put off decay. They didn’t have refrigerators back then, so the only way to keep meat from rotting immediately was to cover it in salt, so that salt was preservative to put off decay, so that somehow, we who are in Christ are able to bring life into those who are around us.
And then light of the world would have been bonkers. Back then they didn’t have lamps. They didn’t have streetlights. They would have spent the majority of their evening walking around in literal darkness, and Jesus just says, “When you are in Him, when you are in His Kingdom, there is a light in you that conquers all darkness.” It’s like having superpowers.
Our vision has “chase after every man, woman and child” because, in light of verses 13 and 14, how could we not? How could we who have been made salt and light of the world simply keep it to ourselves? How could we know the peace and joy of living in His Kingdom on earth not invite others into His Kingdom with us. How could we not?
- Jesus Is The Salt And The Light.
Matthew 5:15, “15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.”
In verse 15 Jesus uses the phrase, “Nor does anyone light a lamp” and it is a reminder that our lamps need to be lit. Does that make sense? Did you follow the metaphor? In verses 13 and 14 Jesus teaches us we are salt and light but in verse 15 Jesus reminds us that we need to be lit. Maybe that’s obvious, but I just want to be clear that we ourselves are not the salt and the light.
Sometimes my grandparents would interact with people who were really kind to them, and they would say, “That fella is salt of the earth.” Or sometimes politicians will refer to America as the “light to the world.” Wasn’t it Reagan who referred to the United States as a “city on a hill” but in verse 15 Jesus is making it clear that He is the One who makes and salty and bright. Write that in your notes, “Jesus is the One who makes us salty and bright.” All of humanity is wondering around in darkness and death until Jesus comes to make us salty and bright. This is so important!
When I was 18 years old, I didn’t make myself salty and bright. I wasn’t looking for Jesus. When my friend talked to me about Jesus, I told him to leave me alone. I thought Jesus was for people who couldn’t make it in life and my life was fine.
But the Spirit of God opened my eyes. Have you had this moment? Have you had that moment when the Holy Spirit starts to work on your heart and create a curiosity about Jesus.
In those moments the Holy Spirit begins to disturb our soul. In that moment I started to ask questions about life. I started to see my frailty. I had never admitted weaknesses in my life but in that moment the Holy Spirit began to confront with me with weaknesses. It’s what the Bible calls sin.
In those moments, and I say moments, but really these thoughts happened over 6-9 months, but in those moments, I started to wonder for the first time in my life, “Maybe there was something to this Jesus?”
I didn’t make myself salty and bright. The Spirit of God was calling me to Himself, so that I turned to Jesus for forgiveness. I believed Jesus was God in the flesh. I believed Jesus died on the cross for my sin.
Listen to me, I wasn’t necessarily super convinced Jesus was the way, truth and life, but more so thought, maybe this is true, maybe Jesus is real and I believed Jesus rose from the dead for my sin, and in that moment the Holy Spirit was poured into me richly (Titus 3), in that moment I went from darkness to light, death to life, and in that moment, I became salty and bright!
I didn’t make myself salty and bright. Jesus calls me salt and light because He took my sin at the cross and gave me His righteousness. And that isn’t just true for me but that is true for every man, woman, or child who calls on the name of Jesus.
Listen to me, if you’ve never trust in Jesus, do that this morning. Come talk to me. Come talk to one of the people for prayer but respond to Him today and find life in Jesus today because life in His Kingdom on earth is good.
- What Does that Look Like Practically?
Matthew 5:16, “16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
When you see the phrase “good works” it can sound like our relationship with the God of Scripture is determined by our “good works”, but we need to remember that our relationship with the Father is not according to our deeds (Titus 3), but to His mercy, and the result of His work in our life is “good works.” Does that make sense?
Ephesians 2 says, “10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” so that each of us who are in Christ would see our lives, no longer in the kingdom of this world, but in His Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. Just sit in that for a second…
Now it’s possible that some of us might hear that language and immediately we think of our flaws, faults, and shortcomings in Austin, which is true we’re not in heaven, He isn’t finished but somehow Jesus is inviting us to live in His Kingdom on earth, even though it isn’t going to be perfect.
It’s possible some of us hear this language and we think of salt and light in His Kingdom on earth and immediately we think of huge, enormous “good works” that we think we need to accomplish. How many of us are that way?
We start thinking about how to rid the world of racism. We start thinking a judicial system that’s perfect. We start thinking of every child being adopted into a loving family around the world. That’s why I do.
Our family just started fostering last week, many of you have been helpful and supportive but immediately I start thinking, “We need to do more.” What’s that about? In our 3 Circles Challenge we are asking people to share the 3 Circles with someone outside our church family and there are always some people who immediately think of the person who is most angry and antagonistic toward Jesus. What’s that about?
But listen, to me, when you are in Christ you are salt and light, therefore, showing up to the office on a Monday in a Zoom call is a “good work.” Smiling at your neighbor in Austin is a good work. Humbling our heart before the Lord in devotion is a good work. Yeah? The Holy Spirit is in you!
I am not just trying to send positive vibes. This is God’s truth. In Christ, we bring supernatural hope into someone’s life when we simply walk into the room. I was at an event last week for human trafficking and the leader said, “Just you coming to listen, brings encouragement” and he said, “Because we’re reminded that we’re not alone.” Don’t forget that!
In Christ, we bring encouragement into the life of others when you remember their name. In Christ, we bring value into someone’s life when you remember details about their life. Have you ever had someone say, “I remember when we were talking, and you said” and they utter a phrase you don’t remember. That’s the power of God in us! Those are good works in His Kingdom!
In fact, the work of God in our lives is so powerful that He even works in our failures. It is in our failures that people see how we walk through difficult situations. In our failures people get to see our humility. They get to see us apologize. They get to see the hope of our life isn’t in the opinions of others but in Christ alone. That’s the glory of the gospel. He takes our dead works and makes them alive!
Listen to me, I understand this is difficult to navigate in Austin. I understand the follower of Jesus needs wisdom in the workplace like never before to talk about church in Austin. I understand there are concerns of losing our job because our faith doesn’t fit into the corporate context.
But we can’t shrink back. We who are in Christ, we can’t disappear. The church in Austin can’t disappear. We need to keep showing up. We need to be in dark places, and we need to keep taking those risks of living out His Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.
Now I am guessing that some of us are here this morning and saying to ourselves, “I have believed in Jesus, I became salty and bright but right now we don’t feel salty and bright.
Maybe it’s because of our life situation? Maybe it’s because we have wondered from the Lord? Then the invitation is still the same. The invitation is to turn to Jesus. Find life in Him. Find forgiveness in Him. He is the One who makes us salty and bright.
That’s why we have this 3 Circles Gospel Challenge Cards. We have 26 cards. The challenge isn’t just to share the gospel with someone outside our church in Austin, but we need to hear the gospel. We need to hear the Spirit of God inviting us to turn to Jesus. We need to be reminded that we are not in the kingdom of this world, but we are in His Kingdom.
We will have people at the front of the room. Seek them out to pray with you, to pray for you, so that we might all be a people who chase after every man, woman and child. Will you pray with me?
North Village Church
This article was written by Pastor Michael Dennis, Lead Pastor at North Village Church; a non-denominational church in Austin, TX, established in 2009 and built around Jesus and Bible teaching.
Are you looking for a church in Austin? At North Village Church we put Jesus at the center of our church family. We worship together every Sunday at 10:30am, encourage Christ centered fellowship through groups, and host special events such as Bible studies and Theological Training, to ensure that we are rooted in in God’s Word. We also serve our local community in association with several Austin based organizations.
North Village Church is made up of professionals, married couples, singles, and families who are wanting to experience the life-transforming power of Jesus. If you are a family with children or teens, we can support you with either or both our Kids Ministry and Youth Ministry.
Check out our North Village Church calendar highlights such as our Christmas Eve Service and Easter Sunday Service.
You are welcome to contact us if you would like more information.
NVC Online
Unable to attend this Christian Church in Austin? Don’t worry, because, through God’s provision, we have created NVC online, an Online Church streaming a worship service every Sunday from 10:30am Central Time. You can also watch our short, powerful sermons on demand and follow us on Instagram for daily Christ centered content.