Lighthouses don't fire cannons to call attention to their shining, they just shine." Light penetrates darkness. Moody's words: "We are told to let our light shine, and if it does, we won't need to tell anybody it does. What can you learn from these two lists?Ĭonnect Out: The noted Bible translator Desiderius Erasmus said, "Give light, and the darkness will disappear of itself." Or consider D. Then list the things the church has done that do not reflect the light of Christ (i.e., the Inquisition). List the things the church has done that reflect the light of Christ. So how do we reflect God's light? Furthermore, how do non-Christians reflect God ( imago Dei, made in the image of God)?Ĭonnect In: Just as individual Christians are to glow in the dark, so, too, is the universal church. How are both lights similar, and how are they different? For example, as God, Jesus is pure light, but Christians only reflect His light. How did your suffering bring Christ glory?Ĭonnect Up: In John 8:12, Jesus said, "I am the light of the world." In Matthew 5:14, Jesus said Christians are the light of the world. Probe: Share a time when your suffering was an act of worship.Let's glow in the dark lest the darkness overshadow our glow.Do you see people living in darkness, needing the light? Do you shine brightly, standing out with Christ's good news? Do you live carefully, watching your attitude around unbelievers? Do you speak the gospel message accurately?.Our action in the world should be an attitude of worship, letting our life and lips represent Christ.Paul saw suffering as an act of devotion-not to be sought out, but endured in God-honoring ways. The word for service means liturgy, a type of worship service. Paul added his suffering to the Philippians' sacrifice-both were acts of worship.Paul used a similar phrase in 2 Timothy 4:6 to describe his life as a sacrifice to God. It's a picture of a worshipper pouring libation on an altar or providing animal sacrifice. Paul linked his own suffering and the Philippian church's sacrifice to worshiping God.Speak truth accurately: don't exaggerate, mean what you say and say what you mean, point people to Scripture not opinions, and be accurate with facts and figures.Living life differently: smile, love people, don't lie, help the helpless, and be kind and compassionate.Probe: Give some practical examples of living life differently and speaking truth accurately.What you exemplify by your life, you must amplify with your lips.We glow in the dark by living life differently and speaking truth accurately.By doing the right action: "holding fast the word of life" (v.By having the right attitude: "do all things without complaining or disputing" (v.Our light is to be attractive, not attacking. Notice the words blameless and harmless.Probe: Unpack the statement, "Persistence is proportional to radiance." What are some of the characteristics of staying close to the light source, Christ (love, mercy, etc.)? How does staying close to the light help you reflect the light better?.Persistence is proportional to radiance for us to glow we must go to Him.Christians should not block the sun, but reflect the Son.It doesn't just expose it directs and rescues. Light reveals what darkness hides, showing the dirt and dust.There is no such thing as a secret disciple secrecy will destroy discipleship, and discipleship will destroy secrecy. When the world gets darker, shine brighter.The word for light is the same for star: objects that shine in dark places.Talk about some of the positive and negative traits of being that kind of light. Probe: Discuss the type of light you are (candle, flashlight, or spotlight).Ultimately: there are ultimate, eternal ends: either heaven or hell.Spiritually: we must see people not as clients, but as eternal souls.Plainly: the world is not getting any better.We should look at the world in the following ways:.The world is perverse-contorted and twisted.The world is crooked-morally and spiritually bent and deformed.Some are like flashlights, helping others out of darkness.Some are like candles, with a quiet glow that draws people.The world is watching Christians we shouldn't blend in but stand out and shine a light.Maximize Your Action for the World (vv.Advertise Your Vocation to the World (vv.Recognize Your Position in the World (v.Analyze the Condition of the World (v.Pastor Skip showed us how we can shine the light of Christ to penetrate a murky world: For a Christian to glow-to shine the light of truth and salvation-in a dark culture, there are four considerations that will energize us. To make an object glow in the dark, we must apply a phosphor (like zinc sulfide and strontium aluminate) that energizes by ambient light and has a lengthy, persistent radiance.
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