The Light of the World (November 6, 2022)
Sermon Outline for Sunday, November 6, 2022
Pastor Andy Lambert
PASSAGES: Matthew 5:14–16; 1 John 1:5; John 8:12; Ephesians 5:8–9; 1 Thessalonians 5:5; John 12:35; John 14:6; John 12:36; John 12:46; John 3:19–20; Philippians 2:15; John 8:12; Ephesians 5:11–14; Romans 13:12
Matthew 5:14-16 ~ “14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 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. 16 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.”
1 John 1:5 ~ “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”
John 8:12 ~ “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.””
What an enormous compliment! God is the light, Christ is the light and the believer is said to be the LIGHT of the World!! But note: to be identified with God is an enormous responsibility as well as a compliment. Whatever the light is and does, the believer is to be and do.
Since Christ said “I am the Light of the World” and the believer is to be like Him, the light of the world, the believer or disciple is to undergo a radical transformation: we are to become like Christ more and more and the reflect the light of Christ. Light is and does several things:
• Light is clear and pure – it is clean, good, right and true.
Ephesians 5:8-9 ~ “8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),”
• Light penetrates – by nature it cuts through and eliminates darkness.
1 Thessalonians 5:5 ~ “For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.”
• Light enlightens – it enlarges a person’s vision and knowledge.
John 12:35 ~ “So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.”
• Light reveals – it opens up the truth of an area, a whole new world, and it clears up the way to the truth and the life.
John 14:6 ~ “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 12:36 ~ “While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.”
• Light guides – it directs the way to go, leads along the right path.
John 12:46 ~ “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.”
• Light strips away the darkness.
John 3:19-20 ~ “19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.”
• Light routs out chaos.
Philippians 2:15 ~ “that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,”
• Light discriminates between the right and the wrong way.
John 8:12 ~ “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.””
• Light warns – it warns of dangers that lie ahead in a person’s path.
Ephesians 5:11-14 ~ “11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.””
• Light protects – it protects a person from the dangers of darkness, from stumbling, falling and injuring himself.
Romans 13:12 ~ “The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.”
The world is the place where believers are to move about and reflect their light, live and minister) Why? The world is … unclear, stumbling, groping, falling, unseeing, unaware, in chaos, in darkness, in trouble, in danger, undiscriminating, and so much more.
Note that the light is in the world; the city is in the world, and the candlestick is in the home. The same is true of believers: believers occupy some place in the world, wherever that place is, we are to let our light shine.
Two things are said about the city: it sits on a hill and it cannot be hid. Two things are said about the candle: it is put on a candlestick and it gives light to all that are in the house. Note that the believer and disciple’s light is in the world, on a hill and in the house.
• Believers shine as light in the world. They are like cities and like candles sitting in a dark world.
• Light has different strengths. It can be strong or weak, bright or dim. In fact, it can be so dim and provide so little light that a person can stumble and fall.
• Some places in the world are brightly lit; others are dimly lit. Some cities have many bright lights, other cities have few bright lights. Some homes have strong lights; other homes have weak light. Every city, every home, every business, every place on earth that has the witness of a Christian believer has some light – strong or weak, bright or dim
• A light can become so weak it is of no use.
• A light is not lit to be hid. It is lit to be seen and to give light. Therefore, a light has many eyes upon it.
We have a purpose – we must be the light!
Pastor Andy Lambert ~ pastorandy@cvcog.church
Call/Text: 205.642.8744 ext 101