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Small Group Guide:
Open with prayer.
Go around and give everyone a chance to share about how the past week has been. What’s one highlight? What’s one lowlight?
If your small group has talked about it before, feel free to use this time to hold people accountable to what they’ve asked to be held accountable for previously, and go through the “missional” part of this discussion guide.
Salt and Light
13 “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.
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[a] they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
What being salt and light looks like:
3 Observations about salt and light:
1. Salt and light are noticeable
John 17:14-15, Matt. 28:19-20, John 8:12
2. Salt and light are helpful
John 10:10, John 3:16-17, Matt. 28:20, Ps. 119:105
3. Salt and light need to be used well
1 Pet. 3:15, Col. 4:6, 2 Tim. 2:24-26, 4:2
Practical Steps to take to be salt and light:
1. Allow yourself to be transformed by God
Matt. 5:16, 13, Heb. 6:1, John 15:8, Matt. 7:19, Luke 3:8, Gal. 5:22-23
2. Be prayerfully led by the Holy Spirit
Phil. 4:4-9, Rom. 8:14, Gal. 5:18, Ps. 143:10
3. Be conversational with people
Matt. 5:15-16, Luke 21:14-15, Rom. 12:9, 1 Tim. 1:5
4. Point people to God’s Word
Heb. 4:12, Is. 55:11, Eph. 4:32
5. Be willing to pray for someone in the moment
1 Tim. 2:1, Eph. 6:18, James 5:13, Heb. 4:16
Getting Started
Take some time to read over Matthew 5:13-16 and pray. Have you ever read or heard about this story before? What stood out to you as we were talking about it?
As you think about what salt and light does, and how that applies to Christians being the salt and light of the world, what comes to mind?
Where have you heard Christians use the phrase salt and light before?
What bad examples have you witnessed (or done yourself) of Christians trying to be salt and light?
What mistakes were made?If you’re going through these questions in a small group, share about any times in your life (good or bad examples) where you’ve tried to be salt and light to people around you?
Diving In
A good way to make us ineffective at being the salt and light of the world is to be hypocritical in our faith. Why do you think it is so imperative, if we are going to be salt and light, that we are taking our faith seriously, allowing God to transform us, and bearing fruit?
How can you allow God to transform you and bear fruit better?How would your life change if you allowed God to transform you and bear better fruit?
How would it affect your witness if you allowed God to transform you and bear better fruit?
In today’s society, it is getting increasingly difficult to have real life, face-to-face conversations with people.
How do you think it would help your witness to have more of these types of conversations?
How comfortable are you with having real life, face-to-face conversations with people? Why?
Do you have any hobbies or interests that you could leverage to have more real life, face-to-face conversations with people?
How can you practice having real life, face-to-face conversations with people?
Many people, regardless of their faith background, are happy to be prayed for in the moment.
Have you ever prayed for someone in the moment?
How did it go? What effect did it have on your relationship with that person?
What hesitations do you have about praying for someone in the moment? Why?
If you were open to praying for someone (even a stranger) in the moment, how do you think it would affect your faith? Why?
If you’ve never prayed for someone in the moment, take some time in prayer right now, and ask that God would lead you, and give you the opportunity to do so sometime in the next week.
Applying the Scripture
What are your biggest takeaways from this passage of God’s Word? What practical step(s) do you need to implement in your life to apply what God has taught you in this passage of Scripture?
How would applying this affect your life and your relationship with the Lord?
Who can you ask to keep you accountable to applying this to your life?
Prayer Time:
Pray for each other in your small group to be faithful take the step(s) that you shared above. Pray for each other and the interactions that they have with those who don’t know Jesus. Pray that God would soften the people’s hearts to what He has for them. Pray that God would give everyone opportunities to share the Gospel.
Staying Missional:
Share spiritual/missional conversations you’ve had where you live, work, and play:
Who did you have a conversation with that took a spiritual/missional turn this week?
What questions did you ask to discover where God is at work in their life, even if they are not aware?
How were you able to share your story of life change or how you have experienced Jesus?
How can you be intentional this week with people where you live, work, and play to have spiritual/missional conversations if the opportunity arises?
Who in your life do you think could be discipleable or open to spiritual/missional conversations?
What’s next?
Discuss the next step for your small group. When will we gather again and what purpose will it fulfill?