SERMON OUTLINE Sunday Sept 13th, 2020
You Make A Difference – Pastor David Cooke
Matthew 5:13-16
• The Ripple Effect
Matthew 5:13–16
• You Are …….
A. Who are you? Exodus 3:13–14, John 18:4–6
B. What are you?
C. Whose voice is shaping and telling your story?
• You Are the salt of the earth…
A. Preserve and Flavor
B. What Good Is…?
• You Are the light of the world…
• In the Hebrew mind, light and truth were synonyms
• Light dispels darkness
• What Good Is…..
– Light that is unseen
a) Light’s on…covered up.
b) Remember…You Are the light of the world.
c) But we choose if we are letting that light shine.
• IFTTT (If This Then That)
– Live Out Loud
a) Surrender – Follow – Listen – Do
b) Good Deeds
c) My Commitment To Encourage

– Point People To Jesus (Matthew 5:8)
As Followers of Jesus, we have the calling to be our best and live
our best so we can be the greatest blessing and point people to
Jesus.
• You Make A Difference
– Our Prayer, The Lord’s Prayer
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom
come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this
day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have
forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver
us from evil.” (Matthew 6:9–15, ESV)
Questions for Reflection and Action
1. What is a story in your life where you have had a ripple
effect? Where another person’s life has had a ripple effect
on you?
2. What are parts of your old story that you have to challenge
with God’s story of your life?
3. Where is God inviting you to be salt and light in your world?
What will you have to do to be that person?
4. How will you point people to Jesus when they take notice of
your good deeds?
5. Start and end your day with the Lord’s Prayer this week.
Life Group Study Guide
We meet in Life Groups to: Connect with God and each other. Connect the
Bible to life. Connect with the community through serving together.
ICE BREAKER: Many will recall the 1996 hit movie, “That Thing You Do!” about
a ’60’s pop-rock band’s journey to fame and their eventual break-up. Below is
an exchange between two of the band members:
Jimmy: Diane Dane told me never trust a label. And I’m beginning to believe her.
Lenny: Well, sure. I mean, come on. They put us up in a first class hotel, all expenses paid, while our record climbs the charts; bunch of lyin’ snakes.
Jimmy: Sorry, I guess I’m just alone in my principles.
Lenny: Oh come on. Oh, there he goes off to his room to write that hit song
“Alone in my principles.”
The above dialogue pokes fun at “Jimmy” who didn’t want to be a “sell-out” in
his art because he had “principles”. While this is posed in a comical manner, it
brings up interesting points.
What is the value of having principles and sticking to them? How have you been
challenged because of your principles?
PRAYER: God is worthy to be sought – take time to pray together in your group.
SERMON SERIES: “Unshakeable: Living The Words of Jesus”
In this sermon series we explore how to live according to Jesus’ teachings in
Matthew chapters 5-7. This is the Gospel of the Kingdom. It is something we
are not only to know, but to do, to live. And when we do that, we are
immoveable, unshakeable because the foundation is Jesus and he is the Rock
of our salvation that is immoveable and unshakeable.
THIS WEEK: “You Make A Difference” Matthew 5:13-16
Last week we kicked off the series exploring the conclusion to Jesus’ teaching
in Matthew 7:24-29, which sets up the entire series. We started at the end so
that we would grasp that what Jesus taught is not simply something for you
to know, it is the essence of a person who follows Jesus, a person who
lives for the Kingdom of God.
Watch last weekend’s sermon here: http://www.coldspringschurch.net/sermons.html.
EXPLORING TOGETHER
There is value in sharing perspectives about the weekend message in
community. With dialogue around God’s truths, perspective broadens and impacts transformation.
1. What is something from this weekend’s message that stood out to you? How
so?
TAKING IT HOME
We are not meant to just let life happen to us, conforming rather than transforming (Romans 12:1-2). We can choose to allow God’s transforming power into
our life.
2. When Jesus used the metaphors of salt and light, they had specific significance to the people of his day. What contemporary metaphors might he use to
get the same message across in our day?
3. What is a twenty-first-century Christian response to sinful behavior in the
workplace or social network or one’s extended family? How do we stand up for
kingdom values? A pizza delivery company (in New Zealand) distributed condoms to local home letterboxes as part of its advertising campaign of their
“meat lover” pizzas. What would a “salt” or “light” response be to such a campaign?
4. What examples do we have (or know of) where Christian “salt” or “light” has
helped change a situation?
WEEKLY REFLECTION
At Cold Springs we define a disciple of Jesus as someone who follows Jesus
in an ever deepening relationship of love and helps others do the same. We
seek to live out of the overflow of a Jesus-trusting life, BEING restored and
strengthened.
5. Why do you think Jesus followers, who seek to live by biblical values, are
increasingly regarded as narrow and intolerant?
6. How does the above question challenge you? What will help you trust and
lean into Jesus more?
Reference: The Essence: Unpacking Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (2020). Winslade, B. Wipf & Stock
Pub.