Bible Study –Fifth Sunday after Epiphany “Let Your Light Shine”
Share: Your highs (something that made you happy) and lows (something that made you sad) this week with others around you or write them down.
Accept the light we have received and shine it forth! It is not about shining the light in other’s faces, blinding them, but holding the light in open hands.
Called to be salt! Who we choose to be, seasons our community; and what we focus upon, casts light. The call: don’t just do something, Be!
Consider this situation: you are members of a team – might be basketball, soccer, swimming, whatever. Now you have a new coach. What things will not change – what things will? (Obviously, the rules of the game will not change, but the coach will probably have some new twists.)
Opening Prayer: Help us, God, to hear what you invite us to be. Amen.
Please open your Bibles to Matthew 5:13-20 and read or read the scriptures below.
Matthew 5:13-20
Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
The Fulfillment of the Law
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Questions (Answers at the Bottom of the Page):
- Salt may seem kind of ordinary to us; what is it about salt that might have been more important to the people hearing Jesus?
- How is being a person who tries hard to live a Christian life can be “salt” in our community?
- How can we be “light of the world?”
- Who do you know by the way they live their life is a “light” to others?
- What is Jesus saying about the rules in the Bible that these people would all know?
- What are some of these rules that everyone would have known? (Look up Exodus 20: 1-17 or Deuteronomy 5: 6- 21)
- Jesus talks about “the kingdom of Heaven.” What do you think he means?
How would you respond to this definition: The Kingdom of Heaven is a fitness plan with positive things to do and negative things to avoid. What would be some of the things Jesus has been showing us that are good to add to our fitness plan (forgiving, sharing, etc.)
Click here for the young learner’s lesson.
Videos (Click on url)
What Does It Mean To Be Salt and Light? Matthew 5: 13-20 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWcAWooHn24
Book of Matthew Summary: A Complete Animated Overview (Part 1): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Dv4-n6OYGI
Song: This Little Light of Mine - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKkbIZtqhyQ&list=RDcKkbIZtqhyQ&start_radio=1 or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ty9bZXN4uWA&list=RDty9bZXN4uWA&start_radio=1
Activities:
Salt-Glued Art Work: Draw a picture of the earth or click on the following website and make a copy of the earth. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/15129348743660383/ If you want use colored salt, mix salt with food coloring in a Ziploc bag or just use plain salt. Draw with glue on the construction paper, then shake salt over the glue to create a sparkling textured design. This symbolizes being the “salt” that makes a difference. A light to others.
Ten Commandment Cards: look up the Ten Commandments in the Bible (either Deuteronomy 5: 6-21 or Exodus 20: 1-17.) Then take 5 inch by 3 inch cards and write the Commandment on the front. You can abbreviate commandment if you need too. Then brainstorm things Jesus is teaching that could go on the other side of the cards – as being additions to the law. For example: “Be salt!” could go on the other side of 1. No other gods. (Whatever seems good to you, there are no wrong answers.) What about: “Be light?”
Valentine Craft: God’s Love Glow - https://www.eggloentertainment.com/egglo-printable-valentines-day-craft/
Christian Valentine’s Day Craft - https://www.pinterest.com/pin/AeNr7r7qBnqzGYpkHCYFlIh9t17kPhfPQ8DsvMWcMX1ckHYXzms9nYI7B1ttlbkvn-MzG4dvcq_xi7pthOwvs0k/
Salt Of The Earth - Crossword: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/salt-of-the-earth-1
Plugged In and Turned On – Crossword: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/plugged-in-and-turned-on-1
Salt Of The Earth - Word Search: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/salt-of-the-earth-4
Plugged In and Turned On - Word Search: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/plugged-in-and-turned-on-3
Salt Of The Earth – Decoder: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/salt-of-the-earth-2 or https://sermons4kids.com/activities/salt-of-the-earth-secret
Salt Of The Earth – Fill in the Blank: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/salt-of-the-earth-3
Salt Of The Earth – ABC Order: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/salt-of-the-earth-abc
Prayer: Thank you, God, for the salty people, the light-filled people, and the merciful people you place on our path. Amen.
Answers to the Questions Above:
- Salt may seem kind of ordinary to us; what is it about salt that might have been more important to the people hearing Jesus? (They did not have the wonderful array of bottled sauces we find in our cupboards. Salt was a seasoning even the poorest people would have had.)
- How is being a person who tries hard to live a Christian life can be “salt” in our community? (The community would be better because these people were a part of the community. These people might cause other people to choose to live better lives.)
- How can we be “light of the world?” (Being the kind of people others look up to.)
- Who do you know by the way they live their life is a “light” to others?
- What is Jesus saying about the rules in the Bible that these people would all know? (The rules still stand.)
- What are some of these rules that everyone would have known? (Look up Exodus 20: 1-17 or Deuteronomy 5: 6- 21) The Ten Commandments!
- Jesus talks about “the kingdom of Heaven.” What do you think he means? (He is trying to help people see that heaven is, yes, where we will be after this life, but that it is also here, right now and God is with us now.)
