We welcome you to Stone's Hill today!

A typical Stone's Hill service has:

* music (so feel free to sing out);

* some announcements (things that are upcoming that you can be a part of);

* a message out of the Bible (God speaks to us through his Word);

* and an opportunity for you to respond to the message (either immediately in the case of a decision that needs to be made OR in the future as you live out the message in your daily life.)

So relax and enjoy your morning! We're so glad you are here!

Message Text: Matthew 5:13-16
Jesus explains what our relationship to the world should look like. Jesus used two common metaphors here. Jesus uses the metaphor of salt because its properties and usefulness provide an excellent analogy to the believer - the believer who slows down the process of cultural decay. Second, Jesus uses the metaphor of light because the world is filled with darkness and believers are a light that shines into the darkness. Today, we'll focus on the analogy of salt.
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First, Christians Like Salt Are Of Infinite Value.
Second, Christians Like Salt Act As A Preservative.
Third, Christians Like Salt Are to Promote Thirst.
Fourth, Christians Like Salt Can Lose Their Usefulness.
Fifth, Christians Like Salt Must Have Contact To Have An Influence.
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John Stott, the late Rector Emeritus of All Soul’s Langham Place, once said this in the USA: “You know what your own country is like. I'm a visitor, and I wouldn't presume to speak about America. But I know what Great Britain is like. I know something about the growing dishonesty, corruption, immorality, violence, pornography, the diminishing respect for human life, and the increase in abortion. Whose fault is it? Let me put it like this: if the house is dark at night, there is no sense in blaming the house. That's what happens when the sun goes down. The question to ask is, "Where is the light?" If meat goes bad, there is no sense in blaming the meat. That is what happens when the bacteria are allowed to breed unchecked. The question to ask is, "Where is the salt?" If society becomes corrupt like a dark night or stinking fish, there's no sense in blaming society. That's what happens when fallen human society is left to itself and human evil is unrestrained and unchecked. The question to ask is "Where is the church?" (John Stott, adapted by Adrian Dieleman, The Salt of the Earth).
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Salt hinders the process of decay and light dispels the darkness. Two concerns Jesus has: the salt being contaminated, and the light being hidden. And when that happens, not only is the believer useless but the world gets darker. You are salt. You are light. This is your identity.