The Christian and the Social Order PDF  | Print |

For Microsoft Word download of this discussion guide, click here.

Discussion Guide on August 16, 2009 Messages

(To be discussed on August 23)

Message Title

"The Christian and the Social Order" - Matthew 5:13-16

Message Outline:

Big Idea:  As Christians we have a responsibility to our culture and our society.

Baptist Faith and Message:  All Christians are under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ supreme in our own lives and in human society. Means and methods used for the improvement of society and the establishment of righteousness among men can be truly and permanently helpful only when they are rooted in the regeneration of the individual by the saving grace of God in Jesus Christ. In the spirit of Christ, Christians should oppose racism, every form of greed, selfishness, and vice, and all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality, and pornography. We should work to provide for the orphaned, the needy, the abused, the aged, the helpless, and the sick. We should speak on behalf of the unborn and contend for the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death. Every Christian should seek to bring industry, government, and society as a whole under the sway of the principles of righteousness, truth, and brotherly love. In order to promote these ends Christians should be ready to work with all men of good will in any good cause, always being careful to act in the spirit of love without compromising their loyalty to Christ and His truth.

Sermon Outline:

How can we be salt and light in our culture?

  • I) Purify the society in which we live to create a thirst for God. (13)
  • II) Reflect the light of Christ in a spiritually dark world. (14)

Leading the Session Helps/Discussion Questions

  • According to the passage, what are we to the earth and the world? (Salt and Light)
  • What does it mean to be the salt of the earth? What would the audience have thought about when they heard Jesus speak about salt in verse 13? (Salt was valuable. It was the only way to preserve things.) So what was Jesus trying to tell us? How can we live out point number one above to "purify the society in which we live to create a thirst for God"? What is your personal responsibility? What is our Church's responsibility?
  • What does it mean to be the light of the world? Would you agree that our culture is getting darker? Why? (It's getting darker because of the absence of light.) What are some examples of the darkness? (One is the absence of a belief in absolute truth. Larry made a good point that we need to understand. If someone says that there is no such thing as absolute truth, they have just made a truth claim, which by there own statement, cannot be absolute.)
  • How can we live out point number two above to "reflect the light of Christ in a spiritually dark world"? What is your personal responsibility? What is our Church's responsibility?
  • Do we (the Body of Christ) really believe we have the answer to the problems in our culture? Larry said, "If you don't believe you have the Answer, maybe you don't know Jesus." Do you agree with that statement?
  • What did Larry say the world needs? (Love and Truth) What can we do to give it to them? Is there one person in your life that needs love and the Truth? Identify them right now, write their name in the back of your Bible, commit to pray for them, and commit to love them unconditionally and share the Truth with them when the time is right.

Application

  • What one thing can you do to be salt and light in this culture? Is there something you need to get start doing? Is there something you need to stop doing?