Salt and Light
Become a Light to the World
“What about everyone else?”
PART 1 — THE KICKOFF
Have you ever started a new job where nobody gave you a clear job description? You show up on day one, ready to work, but you have no idea what you're actually supposed to be doing. It's confusing, a little awkward, and you probably spend most of your time just trying to look busy.
We all crave purpose, and we want to know what our "job" is here on earth. The good news is that God doesn't leave us guessing. He gives every Christian a special role and a divine job description, and it's not about blending in or staying quiet.
But before we unpack that, let's get into our work history: what was your very first paying job? And what job did you have that you were especially good at?
ICE BREAKER QUESTION
PART 2 — LET’S GET INTO IT
Let’s get into it and become a light to the world. So far, we’ve considered our changed relationship with Christ and with his church, but what about everyone else? What’s our new purpose in this world?
In his most famous sermon, Jesus gives us two powerful images for our new job description, and both are about being noticeably different. First, he calls us "the salt of the earth" (Matt. 5:13). What good is salt if it isn't salty? Its whole purpose is to bring flavor and preservation to what you add it to. If we, as Christians, completely blend in and lose our distinctiveness, Jesus says we become as useless as flavorless salt — good for nothing. Our new relationship with the world calls us to stand out as his followers.
Then, Jesus says we’re "the light of the world" (Matt. 5:14-16). And he points out the obvious: you don't light a lamp just to hide it under a basket. The whole reason light shines in the dark is so people can see. He tells us to let our light — our good works — shine before others, not for our glory, but so that they will see our actions and give glory back to our Father in heaven. It’s not about us, but again, we’re challenged to stand out as his messengers on earth
God sends us into the world to reflect his light in the darkness.
THE BIG IDEA
You may have noticed that the Bible can be quite blunt about our changed relationship with the world. Like when Peter says: the time for living like everyone else is officially over! We’ve already spent enough of our lives doing "what the Gentiles want to do" — chasing after sinful passions, living for wild parties, and running with the wrong crowd (1 Peter 4:3). Because our purpose has radically shifted, heads-up — when we stop participating, our old friends will be surprised and may even speak badly of us for no longer joining them like we used to (1 Peter 4:4). So, get ready for people to notice your changed life and don’t let their comments or treatment discourage you!
Are there any relationships you fear might change significantly when they learn about your commitment to Christ? How so?
REACH OUT QUESTION
PART 3 — INTO THE BOOK
Following Jesus really does make us different. It’s life changing! And that change can create real tension in our relationships. The Apostle Peter understood this struggle well, and he wrote to believers who were trying to figure out how to live as "sojourners and exiles" in a world that didn't always understand them. In his letter, he lays out our new identity as "living stones" and a "royal priesthood," called out of darkness to proclaim God's marvelous light. Read 1 Peter 2:4-17 together paying close attention to the practical instructions he gives for living honorably among those who don't yet believe. After reading, take some time to discuss it.
How should we interact with the world as his priests?
TALK ABOUT THE READING
PART 4 — GOING DEEPER
Ready to go deeper? When you hear the word “priest,” you might picture some highly-trained religious leader in a special robe. Or maybe your mind goes back to those Old Testament rituals and practices. But in the New Testament, “priest” is the job description for every single believer. Including you, if you follow Christ! It isn’t about special outfits or animal sacrifices — it's a calling that reshapes our entire lives. So what does it mean for us to be a “royal priesthood” today?
Priests today offer “spiritual sacrifices” (1 Peter 2:5). Since Christ’s death covered our sin once and for all, how can we respond to such a gift? The greatest offering we can bring is our own life. Paul urges us to present our bodies as “a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God,” which he calls our true worship (Rom. 12:1). It means willingly climbing onto the altar and giving God everything — our time, our talents, our hearts, and our minds. God doesn't want our leftovers or afterthoughts. He wants our best.
A life like that requires holiness. Now, holiness isn't about acting "holier-than-thou," it means being "set apart" from the world for God's special purposes. It’s an inward reality that shapes our outward actions. Unlike the Pharisees who only cleaned the outside of the cup, our washing starts within (Matt. 23:25). This set-apart life is what gives us a reason for the hope we carry, a hope we should always be prepared to explain to anyone who asks (1 Peter 3:15).
So if we are set apart, what are we set apart for? We’re called to be God’s representatives to the world. Peter says we are a “chosen race, a royal priesthood ... that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). We’re meant to be the light of the world, letting our good works shine so that others might see them and glorify God (Matt. 5:16). This means we also act as intercessors, praying for the world around us and showing compassion to the lost.
As priests served daily before God (Heb. 10:11), the main way we represent God is through service. Jesus set the ultimate example, teaching that in God's kingdom, greatness is found in becoming a servant to all (Mark 9:35). It’s one of the great paradoxes of our faith. Whether it’s in our jobs, our homes, or our communities, we’re called to do our work heartily “as for the Lord” (Col. 3:23). It’s what God has always desired — not empty ritual, but a heart of “steadfast love and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6). Being God's priest isn't a passive title; it’s an active calling to bless the world in his name.
Do you see how Christians have a special purpose in the world?
THE BIG QUESTION
PART 5 — WRAPUP
THE CHALLENGE
Our purpose in life as God’s servants leaves us looking around at the people in our “circle” for ways to bless them. So, this week, tell someone you care about something important you've learned in these discussions. As you start the next conversation, take a moment to talk about how that went.
NEXT TIME
We’re nearing the end of these conversations, so in our final discussion from this Square One series, we’ll pause and reflect on where we’ve come and consider what’s next on the road ahead. Jesus said that a disciple who is “fully trained will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40). But how do we train under him, become more like him, and grow closer to him? As we’ll see, it’s a lifelong journey that starts whenever you’re ready to go “all-in” with him!
CLOSING BLESSING
But until then, may God’s name be glorified in us to the ends of all the earth!