the sermon this week

Sharing your life mission everyday
Probably everyone in the room here has had their lives and faith influenced in some way by the writer CS Lewis, throughout his teens and twenties he was a committed atheist, what led him to change his ways?
No single person persuaded Lewis to trust Jesus, rather it was the combined influence of many people through books, music, personal encounters that made a difference.
In surprised by joy he describes the effect of meeting sane responsible adults who believed in a world, behind or around the material world. He enjoyed GK Chesterton’s intelligence and humour, despite his faith. he was alarmed and fascinated when he met men who were much like himself but were actually “attempting strict veracity, chastity or devotion to duty. Lewis was neither honest nor pure, but he found himself respecting those who were committed to these traits. For CS Lewis the character of ordinary people proved more effective than hearing countless sermons.
What Jesus is saying in this passage is that our conduct in daily life should be different from everyone else, we as Christians, believers in Jesus should show who we belong to through our kindness, servanthood, courage and integrity, people are watching to see if what we believe really does make a difference in our lives
The light of the world - The light of the world often denotes the sun, Joh_11:9. The sun renders objects visible, shows their form, their nature, their beauties, their deformities. It is normally applied to Jesus because he is, in the spiritual, moral world, what the sun is in the natural world. The apostles and all Christians, are lights of the world, because they, by their instructions and example, show what God requires, what is the way of duty, peace, and happiness the way that leads to heaven.
You are the light of the world, Mat_5:14.we are to be useful, and beautiful. All Christians are light in the Lord (Eph_5:8), and must shine as lights (Phi_2:15), Jesus call himself the Light of the world (Joh_8:12), and we are workers together with him, the light is sweet, it is welcome; the light of the first day of the world was so, when it shone out of darkness; so is the morning light of every day; so is the gospel, and those that spread it, to all people. The world is in darkness, Jesus raised us his disciples to shine in it; and , from him we borrow and derive our light. Without him we can do nothing
Francis of Assisi “preach the gospel at all times, when necessary use words” Not minimizing the need to speak about Jesus, What he was saying is all talk and no action is unconvincing. We need to be living demonstrations of the gospel; this is why Jesus compares each one of us to light in a dark world.
1. As the lights of the world, we are well known and noticeable, we have many eyes upon us. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. We the Disciples of Jesus, who are forward and zealous in his service, become remarkable, and are taken notice of as beacons. We are the signs (Isa_7:18), men wondered at (Zec_3:8); all our neighbours have any eye upon us. Some admire us, commend us, rejoice in us, and study to imitate us; others envy us, hate us, censure us, and study to drag us down. We are concerned therefore to walk vigilantly, because of our observers; we are a display to the world, and must take heed of every thing that looks wrong, because we are so much looked at. The disciples of Jesus were obscure men before he called them, but the Spirit he put upon them distinguished them, and as preachers of the gospel they made a difference; and though they were rebuked and abused for it by some, they were respected for it by others, advanced the kingdom of God and spoke the words of Jesus to many and they honoured him and Jesus will honour those that honour him.
2. As the lights of the world, we are intended to illuminate and give light to others (Mat_5:15),(1.) we are set up as lights. Jesus has lighted these candles, they shall not be put under a bowl, The churches are the candlesticks in which these lights are placed, that their light may be shine even further; and the gospel is so strong a light, and carries with it so much of its own evidence, that, like a city on a hill, it cannot be hid, it cannot but be from God, to all except those who do not willfully shut their eyes against it. It will give light to all that are in the house, to all that will draw near to it, and come where it is. Those, to whom it does not give light, they turn away and they lose out! 2.) we must shine as lights, [1.] By our words The knowledge we have, we must communicate for the good of others; not put it under a bowl, but spread it. The talent must not be buried, but traded with. The disciples of Jesus must not hide themselves up in privacy and obscurity, under pretence of contemplation, modesty, or self-preservation, but, as they have received the gift, share that gift with others, [2.] By our good living. We must be burning and shining lights (Joh_5:35); must give evidence, in our whole lives, that we are indeed followers of Jesus, Jam_3:13. we must be people to whom others turn for instruction, direction, quickening, and comfort, Job_29:11.
First, How our light must shine - by doing such good works as men may see, and may approve of; such works of good report among them that do not know Jesus, and as will therefore give them cause to think well of Christianity. We must do good works that may be seen to the benefit of others, but not that they may be seen to build up our own pride; we are to pray in secret, and what lies between God and ourselves, must be kept to ourselves; but that which is of itself open and obvious to the sight of all, we must work to enhance our faith, and be praiseworthy, Phi_4:8. Those around us must not only hear our good words, but see our good works; that they may be convinced that Jesus is more than a name, or a swear word and that we do not only talk the talk but we walk the walk as well.
Secondly, For what reason our light must shine - “That those who see your good works may be brought, not to glorify you (which was what the Pharisees aimed at, and it spoiled all their performances), but to glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Note, The glory of God is the great thing we must aim at in every thing we do in faith, 1Pe_4:11.In this centre the lines of all our actions must meet. We must not only endeavor to glorify God ourselves, but we must do all we can to bring others to glorify him. The sight of our good works will do this, by giving them, 1. With things for praise. “Let them see your good works, that they may see the power of God's grace in you, and may thank him for it, and give him the glory of it, who has given such power.” 2. With motives for change. “Let them see your good works, that they may be convinced of the truth and goodness of the Christian faith, so they may be provoked to imitate your good works, and so may glorify God.” Note, The holy, regular, and exemplary conversation of the saints, may do much towards the conversion of sinners; those who are unacquainted with Christianity, may be brought to know what it is. Examples teach. And those who are against it, may be brought in love with it, and thus there is a winning value in a godly conversation and a godly life
Practicals So how do we let our light shine in the world? We are the presence of God in the world, others should be looking at us and seeing what God is like, they should see the reality of his goodness, wisdom love, graciousness, generosity, justice and more beside! Our acts of righteousness are not the things we expect to show off, our prayer, our fasting our giving to the poor, these practices are meant for us (Matthew 6) they don’t impress those outside of the church, the good deeds of faith that draw unbelievers in are demonstrations of character, acts that show courage, kindness, generosity, love. Remaining tenderhearted and brave when we face a challenge, treating a mean and rude person with kindness, honesty at work shows our light to the world, esp where cutting corners is common.
Light bearing behaviour emerges from those who take time to reflect on their own sins, to forgive others, who have hurt them, to notice people’s needs and to fill their minds with the goodness of God, that is the point of reading the bible to fill your mind with God’s goodness, read about how Jesus acted. Pay attention to how you behave and confess your sin when necessary, allow your heart to be moved by others, have someone who you can share these things with.
Our light dims when we are to busy or stressed to fill our minds with God, to notice others or to see how we are acting, it is very hard to be gracious when we are rushed, for many of us the decision to cut back on those things without an eternal purpose is the best thing we can do, that includes church activities!
Non Christians will take notice when they see that you relate to people in a different way to the ways most people relate, you and your family can be light by inviting others into your life and living life before them, take time to see where the needs are and go out and serve, find a project and run with it. Throw a party, your house group, your guild, your Yorkie, your Sunday club, invite those not yet Christians to come along to join you, don’t worry that the kids are not perfect, or the kitchen is a mess let them see what it is to deal with all that in a gracious way.
Pray for people, it is a great way to begin to care for them! As you pray for them you begin to see the needs they have and how the gospel can meet those needs, prayer changes things spiritually God begins to soften hearts through prayer, yours and theirs, you know at least one person who needs to know Jesus, write them down on the sheet in front of you commit to praying for them once a day.
All these things are practical ways to showing God’s light to the world.



Conclusion- seat belt! Explain background then say lets be first to make things normality, CS Lewis was changed by the people and the power of God, imagine what will happen with those who see your godly life and praise God for it?