River of Life Church
Pastor Greg Temke
www.rolfamily.com
PASS THE SALT!
Philippians 1:27-30
Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” (NKJV)
What we believe determines how we act and react.
1. CONSISTENT CONDUCT IS EXPECTED FROM A CHRISTIAN! Vs. 27
- Conduct that is the opposite of the world. We are supposed to be different.”Conduct” = [descriptive of a citizen].
Philippians 3:20, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Ephesians 4:32, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Colossians 3:12, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
Colossians 4:5-6, “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
Ephesians 4:1, “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called.”
Q – Do we behave as we believe?
2. TEAMWORK IS NEEDED AMONG CHRISTIANS! Vs. 27
- The enemy is always happy to see internal divisions. Failure is an inside job.
John 17: 21, “That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.”
1 Corinthians 12:12–13 “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”
Romans 12:4–5 “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”
3. CONFIDENCE FROM THE CHRISTIAN SHOWS DURING HARD TIMES. Vs. 28-30
- Paul says that how we behave when under fire is a “sign” of our faith.
John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
II Timothy 3:12, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
- Our faith increases exponentially when we USE our faith during hard times.
Psalm 46:1: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble”.
Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Isaiah 41:10: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
A CHRISTIAN SHOULD EXHIBIT CONSISTENCY, TEAMWORK, AND CONFIDENCE.