THE SALT OF THE EARTH

Matthew 5:13

Introduction

1. Salt had many important uses during the Savior’s day.

a. Sacrifices were often rubbed with salt before being offered

to God.

b. Bodies of newborn babies were rubbed with salt for health

reasons.

c. Salt was packed into cavities to ease the pain of a toothache.

2. Salt is very important and useful today.

I. Salt Preserves

A. When rubbed on meat, salt stops the spread of decay.

B. As Christians we are expected to stop the spread of moral

and ethical decay.

C. Imagine a society void of any Christian influence.

1. According to the Thomas Jefferson Research Institute,

90 percent of what was taught in school in 1776 was of

a religious or moral foundation.

2. In 1926 that number dropped to 6 percent.

3. In 1965 the percentage was so small that it could not be

measured.

4. The Supreme Court’s recent decision on sodomy

extracts Christianity from our landscape.

II. Salt Burns

A. Salt in the eyes or an open wound causes a terrible sting.

B. As Christians we will have to be irritating to the world.

C. Read Galatians 4:16.

III. Salt Produces Thirst

A. Nothing will trigger thirst like salty potato chips or

popcorn.

B. The way we live before others should create a thirst in

them to learn more about the Christian life.

July 6, 2003 (p.m.)