WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.820 My name is Matthew Capone, and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church, 00:00:05.820 --> 00:00:08.359 and it's my joy to bring God's Word to you today. 00:00:09.320 --> 00:00:12.439 A special welcome if you are new or visiting with us. 00:00:12.500 --> 00:00:17.740 We're glad that you're here, and we're glad that you're here not because we're trying to fill seats, 00:00:17.800 --> 00:00:20.780 but because we're following Jesus together as one community. 00:00:21.179 --> 00:00:24.879 And as we follow Jesus together, we become convinced there's no one so good. 00:00:24.960 --> 00:00:28.500 They don't need God's grace, and no one so bad that they can't have it, 00:00:28.500 --> 00:00:33.880 which is why we come back week after week to hear what God has to say to us in His Word. 00:00:34.719 --> 00:00:41.679 We are in the middle of a break from the book of Judges to focus on our Grit and Grace Generosity Initiative. 00:00:41.880 --> 00:00:46.560 Now, when you hear the phrase generosity initiative, of course, at some level, this is about money, 00:00:46.679 --> 00:00:50.039 but I have told you many times our church is not about money. It's about a mission. 00:00:50.760 --> 00:00:56.359 We just happen to need money to fuel that mission, and so what we are talking about really is not money. 00:00:56.359 --> 00:01:02.359 It's about what God has for us as a church and where we want to go in being faithful to His commands, 00:01:02.439 --> 00:01:07.519 to His vision, or as we talked about last week, being faithful to the commander's intent. 00:01:08.239 --> 00:01:13.060 This is our last week, though, so we will go return next week to the book of Judges, 00:01:13.180 --> 00:01:15.060 and I know some of you have been waiting. 00:01:15.760 --> 00:01:20.239 We will be looking at Jael taking a tent peg to the head of Sisera. 00:01:20.239 --> 00:01:24.780 So, the time is soon upon us. 00:01:25.839 --> 00:01:29.379 As our last Sunday, though, of the Grit and Grace Generosity Initiative, 00:01:29.560 --> 00:01:34.039 we are receiving commitment cards during our final hymn this morning. 00:01:34.140 --> 00:01:39.599 If you need a commitment card, this is your time to raise a hand for Sam Ashmore to give you one. 00:01:40.879 --> 00:01:43.659 And Sam will run around and make sure everyone who has one has one. 00:01:43.659 --> 00:01:50.079 We are returning to the same passage we began with back at the end of September. 00:01:50.319 --> 00:01:53.219 We are looking at Matthew chapter 5. 00:01:53.439 --> 00:01:57.120 When we looked at it before, we talked about the church as an embassy, 00:01:57.280 --> 00:02:00.500 as we talked about church being a city set upon a hill. 00:02:01.179 --> 00:02:04.219 This is one of the richest passages in all of Scripture, 00:02:04.379 --> 00:02:07.420 and even having looked at it in September and looking at it today, 00:02:07.459 --> 00:02:09.500 we're still just kind of scratching the surface. 00:02:10.120 --> 00:02:12.599 So, we're going to zero in on a couple things this morning, 00:02:12.599 --> 00:02:16.159 and once again, I'm going to say something, but not everything. 00:02:17.000 --> 00:02:20.079 We're going to zero in on letting our light shine, 00:02:20.159 --> 00:02:22.039 and we'll focus on two things in particular. 00:02:22.240 --> 00:02:24.359 We're going to look, and these are our two points, by the way. 00:02:24.819 --> 00:02:27.099 We're going to look at verse 14, you are the light. 00:02:27.519 --> 00:02:29.879 Verse 16, let your light shine. 00:02:30.759 --> 00:02:32.240 So, we're going to talk about two things. 00:02:32.699 --> 00:02:33.259 You are the light. 00:02:33.919 --> 00:02:34.740 Let your light shine. 00:02:35.639 --> 00:02:38.539 With that, I invite you to turn with me in God's Word. 00:02:38.680 --> 00:02:40.659 You can turn in your Bible. 00:02:40.799 --> 00:02:42.120 You can turn on your phone. 00:02:42.120 --> 00:02:44.020 You can turn in your worship guide. 00:02:44.319 --> 00:02:46.920 No matter where you turn, remember that this is God's Word, 00:02:47.120 --> 00:02:50.200 and God tells us that His Word is more precious than gold, 00:02:50.860 --> 00:02:53.640 even the finest gold, and it is sweeter than honey, 00:02:54.219 --> 00:02:56.500 even honey that comes straight from the honeycomb. 00:02:56.980 --> 00:03:01.500 And so, that's why we read now Matthew 5, starting at verse 14. 00:03:01.500 --> 00:03:04.860 You are the light of the world. 00:03:05.639 --> 00:03:08.319 A city set upon a hill cannot be hidden. 00:03:09.120 --> 00:03:13.060 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, 00:03:13.400 --> 00:03:15.539 and it gives light to all in the house. 00:03:16.280 --> 00:03:19.500 In the same way, let your light shine before others, 00:03:19.719 --> 00:03:25.979 so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. 00:03:25.979 --> 00:03:30.719 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's Word. 00:03:30.719 --> 00:03:38.759 Our Father in heaven, we do thank you for Jesus' words, 00:03:38.840 --> 00:03:40.079 that He is the light of the world. 00:03:40.699 --> 00:03:45.500 And we thank you that you shine that light brightly through your Word. 00:03:45.500 --> 00:03:48.060 Lord, we ask that you would do that this morning, 00:03:48.340 --> 00:03:54.000 that you would help us to understand, Father, to believe, to obey. 00:03:55.060 --> 00:03:57.659 Most of all, that you would show us Jesus Christ, 00:03:58.039 --> 00:04:01.840 that our love and affection for Him would be greater, 00:04:02.639 --> 00:04:05.060 that our reverence and awe for Him would increase, 00:04:05.639 --> 00:04:08.659 and that would result in us following Him and obeying Him. 00:04:09.000 --> 00:04:11.479 We confess that we can't do these things on our own. 00:04:11.560 --> 00:04:12.219 We need your help. 00:04:12.219 --> 00:04:14.780 And so we ask for that help by your Spirit, 00:04:15.060 --> 00:04:18.480 that you would speak to us clearly in your Word. 00:04:19.100 --> 00:04:21.740 We thank you that we don't have to worry this morning 00:04:21.740 --> 00:04:24.199 about whether we've earned those things or deserved them. 00:04:24.579 --> 00:04:26.000 We know that we haven't, 00:04:26.339 --> 00:04:29.040 and so we simply ask for them in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. 00:04:29.500 --> 00:04:29.720 Amen. 00:04:33.500 --> 00:04:38.639 There was a man named John Godfrey Sachs in the 19th century 00:04:38.639 --> 00:04:43.599 who is an American poet who is centered for his life mostly in New England, 00:04:43.599 --> 00:04:48.120 and he is famous, or at least his one poem in particular is famous 00:04:48.120 --> 00:04:53.759 because it tells the story of six different blind men exploring an elephant. 00:04:54.639 --> 00:04:56.519 These six blind men are trying to figure out, 00:04:56.659 --> 00:05:00.240 just by touching the elephant, what exactly is going on. 00:05:00.300 --> 00:05:04.120 So the first one touches the elephant's side and feels, you know, firm, 00:05:04.120 --> 00:05:07.540 and so he says, well, this elephant, it's kind of like a wall. 00:05:08.459 --> 00:05:11.680 Now the second man grabs the tusk of the elephant. 00:05:11.819 --> 00:05:13.519 He said, you know, honestly, to me, 00:05:13.560 --> 00:05:18.079 I think this elephant is kind of like a spear actually, more spear than wall. 00:05:18.160 --> 00:05:20.519 The third one grabs the trunk of the elephant and says, 00:05:20.600 --> 00:05:23.259 no, actually the elephant is kind of like a snake, okay? 00:05:24.259 --> 00:05:25.860 The fourth one grabs the knee, 00:05:25.959 --> 00:05:29.819 and he says this knee is so firm that this elephant must be maybe more like a tree. 00:05:29.819 --> 00:05:34.439 The fifth one grabs the ear and realizes how foolish everyone else has been 00:05:34.439 --> 00:05:37.719 because actually the elephant is like a fan, right? 00:05:38.300 --> 00:05:41.219 And then the sixth one, though, has an even different insight, 00:05:41.360 --> 00:05:46.139 grabs the tail and says the elephant is, no, it's actually like a rope. 00:05:47.680 --> 00:05:49.740 And then Godfrey Sachs closes, 00:05:50.439 --> 00:05:54.279 applies his poem at the very end to people who are discussing theology 00:05:54.279 --> 00:05:57.420 and basically says these folks who are debating all these things, 00:05:57.500 --> 00:05:59.259 they don't really know what they're talking about. 00:05:59.259 --> 00:06:00.639 They're missing the big picture. 00:06:00.920 --> 00:06:02.740 They see this small piece. 00:06:02.819 --> 00:06:03.839 They think it's the hole. 00:06:04.240 --> 00:06:06.000 No, it's actually this elephant. 00:06:06.199 --> 00:06:10.659 And so he uses it to throw religious people under the bus 00:06:10.659 --> 00:06:14.519 as we talk about our ideas of what God is and does. 00:06:15.019 --> 00:06:18.599 Some have even taken this idea and applied it to different religions 00:06:18.599 --> 00:06:20.500 and said, well, all these different religions, 00:06:20.659 --> 00:06:23.959 you know, they're different perspectives on the same thing. 00:06:24.539 --> 00:06:26.360 They're all actually similar, right? 00:06:26.360 --> 00:06:29.000 They're pointing to one thing. 00:06:30.159 --> 00:06:33.399 Jesus here tells us the exact opposite. 00:06:34.019 --> 00:06:38.579 Verse 14, he says, you are the light. 00:06:39.779 --> 00:06:42.560 And so we're going to talk about a couple things at the very beginning here. 00:06:42.639 --> 00:06:45.719 First, I want to focus on the word the and then on the word light. 00:06:46.259 --> 00:06:49.560 He says, you are the light. 00:06:50.300 --> 00:06:51.199 That's what he doesn't say. 00:06:51.259 --> 00:06:53.879 He doesn't say you are a light. 00:06:53.879 --> 00:06:58.079 He doesn't say you are one way of many ways. 00:06:58.719 --> 00:07:00.240 No, this is exclusive. 00:07:00.959 --> 00:07:05.360 One problem with the story of the elephant that observers have pointed out 00:07:05.360 --> 00:07:07.860 is that to be able to tell that story, 00:07:08.259 --> 00:07:12.959 I must be so enlightened that I am the only one who can see. 00:07:12.959 --> 00:07:15.799 So everyone else is blind, right? 00:07:15.859 --> 00:07:17.359 But I have this omniscience. 00:07:17.620 --> 00:07:19.199 I can see the whole picture. 00:07:19.500 --> 00:07:21.739 In other words, I'm criticizing everyone else 00:07:21.739 --> 00:07:25.359 because I must be on this higher level, this higher plane. 00:07:25.659 --> 00:07:29.399 I'm the only man who can see in a world of blind men. 00:07:30.399 --> 00:07:34.199 Another critique, though, comes from a pastor named Kevin DeYoung 00:07:34.199 --> 00:07:36.639 who wrote a book called Taking God as His Word, 00:07:36.699 --> 00:07:38.000 and he points out another issue. 00:07:38.099 --> 00:07:41.179 He says, what if the elephant could talk? 00:07:42.299 --> 00:07:45.659 And the elephant actually described to these blind men 00:07:45.659 --> 00:07:47.339 what was happening, what was going on. 00:07:47.599 --> 00:07:49.939 If that was the case, the elephant would be able to say, 00:07:50.060 --> 00:07:51.939 no, I'm actually an elephant. 00:07:52.339 --> 00:07:53.939 This is the reality of the world. 00:07:54.099 --> 00:07:57.139 This is how everything comes together. 00:07:57.139 --> 00:08:00.759 Of course, Kevin DeYoung there is saying, 00:08:01.479 --> 00:08:04.579 Jesus is like the elephant that talks. 00:08:05.319 --> 00:08:08.939 It is not simply that there's all these blind people 00:08:08.939 --> 00:08:12.539 grasping around trying to figure out the nature of the world. 00:08:12.919 --> 00:08:16.560 No, God has actually spoken to us clearly in His Word, 00:08:16.740 --> 00:08:20.759 and He has outlined that He is the way and the only way. 00:08:21.860 --> 00:08:27.000 It is a nice story, but it actually makes for bad philosophy. 00:08:28.139 --> 00:08:32.519 Why does Jesus say, you are the light? 00:08:32.679 --> 00:08:35.639 Why is Christianity the only way? 00:08:37.080 --> 00:08:38.240 There's a variety of reasons. 00:08:38.419 --> 00:08:41.199 One of them is that the elephant has spoken. 00:08:42.620 --> 00:08:46.559 God has told us in His Word. 00:08:46.919 --> 00:08:50.080 In fact, it's insulting to religious people 00:08:50.080 --> 00:08:52.000 to say that all religions are the same. 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:58.379 It fails to grapple with the differences and the disagreements. 00:08:59.980 --> 00:09:02.139 Jesus tells us, John chapter 14, 00:09:02.940 --> 00:09:05.000 I am the way and the truth and the life. 00:09:05.580 --> 00:09:10.240 No one comes to the Father except through me. 00:09:10.240 --> 00:09:14.039 You are not a light. 00:09:14.340 --> 00:09:16.779 You are the light. 00:09:17.580 --> 00:09:19.440 I want to give you another reason, though, 00:09:19.539 --> 00:09:23.919 that we should think of Christianity as the light and not a light. 00:09:24.120 --> 00:09:26.019 Of course, God has spoken to us. 00:09:26.080 --> 00:09:26.980 That ought to be enough. 00:09:27.360 --> 00:09:29.580 We can also come to this just by looking around 00:09:29.580 --> 00:09:32.919 and being honest about how the world works. 00:09:32.919 --> 00:09:35.479 If there are many different lights, 00:09:35.599 --> 00:09:37.419 if there are many different paths, 00:09:37.599 --> 00:09:41.759 then that must mean that the problem that humanity faces 00:09:41.759 --> 00:09:44.079 can be solved in a variety of ways, right? 00:09:44.439 --> 00:09:46.979 It also means that the problem that humanity faces 00:09:46.979 --> 00:09:50.120 must not be that great or that bad. 00:09:51.740 --> 00:09:53.740 And so maybe technology can solve it. 00:09:53.799 --> 00:09:58.419 Maybe greater advances can help us overcome these things. 00:09:58.419 --> 00:09:59.879 Maybe if we just learn more. 00:10:01.079 --> 00:10:02.719 On page 7 of your worship guide, 00:10:02.860 --> 00:10:04.740 Pastor Timothy Keller points out this, 00:10:04.860 --> 00:10:07.120 that this idea of progress, 00:10:07.379 --> 00:10:09.579 that we can somehow solve the world's problems 00:10:09.579 --> 00:10:11.099 through all these different ways, 00:10:11.179 --> 00:10:13.699 has shown itself to be insufficient. 00:10:15.679 --> 00:10:18.959 Technological knowledge, education, and social policy 00:10:18.959 --> 00:10:23.419 have not overcome disease, famine, war, poverty, racism, and depression. 00:10:24.079 --> 00:10:27.459 But history has shown us that increasing knowledge 00:10:27.460 --> 00:10:31.460 can be used in terrible ways to worsen our situation 00:10:31.460 --> 00:10:34.600 because the greatest barrier to progress 00:10:34.600 --> 00:10:37.639 is actually within us. 00:10:39.460 --> 00:10:42.759 In other words, Christianity is the way 00:10:42.759 --> 00:10:44.900 because it is the only way 00:10:44.900 --> 00:10:47.560 that correctly diagnoses the problem 00:10:47.560 --> 00:10:51.660 and gives us a solution that is great and powerful enough. 00:10:52.580 --> 00:10:55.620 The problem is not outside of us. 00:10:55.620 --> 00:10:59.960 Our problem is not that we need greater technology and knowledge. 00:11:00.120 --> 00:11:02.379 In fact, those things often undermine us. 00:11:02.759 --> 00:11:05.500 The problem is us. 00:11:08.659 --> 00:11:10.259 I've told you the story before 00:11:10.259 --> 00:11:12.419 about the English writer G.K. Chesterton 00:11:12.419 --> 00:11:15.919 who replied to a question that was printed in the newspaper. 00:11:16.120 --> 00:11:16.340 It said, 00:11:16.700 --> 00:11:18.779 Please write in and answer this prompt. 00:11:19.159 --> 00:11:20.779 What is wrong with the world? 00:11:20.779 --> 00:11:25.620 Chesterton wrote perhaps the shortest response to the paper. 00:11:25.740 --> 00:11:27.019 He had a letter that said this, 00:11:27.819 --> 00:11:30.360 Dear Sir, regarding your article, 00:11:30.699 --> 00:11:32.000 What's wrong with the world? 00:11:33.000 --> 00:11:33.779 I am. 00:11:35.059 --> 00:11:37.240 Yours truly, G.K. Chesterton. 00:11:40.120 --> 00:11:44.639 Why is Christianity the light and not a light? 00:11:45.480 --> 00:11:47.439 It is the only diagnosis 00:11:47.439 --> 00:11:50.000 that gets to the heart of the problem. 00:11:50.000 --> 00:11:50.759 Why is Christianity the light and not a light? 00:11:50.779 --> 00:11:53.620 It is the only diagnosis that helps us understand 00:11:53.620 --> 00:11:56.519 the problem is not ultimately outside of us. 00:11:56.839 --> 00:11:58.539 The problem is inside of us. 00:11:58.879 --> 00:12:01.980 The problem is not our knowledge and our technology. 00:12:02.419 --> 00:12:04.399 The problem is our heart. 00:12:05.659 --> 00:12:10.759 And the heart is not something technology or knowledge can change. 00:12:11.919 --> 00:12:15.259 And so it is not simply that it diagnoses the problem correctly. 00:12:15.259 --> 00:12:20.039 It is also that it provides the only solution great enough. 00:12:21.319 --> 00:12:23.639 What can change the human heart? 00:12:24.580 --> 00:12:27.240 One power and one power only, 00:12:27.600 --> 00:12:30.139 God by His Spirit. 00:12:30.139 --> 00:12:36.059 God is the only one who can change the hearts and lives of men. 00:12:36.059 --> 00:12:39.599 Remember we talked about that in Judges and we'll talk about it again. 00:12:39.739 --> 00:12:44.199 He is the only one who can change hearts of stone into hearts of flesh. 00:12:45.559 --> 00:12:47.699 Until and unless that happens, 00:12:48.279 --> 00:12:51.359 nothing else is powerful enough. 00:12:51.360 --> 00:12:54.139 That's why Paul tells us, 00:12:54.139 --> 00:12:55.340 Ephesians chapter 1, 00:12:55.340 --> 00:12:59.100 the same power that raised Jesus from the dead 00:12:59.100 --> 00:13:01.820 is the power that's at work in you. 00:13:02.960 --> 00:13:06.840 Why is Christianity the light? 00:13:06.840 --> 00:13:13.420 It's the only answer with the power to change the heart. 00:13:16.120 --> 00:13:18.660 It's the only one that presents us with a solution 00:13:18.660 --> 00:13:23.440 of God coming down to us, 00:13:23.620 --> 00:13:25.200 not us climbing up to God. 00:13:26.899 --> 00:13:29.360 It's like I said when Judah was baptized this morning. 00:13:30.360 --> 00:13:31.340 Romans chapter 5, 00:13:31.440 --> 00:13:32.440 while we were still sinners, 00:13:32.600 --> 00:13:33.560 Christ died for us. 00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:35.840 Judah played no role. 00:13:36.840 --> 00:13:38.980 All he did was receive. 00:13:40.800 --> 00:13:45.660 The only solution powerful enough to solve the human heart 00:13:45.660 --> 00:13:48.120 is one in which we play no role. 00:13:48.639 --> 00:13:50.180 We simply receive. 00:13:51.480 --> 00:13:54.740 You are the light. 00:13:56.460 --> 00:13:57.139 Why? 00:13:57.259 --> 00:13:58.780 Because God has spoken to us. 00:13:58.840 --> 00:14:02.180 The elephant actually tells us what reality is like. 00:14:03.540 --> 00:14:05.540 And because Christianity only does, 00:14:05.539 --> 00:14:09.860 only Christianity does justice to the problem of our world 00:14:09.860 --> 00:14:11.319 and to the solution. 00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:15.519 He doesn't simply say that they are the light, though. 00:14:15.559 --> 00:14:17.559 He also says they are the light. 00:14:18.980 --> 00:14:22.539 This is the way in which truth comes to bear. 00:14:22.679 --> 00:14:26.199 This is the way that provides a path out 00:14:26.199 --> 00:14:28.299 that brings warmth in the cold. 00:14:28.299 --> 00:14:30.479 Jesus also tells us, 00:14:30.919 --> 00:14:32.099 not just that he's the way, 00:14:32.179 --> 00:14:32.879 but John 8, 00:14:33.519 --> 00:14:34.699 I am the light of the world. 00:14:35.559 --> 00:14:38.079 Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, 00:14:38.579 --> 00:14:41.719 but will have the light of life. 00:14:43.579 --> 00:14:45.859 What does it mean to be the light? 00:14:47.139 --> 00:14:49.379 We talked about it last time in this passage. 00:14:49.379 --> 00:14:52.240 It means that we show what's true 00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:55.120 in a world filled with lies. 00:14:57.200 --> 00:15:00.559 It means that we have true and reasonable hope 00:15:00.559 --> 00:15:04.460 in a world of cynicism and despair. 00:15:05.879 --> 00:15:09.539 It means that we can show forgiveness and reconciliation 00:15:09.539 --> 00:15:13.200 in a world that only knows how to cancel people. 00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:18.000 It means that God gives us the power 00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:22.360 to make what is broken and twisted whole and straight. 00:15:24.300 --> 00:15:29.100 It means rescue from slavery into freedom. 00:15:30.560 --> 00:15:32.820 The light means modeling humility 00:15:32.820 --> 00:15:34.920 in a world that can't get along. 00:15:38.060 --> 00:15:39.980 It means reminding the world 00:15:39.980 --> 00:15:42.520 that the problems that we face are so great 00:15:42.519 --> 00:15:44.840 that we are not able to fix them. 00:15:46.919 --> 00:15:48.980 And it's because we know that God 00:15:48.980 --> 00:15:52.340 is our creator and our redeemer. 00:15:54.480 --> 00:15:55.939 John also tells us, 00:15:57.100 --> 00:15:58.679 John chapter three, verse 19, 00:15:59.720 --> 00:16:00.779 and this is the judgment. 00:16:00.960 --> 00:16:02.460 The light has come into the world 00:16:02.460 --> 00:16:04.460 and people loved the darkness 00:16:04.460 --> 00:16:05.759 rather than the light 00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:08.079 because their works were evil. 00:16:10.299 --> 00:16:12.419 Christian, the point is this. 00:16:13.299 --> 00:16:17.100 we are not talking about a truth. 00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:19.860 We are talking about the truth. 00:16:20.840 --> 00:16:23.079 We are not talking about a way. 00:16:23.559 --> 00:16:25.539 We are talking about the way. 00:16:26.299 --> 00:16:29.100 We are not talking about an answer. 00:16:29.799 --> 00:16:32.399 We are talking about the answer. 00:16:33.079 --> 00:16:36.860 We are not talking about a matter of preference. 00:16:37.620 --> 00:16:41.340 We're talking about a matter of life and death. 00:16:42.180 --> 00:16:44.639 We are not discussing an opinion. 00:16:45.460 --> 00:16:49.899 We are discussing a fact and an announcement. 00:16:52.879 --> 00:16:57.399 Everything I've just said, though, about the light, really, is not about us. 00:16:57.940 --> 00:16:59.320 It's about Christianity. 00:17:00.440 --> 00:17:01.659 It's about God. 00:17:01.659 --> 00:17:04.259 And yet that's not actually what this passage says here. 00:17:04.339 --> 00:17:06.319 He doesn't say Christianity is the light of the world. 00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:09.859 Verse 14, he says, you are the light. 00:17:11.439 --> 00:17:19.899 Of course, it's only when we are convinced that it is the light and that it is the light that we can do what we're commanded next. 00:17:20.379 --> 00:17:24.439 Verse 14 and verse 16 go together in a logical progression. 00:17:24.700 --> 00:17:27.000 Verse 14 tells us, you are the light. 00:17:28.379 --> 00:17:33.559 So, therefore, verse 16, let your light shine. 00:17:34.559 --> 00:17:41.019 Jesus is following basic logic here, which is that we go first from convictions and then to practice. 00:17:41.879 --> 00:17:44.559 It is our beliefs that we act upon. 00:17:45.259 --> 00:17:48.019 And so we have this then command from him in verse 16. 00:17:48.579 --> 00:17:53.919 In the same way, let your light shine before others. 00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:57.740 What does it mean for us to let our light shine? 00:17:59.120 --> 00:18:03.259 Well, the rest of the verse clarifies for us what Jesus means by that. 00:18:03.380 --> 00:18:04.380 Verse 16 again, 00:18:04.380 --> 00:18:21.120 Being the light means being a small light that reflects and shows the greater light. 00:18:22.120 --> 00:18:24.460 It says your good works, they're going to see those. 00:18:24.540 --> 00:18:25.180 What are they going to do? 00:18:25.180 --> 00:18:31.680 In other words, you're a mirror. 00:18:33.019 --> 00:18:34.100 You're a painting. 00:18:34.299 --> 00:18:34.740 You're a picture. 00:18:34.900 --> 00:18:39.900 You're showing them what God looks like so that they can return to him. 00:18:41.060 --> 00:18:47.519 You're showing them how good God is so that they can give him glory. 00:18:47.519 --> 00:18:56.119 Remember, we talked the end of September when we first looked at this verse about the church being the city set upon a hill. 00:18:56.240 --> 00:19:03.879 And we discussed the concept of the church as an embassy, this embassy that represents another country in a foreign land. 00:19:04.779 --> 00:19:05.960 What do embassies have? 00:19:06.960 --> 00:19:08.359 Embassies have ambassadors. 00:19:08.359 --> 00:19:17.639 If the church is the embassy, if it's the outpost of God's kingdom, then its members are the ambassadors of that kingdom. 00:19:18.339 --> 00:19:23.839 They are the ones providing a taste of that place here and now. 00:19:25.179 --> 00:19:27.819 God's ambassadors represent him to the world. 00:19:29.299 --> 00:19:33.859 In context, this is Jesus giving his larger sermon called the Sermon on the Mount. 00:19:34.179 --> 00:19:37.119 He has just finished discussing the Beatitudes. 00:19:37.119 --> 00:19:44.199 His famous list of what it is that Christians should look like and how it is that they experience blessing. 00:19:44.899 --> 00:19:46.639 What then does it mean for our light to shine? 00:19:46.739 --> 00:19:52.919 It means for those things in verses 2 through 11 of Matthew chapter 5 to be true of us. 00:19:56.059 --> 00:20:05.299 Our light shines when we are mocked or marginalized for our faith and we're unfazed. 00:20:07.119 --> 00:20:11.279 Because we have something greater that we hope in. 00:20:12.899 --> 00:20:22.139 Our light shines when we forgive others rather than canceling them or cutting them off. 00:20:24.739 --> 00:20:32.919 Our light shines when we demonstrate our understanding of how we've been forgiven and we're able to extend that forgiveness to others. 00:20:32.920 --> 00:20:41.680 Our light shines when we share with others how God has changed us. 00:20:43.200 --> 00:20:48.980 When we tell them the story of what we used to be like and what we're like now. 00:20:49.340 --> 00:20:53.320 That God's been at work growing the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. 00:20:53.380 --> 00:20:58.259 That we have more love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control. 00:20:58.259 --> 00:21:06.759 Our light shines when we do the opposite of this world. 00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:07.740 Our world. 00:21:08.700 --> 00:21:09.700 I mentioned this before. 00:21:09.859 --> 00:21:12.440 A historian has noted that in the first century in Rome, 00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:17.960 Romans were generous with their bodies and stingy with their money. 00:21:19.619 --> 00:21:21.279 Christians were the exact opposite. 00:21:21.500 --> 00:21:25.779 Christians were stingy with their bodies and generous with their money. 00:21:25.779 --> 00:21:31.940 When we are stingy with our bodies and generous with our money, we are letting our light shine. 00:21:33.639 --> 00:21:44.960 We're letting our light shine when we gather together on Sunday morning and we are showing that there is something even greater and more glorious than being in the mountains. 00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:51.779 There is something even greater than leisure and recreation and trinkets. 00:21:51.779 --> 00:21:55.700 And we would say ultimately there is someone greater. 00:21:57.319 --> 00:22:00.460 Those are all ways in which we let our light shine. 00:22:00.539 --> 00:22:04.460 We let our light shine when we rejoice in what's good and true. 00:22:05.819 --> 00:22:11.799 Even when or especially when those are the same things despised by the world. 00:22:11.799 --> 00:22:25.639 In fact, you may have noticed on the front of your worship guide, page one, this quote from a man named John Piper discussing what the actual purpose of Christian missions is. 00:22:25.740 --> 00:22:26.180 He says, 00:22:26.659 --> 00:22:29.559 Worship is the fuel and goal of missions. 00:22:29.559 --> 00:22:38.200 It's the goal of missions because in missions we simply aim to bring the nations into the white hot enjoyment of God's glory. 00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:44.579 The goal of missions is the gladness of the peoples and the greatness of God. 00:22:45.579 --> 00:22:48.000 That sounds an awful lot like verse 16. 00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:57.119 Let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. 00:22:58.400 --> 00:23:03.480 Let them see your good works so that they might worship. 00:23:05.700 --> 00:23:12.339 And so that's what we're talking about when we say as a congregation we want to be a people of fervent witness. 00:23:12.339 --> 00:23:17.679 We want to be a people whose light shines brightly. 00:23:18.779 --> 00:23:25.419 We want to be faithful as an embassy and an outpost here in Southwest Colorado Springs. 00:23:26.519 --> 00:23:32.099 We don't simply want people to be able to see our physical steeple from a distance. 00:23:33.799 --> 00:23:39.419 We want them to be able to see the greatness and glory and goodness of God. 00:23:39.420 --> 00:23:45.920 And we want them to see it in the ways that we live and work and play. 00:23:47.420 --> 00:23:54.039 So as we come to the end of our generosity initiative, this is our final piece of our vision. 00:23:54.900 --> 00:24:02.860 That as this church grows and expands, we want the light to shine even brighter. 00:24:02.859 --> 00:24:12.159 We want this light, these lights here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church to shine even further. 00:24:13.699 --> 00:24:18.979 And so that's why we are in the midst of our Grit and Grace Generosity Initiative. 00:24:19.579 --> 00:24:21.139 God has brought us growth. 00:24:21.419 --> 00:24:24.299 We want to be faithful with the growth that he's given us. 00:24:24.679 --> 00:24:26.599 God has planted us as a light. 00:24:26.859 --> 00:24:28.899 We want to be faithful with that light. 00:24:28.900 --> 00:24:34.780 We want to bring a second pastor to come help us learn and grow and move forward. 00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:38.420 As I've talked with some of you, and I think I said this at our congregational meeting, 00:24:38.540 --> 00:24:41.840 we see kind of two buckets for the man that we're looking to bring. 00:24:42.019 --> 00:24:47.560 We see a bucket of discipleship and community here within Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church. 00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:50.660 And we see a bucket of outreach and evangelism. 00:24:51.120 --> 00:24:55.300 We want someone who's going to come and help us shine even brighter. 00:24:55.299 --> 00:25:05.599 We want someone who's going to come train and equip us and lead us as we aim to obey Jesus' command that we shine the light of the world. 00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:12.799 And so that's why we've been inviting and challenging all of you over the past five weeks now to join us in that. 00:25:12.940 --> 00:25:17.960 Our goal is to raise $800,000 so we can eliminate our building debt, 00:25:18.159 --> 00:25:22.279 which frees up almost $8,000 a month on our mortgage payment. 00:25:22.279 --> 00:25:25.579 We want to take that, we want to take it away from our mortgage payment, 00:25:25.579 --> 00:25:29.379 and we want to redirect it towards fueling our mission even more. 00:25:30.119 --> 00:25:34.339 We want even more fuel for the mission that God has given us, 00:25:34.379 --> 00:25:40.180 the mission of being a thick community with robust discipleship, fervent witness, 00:25:40.879 --> 00:25:45.799 a place that's a gospel hub where people are brought in, equipped, and sent out. 00:25:45.799 --> 00:25:51.740 And so I hope that you've been excited as we've talked about this the last several weeks, 00:25:51.960 --> 00:25:58.319 that you want to join us in the future that we believe God has for us as a church. 00:25:59.099 --> 00:26:05.180 As I told you last week, we have 23 households that have already pledged towards this initiative. 00:26:06.019 --> 00:26:09.039 Two of those are not even directly connected to our church anymore. 00:26:09.500 --> 00:26:13.740 They are part of our alumni, as I affectionately call folks who have been with us and have moved on. 00:26:13.740 --> 00:26:20.220 And together they pledged $314,000, $314,600. 00:26:21.259 --> 00:26:25.180 And we're inviting the rest of the families of this congregation to help us close that gap. 00:26:26.059 --> 00:26:27.920 And so that's what we're going to do during our closing hymn. 00:26:28.019 --> 00:26:33.140 Our deacons are going to pass the offering bags again for you guys to hand in commitment cards, 00:26:33.259 --> 00:26:37.000 and we're praying that God would continue to be faithful to this congregation, 00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:40.339 that we would be able to move forward in mission together. 00:26:40.339 --> 00:26:47.179 Now, what we've discussed this morning is really a discussion of little lights. 00:26:49.259 --> 00:26:52.919 Jesus says, you are the light of the world. 00:26:53.299 --> 00:26:55.679 He's talking about the church. 00:26:55.939 --> 00:26:57.480 He's talking about Christians. 00:26:58.539 --> 00:27:02.119 Why is it that we are able to serve as lights? 00:27:02.179 --> 00:27:05.639 I told you earlier, the problem in the world is not outside of us, it's within us. 00:27:05.640 --> 00:27:10.060 If the problem is within us, then we don't actually have light. 00:27:11.740 --> 00:27:13.960 And so how is it that we're supposed to shine bright? 00:27:15.300 --> 00:27:20.800 We shine bright as little lights because of the great light. 00:27:22.700 --> 00:27:26.120 Jesus is able to say, you are the light of the world, 00:27:26.640 --> 00:27:31.240 because he says, I am the light of the world. 00:27:31.240 --> 00:27:34.480 That's what Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones says. 00:27:34.620 --> 00:27:39.160 He says, the Lord who said, you are the light of the world, also said, I am the light of the world. 00:27:39.819 --> 00:27:42.900 These two statements must always be taken together, 00:27:42.900 --> 00:27:45.819 since the Christian is only the light of the world 00:27:45.819 --> 00:27:50.880 because of his relationship to him who is himself the light of the world. 00:27:52.279 --> 00:27:56.200 So not only have we received light, we have been made light. 00:27:56.200 --> 00:28:02.799 Christian, you shine and show only what you've been given. 00:28:04.400 --> 00:28:10.799 We hold out small lights because of the great light of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, 00:28:11.539 --> 00:28:14.400 the one who is the way, the truth, and the life, 00:28:15.180 --> 00:28:17.519 the one who is the light of the world, 00:28:18.660 --> 00:28:24.120 the one and the only one who comes to redeem and to save. 00:28:24.119 --> 00:28:31.839 And so we look to the great light to reflect our small light in the world, 00:28:32.639 --> 00:28:34.699 the lives that God has given us. 00:28:35.659 --> 00:28:36.319 Let's pray. 00:28:38.239 --> 00:28:41.119 Our Father in heaven, we praise you and we thank you 00:28:41.699 --> 00:28:44.239 that you sought out us. 00:28:44.319 --> 00:28:45.199 We didn't seek you. 00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:48.039 That you climbed down to us. 00:28:48.099 --> 00:28:49.479 You don't make us climb up to you. 00:28:50.139 --> 00:28:53.059 We thank you for the good news of the gospel in Jesus Christ, 00:28:53.059 --> 00:28:56.299 that you do bring light into our darkness and hope into our despair. 00:28:57.279 --> 00:28:59.960 We ask that you would remind us of that truth this morning, 00:29:00.039 --> 00:29:03.279 that you would drive it beyond our minds and into our hearts, 00:29:03.579 --> 00:29:07.740 that it would lead us to honor and praise and love and worship you. 00:29:07.940 --> 00:29:10.559 And we ask these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. 00:29:11.019 --> 00:29:11.279 Amen. 00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:11.440 Amen. 00:29:11.440 --> 00:29:11.460 Amen. 00:29:11.460 --> 00:29:11.519 Amen. 00:29:11.519 --> 00:29:11.539 Amen. 00:29:11.539 --> 00:29:11.559 Amen. 00:29:11.559 --> 00:29:11.599 Amen. 00:29:11.599 --> 00:29:11.619 Amen. 00:29:11.619 --> 00:29:13.519 Amen. 00:29:13.519 --> 00:29:13.579 Amen. 00:29:13.579 --> 00:29:15.519 Amen. 00:29:15.519 --> 00:29:15.579 Amen. 00:29:15.579 --> 00:29:15.619 Amen.