Bible Study: Our Role as Shining Lights

May 4, 2018

Bible Study: Our Role as Shining Lights (Student’s Guide)

Read Passage:

Matthew 5:14-16: “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

1. Name some characteristics of light.

2. Why does Jesus call you and me light of the world?

3. What makes us different from the rest of the world?

4. What is the key element that makes us different?

5. What is it that brought us light?

6. In the book of Acts we read that the disciples felt they could not help but to speak about the things they had seen and heard. In what way were they shining lights and do you think they could have hidden that light under a bowl?

7. In what ways are you tempted to keep your light hidden?

8. What is to be the purpose of letting our light shine?

9. How will being shining lights lead others to praise God?

10. What is to be the goal of each of our lives?

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for bringing us all the light of your salvation in the message of Jesus Christ. Make us all to be shining lights as we carry this priceless treasure to a world desperately needing something of lasting value. Bless our gathering this day as we seek to serve you better in this most important of all tasks – as your ambassadors of Good News to the world. We ask this in the name of your Son and our Savior. Amen.

Bible Study: Our Role as Shining Lights (Leader’s Guide)

Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

1. Name some characteristics of light?
Light is something always noticed in darkness. Even dim light is noticed. When light is present it enables one to function in what otherwise is darkness.

2. Why does Jesus call you and me light of the world?
We are light in this world because of faith in Jesus as our Savior. The world naturally is opposed to God. As such, it is in the darkness of its sin and faces the eternal consequence of that sin. As the messenger of God who holds the truth of salvation in the Gospel message, we are light in comparison to the world.

3. What makes us different from the rest of the world?
The people of the world live for themselves. The people who are reborn by the gospel message and Spirit-worked faith, are now children of God. While the sinful man lives for himself, the child of God lives to give all glory to God.

4. What is the key element that makes us different?
Faith is the key element. It has nothing to do with wealth, social standing, race, or even the exemplary lifestyle. Faith is what distinguishes the Christians from the world.

5. What is it that brought us light?
The Holy Spirit brought us to faith through the preaching of God’s Word. See also Psalm 119:105 and Ephesians 6:17.

6. In the book of Acts, we read that the disciples felt they could not help but to speak about the things they had seen and heard. In what way were they shining lights and do you think they could have hidden that light under a bowl?
They were shining lights because faith compelled them to share the truth. Their convictions reflected a very, very deep faith. Such depth cannot help but shine brightly.

7. In what ways are you tempted to keep your light hidden?
Discuss times when you should speak up but don’t. Also, discuss why we don’t speak up and how we can use such situations to be a more positive witness to Christ.

8. What is to be the purpose of letting our light shine?
Our goal is the same as God’s – that all people might be saved. We want others to hear the Word of God. By hearing we leave it to the Holy Spirit to bring about faith.

9. How will being shining lights lead others to praise God?
God will use us as his instruments. It is not to our credit that we are such instruments. After all, is it to the credit of the spatula that the food is so well prepared? Of course not. Like the spatula, we are instruments for God in carrying out his important saving work.

10. What is to be the goal of each of our lives?
To reflect God’s love and the joy we have in his message of forgiveness through Jesus. In doing so, we are pointing a sin-darkened world to hope. People will want to know why we have such joy and certainty about life and eternity. God will use our “light shining” to open doors for us to share the law and gospel. One important goal is for us to share our faith.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for bringing us all the light of your salvation in the message of Jesus Christ. Make us all be shining lights as we carry this priceless treasure to a world desperately needing something of lasting value. Bless our gathering this day as we seek to serve you better in this most important of all tasks – as your ambassadors of Good News to the world. We ask this in the name of your Son and our Savior. Amen.