February 8th, Sermon & Ministry Resources
"Salt, Light, and Righteousness: The Call to Kingdom Living" (Matthew 5:13-20)
Lectionary Readings — Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany — February 8th, 2026
Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12); Psalm 112:1-9 (10); 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16); Matthew 5:13-20
Call to Worship (based on Matthew 5:13-20)
Leader: Jesus tells us: “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored?”
People: We come to worship the One who gives us purpose and preserves us for His kingdom work.
Leader: Jesus declares: “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid.”
People: We come to let our light shine before others, that they may see our good works and give glory to our Father in heaven.
Leader: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.”
People: We worship the One who fulfills all righteousness and calls us to lives of faithful obedience.
Leader: “For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.”
People: We trust in the eternal truth of God’s Word and submit ourselves to His righteous commands.
Leader: Let us worship the Lord, who calls us to be salt and light in a world that desperately needs His truth and grace.
All: We come to worship in spirit and in truth, giving glory to our Father in heaven!
Opening Prayer (based on Psalm 112:1-10)
Let us pray:
Gracious and Eternal God,
We gather in Your presence this morning with hearts full of praise, for blessed are those who fear You, O Lord—those who find great delight in Your commands. We come acknowledging that all true blessing flows from a life rooted in reverence for You and anchored in obedience to Your Word.
Lord, we thank You that even when darkness surrounds us, light dawns for the upright—for You are gracious, compassionate, and righteous. In a world often marked by fear and uncertainty, strengthen our hearts to trust in You. May we not be shaken by bad news, but rather stand firm, our hearts secure and confident in Your unfailing love and sovereign purposes.
We ask that You would shape us into people who conduct our affairs with justice, who are generous to those in need, and who scatter abroad gifts to the poor. May our righteousness endure forever and our influence be felt for generations to come, not for our own glory, but for the honor of Your great name.
As we worship today, we pray that our hearts would be steadfast, trusting in You alone. Remove from us the anxiety that seeks to steal our peace, and replace it with an unshakable confidence in Your goodness and faithfulness.
Prepare us now to hear Your Word, to sing Your praises, and to encounter You in the fellowship of Your people. May everything we do this hour bring glory to Your name.
In Christ’s name we pray,
Amen.
[NOTE to Paid subscribers — scroll down for the full manuscript sermon]
Sermon Outline: "SALT, LIGHT, AND RIGHTEOUSNESS: THE CALL TO KINGDOM LIVING"
Based on Matthew 5:13-20
INTRODUCTION:
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus moves from describing what His followers are (the Beatitudes) to what His followers do
These verses contain three powerful metaphors that define Christian identity and mission
Jesus uses everyday images—salt and light—to communicate profound spiritual truths about our calling in the world
I. PRESERVING THE WORLD (v. 13)
A. The Nature of Salt
Salt was valuable in the ancient world for preservation and flavor
Salt prevents corruption and decay
Salt enhances and brings out the best in what it touches
B. The Believer as Salt
We are called to preserve moral and spiritual values in a decaying culture
We influence society by our presence and godly character
We bring flavor and life to otherwise bland and meaningless existence
C. The Danger of Losing Saltiness
Salt that loses its taste becomes worthless and is “thrown out and trampled underfoot”
Believers who compromise their distinctiveness lose their effectiveness
We must maintain our spiritual potency through authentic discipleship
II. PROCLAIMING THE TRUTH (vv. 14-16)
A. The Visibility of Light
“A city built on a hill cannot be hid”
Light is conspicuous by its very nature—it cannot help but be seen
Christians are meant to be visible, not hidden
B. The Purpose of Light
Light illuminates darkness and reveals truth
Light guides people to safety and shows the way
Our light consists of “good works” that point others to God
C. The Glory Given to God
“Let your light shine before others”
The goal is not self-promotion but God’s glory
“So that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven”
III. PURSUING RIGHTEOUSNESS (vv. 17-20)
A. Jesus Fulfills the Law
Jesus did not come to abolish the Law and the Prophets but to fulfill them
Every “letter” and “stroke of a letter” has enduring significance
Christ perfectly accomplished all that God’s Word requires
B. The Call to Obedience
“Whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments... will be called least in the kingdom”
True discipleship involves both doing and teaching God’s commands
There is no dichotomy between belief and obedience in authentic Christianity
C. Righteousness That Exceeds
“Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven”
External conformity is insufficient—God demands heart transformation
Kingdom righteousness is internal, authentic, and empowered by the Spirit
CONCLUSION:
Jesus calls His followers to a life that is radically different from the world around us
We are to be salt—preserving what is good and preventing moral decay
We are to be light—openly displaying the transforming power of the gospel through our good works
We are to pursue righteousness—not the superficial religiosity of the Pharisees, but genuine heart obedience that flows from relationship with Christ
The question is not whether we will have influence, but what kind of influence we will have
May we live as faithful salt and light, bringing glory to our Father in heaven
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