OceanSide church of Christ

 Previous Return to Sermons Next  Click to download Audio

 CHRISTIANS ARE POINTS OF LIGHT

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     Jesus proclaimed:  “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12).

 

B.      As Christians, we are supposed to reflect the brilliant light of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

1.       Jesus teaches that His followers are lights in Matthew. 5:14.

 

Ye are the light of the world…

 

2.       Paul also refers to Christians as lights in his writings.

a.       Ephesians 5:8

 

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord:  walk as children of light.

 

b.      1 Thessalonians 5:5

 

Ye are all children of light, and the children of the day:  we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

 

C.     The lights of Christians should be shining at all times.  However, there are certain places where our lights are so bright that we might refer to them as “points of light” in those areas.

 

D.     The title of our lesson is:  “Christians Are Points of Light.”  Let’s look at some areas wherein our lights should be shining just as brightly as we possibly can shine.

 

I.                    BIBLE KNOWLEDGE

 

A.     The Bible tells us that it is through knowledge that men are saved.

1.       John 8:32

 

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

 

2.       1 Timothy 2:4

 

Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

 

B.      Knowledge of salvation, however, is only the beginning. 

1.       A child of God is supposed to be a disciple. 

a.       We have defined that word as “a follower.”

b.      The word really means “one who sits at the feet of another as a student.”

2.       After baptism, the Christian is to continue as a student of Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:20a).

 

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you…

 

C.     In the realm of Bible knowledge, others should know that we have learned and understand the Scriptures. 

1.       Bible questions can be directed toward us

2.       Individuals can come to us for proper interpretations of God’s Word

3.       We have the ability to distinguish between truth and error.

 

II.                 GOOD WORKS

 

A.     One of the purposes of the Christian life involves the performance of good works (Eph. 2:10).

 

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

 

B.      Good works

1.       They are works because they involve effort on our part.

2.       They are good because they benefit others and bring glory to God.

 

C.     Our lives should be “points of light” when it comes to good works. 

1.       When others think of us, they know that we involved in good works.

2.       In many churches, there are groups that exist that are called “Dorcas” groups.

a.       These are usually groups composed of younger girls in a congregation who are led by some of the older women.

b.      Their purpose is to perform good works within the congregation.

c.       They take their name from a woman who lived in the first century.  She was a point of light in the area of good works (Acts 9:36).

 

Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas:  this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

 

d.      The distinction has been taken by Dorcas, but wouldn’t it be wonderful for our name to be suggested if another were needed for a group similar to a Dorcas class?

 

III.              MORALITY

 

A.     One of the effects of Jesus’ blood involves being cleansed from sin (Rev. 1:5b).

 

…Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.

 

B.      The new convert is cleansed from all immorality.  At that point, he seeks to live a life of holiness (1 Thess. 4:7).

 

For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

 

C.     The standard of holiness to which we should be striving is the holiness of God (1 Pet. 1:14-16).

 

As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lust in your ignorance:  but as he which hath called you his holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

 

D.     Christians should be points of light in the realm of morality.

1.       Our thoughts, words, and behaviors should always seek to be lofty when it comes to morality.

2.       This could be one of the most deceptive areas of our Christian lives.

a.       Some unholiness appears to be harmless:  gossip, cursing, immodest attire, etc.

b.      Each person has a tendency to develop his/her own characterization of holiness from totally evil (Satan) to pure (the Lord Jesus Christ).

c.       We have convinced ourselves that we are sinners and cannot live up to God’s standard of holy living.

d.      We often compare ourselves with other humans which makes us seem to be holy.

e.       We live in a world wherein it is impossible to escape immorality.  We tolerate it.  We accept it.  Before long, we participate in it.

f.        We even think that if we do live holy lives that we push the world away from us rather than drawing them to Jesus.

 

E.      As children of God, we must adopt God’s standard of morality. 

1.       That standard is presented to us in the Word of God (Ps. 19:7-9).

 

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul:  the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.  The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart:  the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.  The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever:  the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

 

2.       Every child of God should seek to be a point of light in the realm of morality.  People should be able to view our lives and see the difference between right and wrong.

 

IV.              ATTITUDE

 

A.     An attitude is a “mental position” that we take toward something or someone.

1.       Our attitude can be extremely negative to neutral to extremely positive.

a.       Bad:  child molesters

b.      Neutral:  having a pet

c.       Good:  traveling the world

2.       That mental position involves he feelings we have toward that something or someone.

3.       That mental position involves the behaviors we display toward that something or someone.

 

B.      NOTE:  The “mental position” we adopt is totally, completely our choice.

1.       Sometimes our choice is unconditional.

2.       At other times, our choice is based upon some very extreme conditions.

 

C.     Christians should be points of life when it comes to our attitudes toward all areas of life.  Why?  We should have a good attitude because, as the old hymn by L.O. Sanderson reveals:  “The Lord Has Been Mindful of Me.”

1.       We belong to God and He knows us (2 Tim. 2:19).

2.       We have been recipients of two wonderful gifts from God:  Jesus’ redemptive work on Calvary (Eph. 1:7) and the precious Word of God (2 Tim. 3:16 -17).

3.       We have been forgiven of all our sins and transgressions (Col. 2:13).

4.       We possess the riches that are in Christ Jesus our Lord (Eph. 1:18).

5.       This world is not our home.  Our city of residence is beyond the blue. (Heb. 11:16).

 

D.     Three verses that we would do well to commit to memory and to retrieve therefrom upon arising each morning.

1.       Psalm 118:24

 

This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

2.       Psalm 23:4

 

Yea, thou I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:  for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

 

3.       Romans 8:31

 

What shall we say to these things?  If God be for us, who can be against us?

 

V.                 EVANGELISM

 

A.     Questions:

1.       If you learned the cure for all cancers, would you tell anyone?

2.       If you learned about a potion that would enable men to escape death, would you tell anyone?

3.       If you had a formula that would rid the world of crime and violence, would you make it known?

4.       If you had a sure-fire plan that would rid the world and strife and division, bring them together in one harmonious unit, would you seek to get the plan out?

5.       If you had a means that would soften hearts, change attitudes, radically alter lives, improve relationships, and bring individuals a strong sense of hope, would you make that means manifest to the world? 

 

B.      As members of the Lord’s church we have a plan that will do all of these things and much, much more.

1.       The blood of Jesus cleanses men from the spiritual cancer called “sin” (Matt. 26:28).

2.       Those who yield to the Christ shall live and never die (John 11:25-26).

3.       The gospel when followed takes men out of the realm of lawlessness and anarchy and puts him in a realm of righteousness and justice (2 Tim. 2:19).

4.       The church brings all humanity together in one body without concern for language, nation, culture, or tribe (Eph. 2:13-16).

5.       The precious truth of God’s Word enables one to put the old man of sin to death and to bring forth a new creature in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 5:17).

 

C.     If what we have said it true, shouldn’t all of us be points of light in our world telling the world about these things?

1.       The message is urgent, so we do not delay.

2.       The message is true, so we proclaim it even if it is not believed.

3.       The message is helpful.  Some will definitely benefit from it.

4.       The message is simple, so every member can proclaim it.

5.       The message is enduring.  No amount of opposition will destroy it.

 

D.     Habakkuk 2:2

 

And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     When we became Christians, the darkness was snuffed out by the light of Jesus Christ.

 

B.      We began to shine as lights in the world. 

 

C.     There are places in our lives wherein our lights should glow brilliantly. 

1.       In Bible knowledge

2.       In good works

3.       In morality

4.       In attitude

5.       In evangelism

 

D.     Philippians 2:15b-16a

 

…among whom ye shine as lights in the world; holding forth the word of life…