Sermon

Pass the Salt

Theme

We are called to be salt in the world.

Object

A shaker of salt, a brightly colored shirt, a leather belt, a plastic toy.

Scripture

Mark 9:38-50

Everyone knows what salt is, right? (Hold up the salt shaker.) We use it everyday to make our food taste better. Imagine eating a hamburger and French fries without salt. It wouldn’t have much flavor, would it?

But salt has more uses than just making our food taste better. It’s used to make over 14,000 different products, some of which we use every single day.

Salt is used in setting the dye in fabrics. Without salt, the bright colors that we wear today would quickly wash out of our clothes, making them dull and less vibrant. (Pass around the shirt.)

Salt is also used in leather making. Without salt, we would not have many of the leather products that we use every day -- like this belt. (Pass around the belt.)

Salt is used to make plastic. Without salt, we might not have many of the plastic toys that we play with. (Pass around the toy.)

 

People have known about the usefulness of salt for many years. A grain of salt may be small, but it’s very valuable. At one time, salt was so important that people were paid with salt instead of money. 

Jesus knew the power of salt in our lives. He even used it to tell His followers how He wants us to live. Jesus said, "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other." 

We are called to be salt in the world. This means to flavor our world with the love of Jesus, and to be led by Him in making the world a better place. 

Dear God, help us flavor our world with Your love. Help us make the world a better place. In Jesus' name, amen.