Pray For Sister Church:

Good morning, church family. Last week, I challenged us to pray for a different sister church and their leadership each week until we’ve lifted up every Christian church in Goochland County. I believe Satan rejoices when churches are divided, but he trembles when we unite in the name of Jesus, working together to spread His gospel.  

This morning, let’s begin our service by praying, not just for our own church, but also for our sister church, Bethel United Methodist, and their pastor, Louis Berkeszi.  

Let’s pray:  

Heavenly Father, we lift up both Bethel United Methodist Church and our own family here at Dover Baptist Church, asking for Your blessing and guidance over both congregations as we serve Your kingdom together.  

For Bethel UMC and Pastor Louis Berkeszi, we ask for strength and encouragement. Bless their ministry, their worship, and their outreach. May they reflect Your love, truth, and hope to their community.  We pray for unity in the gospel, faithfulness in our calling, and boldness in our witness for Christ. Strengthen our ministries and guide the leaders of your churches with wisdom and grace.  

As our churches labor side by side, may we reflect the unity of the body of Christ. Help us to support one another, pray for one another, and work together to advance the gospel in this community. May the name of Jesus be glorified in all we do.  

In Jesus’ name, Amen.  

Welcome:

This morning, as we continue our journey through the Sermon on the Mount, I want to invite you to pause for a moment and think about the most godly person you know. Picture someone whose love for God and for others is so genuine, so unmistakably real, that it has left a lasting impression on your heart. 

I can think of several men and women like that—people whose love for Jesus and those around them radiates so brightly that even someone who doesn’t believe in the gospel can’t help but notice. While they might not agree with their faith, they can’t deny the authenticity of these individuals’ beliefs or the way they live them out.  

Do you have someone like that in mind? Now, imagine an entire community filled with people like them—a group of men, women, and children all united in living out the love and truth of Jesus. Wouldn’t that be extraordinary? Such a community would be like a city on a hill, shining brightly—not because of their own strength or goodness, but because of God’s transforming power at work through them.  

When we live as God calls us to, we show the world a better way: the way of His Kingdom. Jesus invites us to embrace a higher standard, one that stands in stark contrast to the values of the world. But let’s be honest—this isn’t always easy. Following Jesus often means enduring misunderstanding, rejection, or even persecution. Yet we can take heart, because these challenges are evidence that God’s light is shining through us. His Kingdom is advancing, and He is using His people to reveal His glory.  

Over the past two weeks, we’ve seen how the Beatitudes invite us into this countercultural way of living, a way rooted in the values of God’s Kingdom. We saw how Jesus blesses the poor in spirit, those who humbly recognize their need for God, and promises them the Kingdom of Heaven. We read how Jesus  comforts those who mourn over sin and the brokenness of the world, guiding them toward restoration. To the meek, with their quiet strength and submission to God’s will, Jesus promised the inheritance of the earth. To those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, who long for God’s presence and justice, Jesus assured true satisfaction.  

To merciful, who reflect God’s compassion, Jesus promises them mercy from the father. To the pure in heart, wholly devoted to God, Jesus gives the assurance that they will see. And to the peacemakers, who engage in the hard but holy work of reconciliation, Jesus tells them that they will be called sons of God, reflecting His redemptive nature.  

As we reflect on these truths, we have two Beatitudes left to explore. So let’s turn now to God’s Word and discover the final blessings Jesus offers to those who follow Him.  

Scripture Reading: 

Matthew 5:10-16 (ESV)

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

The Reality of Persecution (Matthew 5:10–12)

As we reflect on these final Beatitudes, it’s essential to grasp the specific type of suffering they address. These blessings are reserved for those who are persecuted for their obedience to Christ. In today’s world, it doesn’t take much to invite criticism or hostility. Anyone who takes a stand on a controversial issue is likely to face backlash. However, the persecution Jesus speaks of is not about ordinary conflict or being disliked for personal faults or opinions.  

For example, if you are rude or arrogant, there’s no blessing in that. Likewise, if you post divisive opinions on social media and receive harsh criticism, that is not the kind of persecution Jesus calls “blessed.” Unfortunately, some who claim to follow Christ take pleasure in provoking others and stirring up conflict. When people react negatively, they label it as persecution and wear it like a badge of honor.  

First, this attitude runs counter to the Beatitude that precedes these final beatitudes. “Blessed are the peacemakers.” Jesus calls us to be peacemakers, not agitators. Second, this is not persecution for righteousness’ sake or for the name of Jesus. It’s simply the result of poor behavior, being unkind or divisive, and reaping the natural consequences of those actions No, the blessing Jesus refers to is tied directly to suffering that comes from your allegiance to Him and your commitment to living according to His teachings.  

As we have seen, God’s Kingdom operates on values like humility, justice, love, and truth, qualities that often conflict with the world’s pursuit of power, greed, and self-interest. As followers of Christ, our lives are meant to reflect these Kingdom values, shining like light in a dark world. But, as John 3:19–20 reminds us:  

“... this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.” (John 3:19–20, ESV)  

People resist the light because it exposes their sin. Jesus Himself experienced this hostility and rejection. His message continues to challenge the systems of power and sin that dominate the fallen world, and living faithfully for Christ confronts the world’s brokenness and sinfulness. Our faithful obedience forces others to wrestle with their own relationship to God, leaving them with a choice: to crown Christ as King or to reject Him.  

It’s also important to understand that Jesus does not call us to wallow in self-pity or seek out suffering as a way to prove our faith. He doesn’t ask us to seek out persecution. He also does not call us to adopt a victim mentality. Instead, when persecution comes, we are called to endure it faithfully, not as victims, but as witnesses to Christ.  

Consider Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:12: “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.” At first, this may seem counterintuitive. How can we possibly rejoice in the midst of suffering? The answer lies in understanding its purpose and eternal significance. Persecution is not random or meaningless. It is clear evidence that we are aligned with Christ and His Kingdom. It places us among the company of faithful saints, prophets, apostles, and believers throughout history, who endured opposition for proclaiming God’s truth.  

More importantly, persecution is not the end of the story. Jesus promises that for those who endure, “great is your reward in heaven.” This eternal perspective helps us look beyond the pain and challenges of the present, trusting that God will honor our faithfulness in ways far greater than we can imagine.  

As we have seen, not every type of persecution is blessed. But for those who, with pure hearts and right motivations, suffer for their obedience, they can rest assured that they are blessed. Facing opposition for Christ’s sake is a sign that the enemy sees you as a threat. 

I truly believe that Satan has no interest in persecuting Christians who live lives of apathy, hypocrisy, or worldliness because they are already advancing his agenda by bringing shame to the name of Jesus. No, Satan spends his time targeting those who faithfully live out the gospel, because their lives shine God’s light into the darkness. So if you are truly seeking after Christ and his righteousness, and find the journey is difficult and that opposition is coming at you from all sides, rejoice! You are on the right path. It is only when we understand this, we can see persecution for what it truly is: tangible evidence that God’s light is shining brightly through us and Satan trembles with fury when a redeemed sinner seeks first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.

The Church as Salt and Light (Matthew 5:13-16)  

To emphasize these points, Jesus uses two vivid metaphors (salt and light) to illustrate the role of His followers in the world. He begins by declaring, “You are the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13, ESV). In the ancient world, salt was a valuable commodity. It was used to preserve food, enhance flavor, and even serve as a disinfectant. By calling His followers “the salt of the earth,” Jesus highlights their crucial role in society. Christians are called to preserve righteousness and resist the moral and spiritual decay of the world. Just as salt prevents food from spoiling, a life rooted in God’s truth and love helps to stem the spread of sin and injustice.

Salt also enhances flavor, symbolizing the way the Christian life brings joy, purpose, and meaning to a world searching for fulfillment. When believers live faithfully to Christ, reflecting His peace, love, and goodness, their lives become a testimony to the richness of the gospel. However, Jesus offers a warning: “If salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet” (v. 13). Salt that loses its distinctiveness becomes useless, and the same is true for Christians who compromise their faith or fail to live according to God’s standards. Without a commitment to righteousness and truth, Christians lose their ability to positively influence the world.

But what does it look like when a church loses its saltiness? One example that comes to mind is the history of the Russian Orthodox Church leading up to the Communist Revolution. For generations, the Church became entangled with the monarchy, leveraging its position to gain political power and prestige. In doing so, it turned a blind eye to the suffering and exploitation of the poor and failed to advocate for justice on their behalf. The Church, once called to be the conscience of the nation and a voice for the voiceless, instead became a tool of the state, aligning itself with the ruling class rather than standing apart as a prophetic witness for God’s Kingdom.  

This compromise, trading its prophetic voice for political power, led to deep resentment among the working class. For many of the oppressed, the Church became synonymous with corruption and oppression, more concerned with preserving its own comfort and status than following the example of Christ. And when the Communist Revolution erupted, the Church reaped the bitter fruit of its choices. The people rejected it en masse, seeing it as complicit in the monarchy’s injustices rather than as a force for righteousness.  

After the October Revolution, the new Communist government swiftly moved against the Church, confiscating its property, silencing its influence, and targeting its leaders. Clergy were arrested, exiled, and executed. The Church’s earthly power, carefully built over centuries through its partnership with the monarchy, vanished almost overnight. The institution that had once enjoyed privilege and status was left in ruins, trampled underfoot, just as Jesus warned.  

Yet, even in this devastating loss, God’s grace was not absent. Stripped of political power and driven underground, the Church in the East was forced to reckon with its true identity and mission. No longer tied to the corrupt systems of the world, it began to rediscover what it meant to follow Christ wholeheartedly, to serve Him in humility and suffering. In the shadows, amidst persecution, the Church began to heal. Over time, it regained its moral authority and became a symbol of hope and resistance for many Russians, especially during the dark days of Soviet oppression.  

When the USSR finally fell, the Church emerged from the ashes, not as an institution of political privilege, but as a spiritual force that had learned the hard way what it means to depend on God alone.  The Russian church’s history is a reminder of the devastating consequences of losing our spiritual distinctiveness. If the Church refuses to stand up for what is right, if it overlooks injustice and sin in exchange for power, status, or influence, then it ceases to fulfill its purpose. 

Do not think it can’t happen here either. Russia was seen as a Christian nation before the revolution, but when the church stopped doing what Christ called her to do and started getting entangled in the power struggles of the world, the salt lost its saltiness.  Likewise, we in the western Church  are called to be the salt of the earth, preserving what is good and pointing the world to Christ. But if we compromise our faithfulness to Him, if we trade our loyalty to Christ for loyalty to worldly powers, creature comforts, or selfish ambitions, then we are, as Jesus warned, “good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”  

These are harsh words, but they are straight from the lips of Christ. And yet, in the midst of the sober warning, there is great promise. If we do not compromise. If we stay faithful. If we endure persecution and keep our eyes on Christ and His kingdom then it can truly be said of us that “you are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden” (v. 14).

As we have already seen, light illuminates darkness, reveals truth, and provides direction. In describing His followers as the “light of the world,” Jesus emphasizes their role in reflecting God’s hope and salvation to a world darkened by sin and despair. The image of a city on a hill reinforces the public nature of this calling. In ancient times, a city on a hill was visible for miles, serving as a beacon of safety and refuge. Similarly, the Christian community is called to live in a way that draws others toward God.

Just as the moon reflects the light of the sun, Christians reflect the glory of God through their relationship with Him. This light must shine authentically, unclouded by compromise or hypocrisy, so that others can see the character of Christ in us. Jesus’ directive is clear: “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (v. 16). Faith is not meant to be hidden; it must be lived out visibly, demonstrating through actions, attitudes, and relationships. A Christian life is a living testimony to the power of the gospel.

As Jesus concluded His teaching on salt and light, He made the church's purpose unmistakably clear: we are called to bear witness to God’s kingdom. This is not optional, it is central to our identity as followers of Christ. Our lives, individually and as a church, must reflect His love, truth, and holiness in ways that draw others to Him. This means aligning our thoughts, words, and actions with the character of Christ. Paul writes, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). Our lives should reflect Christ’s humility, kindness, and love, making the gospel visible to everyone who crosses our path.  

Conclusion:

Please take this calling to heart. The world desperately needs God’s light, and He has chosen us to carry it. Recommitting to this mission takes courage. Being salt and light in a world that often resists God’s truth isn’t easy, but Jesus reminds us to stay unashamed of the gospel and steadfast in our devotion to Him.

Jesus’ call to be salt and light is for everyone. If you’re not yet part of the church, today is the perfect day to step into His Kingdom. I invite you to join our community of faith, where you can grow, belong, and shine alongside others who are reflecting His love and truth. This journey is not meant to be walked alone—we’re in this together.

If you’re already part of the church, the challenge is clear: strengthen the light. Live faithfully, love sacrificially, and speak truth boldly but graciously. Let your life reflect God’s goodness and draw others to Him. Together, as the body of Christ, we have the privilege of shining His light to offer hope, love, and salvation to a broken world.

No matter what we face—whether praise or opposition—our mission remains the same: to reflect His glory so others may see Christ in us and glorify our Father in heaven. Let us be salt that preserves and enhances, and light that illuminates and guides.

As you leave today, hold onto Jesus’ words: “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). May our lives shine with His light, and may everything we do point others to His glory.

Let us pray:

Closing Prayer 

Heavenly Father, we come before You with grateful hearts, thankful for the privilege of reflecting Your light in this world. Thank You for reminding us that we are called to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, drawing others to Your truth and grace. Help us to embrace this calling through the power of Your Spirit.  

Lord, we confess the times when fear or complacency has dimmed our light. Forgive us and renew our commitment to live boldly for You. Give us courage to stand for truth, wisdom to reflect Your love, and humility to give You glory.  

Unite Your church, Lord, so we can shine brightly together in a world longing for hope. Teach us to love, serve, and proclaim Your gospel with courage and joy, pointing others to the salvation found in Jesus.  

For those who have not yet stepped into Your kingdom, we pray that You draw them near and let them experience the joy of belonging to Your family.  

As we go, help us live so that Your glory shines through us. May we truly be salt that preserves and light that guides, always mindful of the eternal reward You promise to those who are faithful.  

We pray this in Jesus’ name, our light and salvation. Amen.