26-0111a - Detailed Summary

The preacher, Steve, greets the congregation warmly, acknowledging the poor weather that has prevented some from attending. He introduces the sermon title, “You Are the Light,” drawn directly from the Matthew passage just read.

Steve directs the congregation to John 1:1-9 (NIV), emphasizing Jesus’ purpose as the light of the world. The passage declares that in the beginning was the Word, who was with God and was God. Through Him all things were made, and in Him was life, which was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John the Baptist is introduced as a witness sent from God to testify concerning the light so that all might believe through him. John himself was not the light but came only to bear witness to it. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

Continuing from John 1, Steve explains that although the world was made through Jesus, it did not recognize Him. He came to His own people, but they did not receive Him. However, to all who received Him and believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent or human decision, but born of God. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and the disciples saw His glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Steve reflects that Jesus came into the world primarily to make people aware that they were not living or worshiping God in the way He desired. While the Jews of Jesus’ time were diligent in religious rituals, sacrifices, and observances, they lacked true thankfulness and heartfelt devotion. Jesus came as light to reveal that their outward religion was insufficient without proper conduct, behavior, and gratitude toward God.

Returning to Ephesians 5 (starting from verse 3), Steve highlights Paul’s instructions that among God’s people there must be no hint of sexual immorality, impurity, or greed, as these are improper for holy people. Obscenity, foolish talk, and coarse joking are also out of place; instead, there should be thanksgiving. Paul warns that no immoral, impure, or greedy person (who is an idolater) will inherit the kingdom of Christ and God. Believers are not to be deceived by empty words or partner with the disobedient, for God’s wrath comes upon them.

Steve stresses that Christians were once darkness—living like the world—but have been made aware of their misalignment with God and have been reconciled to Him. Now they are light in the Lord. By becoming aware of acceptable and unacceptable behavior, Christians live in a way that reflects God’s desires. As they walk as children of light, their lives produce fruit: goodness, righteousness, and truth—qualities the world lacks but recognizes as desirable. Through their Christlike conduct, Christians become light to others, subtly condemning worldly ways by living differently.

Steve reiterates Ephesians 5:8-14, calling believers to have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness but rather to expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret, yet everything exposed by the light becomes visible, and what is illuminated becomes light. This leads to the quotation: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

He connects this to Jesus’ mission in John 1: Jesus, the light, came demonstrating a life that God fully endorses, exposing humanity’s misalignment with God. The darkness could not overcome or defeat Him. John the Baptist served only as a witness to this true light. Those who receive and believe in Jesus are given the right to become God’s children.

Steve explains that Jesus’ life exposed the hypocrisy of the religious leaders—Pharisees, Sadducees, and priests—who performed outward rituals but lacked true righteousness in their hearts. Their reaction to Jesus revealed their discomfort with His superior light. Similarly, Christians today, by living righteously, expose the shortcomings of those around them. Their transformed lives shine, making others aware that they are out of step with God, while also offering the same opportunity Jesus gave: the chance to repent and become children of God.

The section concludes by noting that light not only exposes but transforms the illuminated into light itself. Steve begins transitioning toward Romans 1:18, mentioning that it describes God’s wrath against those who suppress the truth by their wickedness, but the transcript cuts off at this point.

Steve continues reading from Romans 1, explaining that God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and wickedness of people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. What may be known about God is plain to them because God has made it plain through creation. Since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen and understood from what has been made, so people are without excuse.

He highlights verse 21: Although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him. Their thinking became futile, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal humans, birds, animals, and reptiles.

Steve emphasizes that Jesus came into the world to make people aware of God, to help them appreciate who God is, and to understand their relationship with Him as Father. Through Jesus, the world first became aware that God desires to be their Father. Jesus was the first to acknowledge and teach God as Father in this intimate way. Before Jesus, people knew God only as He revealed Himself, but Jesus brought the revelation of God as Father.

As Christians, believers are the light of the world and are expected to fulfill that role. Steve returns to Matthew 5:13-16, noting that believers are the salt of the earth, and if salt loses its saltiness, it is worthless and thrown out to be trampled. Then, Jesus declares believers are the light of the world: a town on a hill cannot be hidden, and people do not light a lamp and put it under a bowl but place it on its stand to give light to everyone in the house. In the same way, Christians are to let their light shine before others so that people may see their good deeds and glorify their Father in heaven.

Steve explains that when believers' lives are exposed to non-Christians—friends, relatives, or anyone they encounter—their godly conduct exposes others' misalignment with God. People become aware they are not like believers and are not recognizing God as Father. This awareness often provokes mean or rebellious reactions, just as it did with Jesus. What led to Jesus' crucifixion was the sin He exposed in the religious leaders—scribes, Pharisees, and priests—who appeared religious but whose hearts were not right. When sin is exposed, it fights back, defends itself, and justifies itself. The only way for those in sin to respond is either to eliminate the source of exposure (as they did with Jesus) or, if they are of the right mind, to repent and accept the message of reconciliation.

Those who repent desire to be right with God, to be righteous, to receive God’s blessings, to glorify Him, and to acknowledge that God has always been present in their lives, sustaining them. God sustains the entire world regardless of whether people walk in light or darkness. Paul points out in Romans that God provides this sustenance to give people time to repent and recognize that they cannot meet their own needs—God meets them. Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6) not to worry about food, clothing, or shelter, because God knows what people need before they ask. God sustains the world universally, whether in places like Venezuela, Russia, Africa, Minnesota, or anywhere else. People have homes, warmth, clothes, and food—all provided by God.

Steve stresses that these provisions come from God, and He wants people to recognize this truth. He references 1 John 1, which teaches Christians to walk in the light and live lives that expose darkness.

He shares an illustration from his classroom experiences: A teacher would write the next day’s homework assignment on the blackboard, then conduct the class. The following day, she would ask everyone to turn in their homework. Most students reacted with surprise ("Homework? Who said there was homework?"), but one student who had taken the assignment seriously would submit it. That one student’s obedience condemned the rest of the class by showing they had no excuse.

In the same way, God has made His will clear to all mankind. Everyone has access to what God requires for reconciliation and eternal life with Him in heaven. No one can claim ignorance, and if anyone could, God would know and address it—but there is no such person. People are expected to believe that Jesus is the Christ, whom God sent as the example, who offered Himself as a sacrifice for sins, and whose blood was presented to God for forgiveness.

Jesus commissioned His disciples to go into all the world, making disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He taught that whoever believes and is baptized will be saved. This is the gospel message: God desires everyone to be with Him eternally in heaven and has provided the way through faith in Jesus. He invites people to believe, have faith, accept, and respond to this message.

Steve concludes by extending an invitation: "Is there anyone here this morning that needs to react to that?" He encourages those who do to respond as the congregation stands together to sing the song of encouragement.