Matthew 5:11–16 NLT — 11 God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. 12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way. 13 You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. 14 You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Expect persecution:

• They will know that we are His followers. 
• They will SAY all sorts of evil against us.
• Be happy about it—be VERY GLAD. 

The ancient prophets were persecuted. This means that what we SAY will make us DISTINCT.

1. SALT — We are the PRESERVATION of society (our morals).

1. We preserve society. The morals of Christians are the true ethical foundation of our society.
2. ABSTINENCE — What do we stay away from? 
3. ADVOCACY — What are we for? 
4. ACTION — What do we do? 
5. ATTITUDES — What is our state of being?

2. LIGHT — We are REVELATION to society (our message).

1. John 3:19–21 NLT — 19 And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. 20 All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. 21 But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.
2. Our words point to JESUS, the light.
3. Our words point to TRUTH.
4. Our words point to WISDOM.

3. CITY — We are a DEMONSTRATION to society (our model).

1. We model community.
   1. Cities represent a gathering of people. 
   2. John 13:34–35 NLT — 34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.
2. We model stability and dependability.
   1. In Bible days, people looked to a city for security. Living in a city in Jesus’ day was for the wealthy. They had the protection of the walls.
3. We model lifestyle.
   1. Marriage, money, business, family
   2. A city is looked at as the model of culture. 
4. We model the city of God.
   1. We are the examples of what the kingdom of God is supposed to look like.

A challenge:

• Are you okay being different, possibly even considered strange? 
• Are you willing to be persecuted for what you believe? 
• Are you willing to live differently?
• Are you willing to speak truth?
• Are you willing to demonstrate the city of God?