SALT OF THE EARTH
Pastor Mark Warda
Woodland Church
Sunday, March 8, 2026
(Matthew 5:13-16, ESV) “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.”
A. BEING A WITNESS
1. The witness of our church in the community is not just what we do or say, but whowe are.
2. All true believers are witnesses of Christ.
(Acts 2:32, ESV) “This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.”
3. The identity of Woodland is a witness to
- truth in a world of lies
- love in a world of hate
- God in a world of idols
4. Identity is not synonymous with activity.
5. The fact we’re called Christians is because we identify with Christ!
6. The identity of being a witness (noun) precedes the activity of witnessing (verb).
B. WITNESSING AS SALT
1. Salt Preserves
(Proverbs 14:34, ESV) “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.”
2. Salt Cleanses
(Proverbs 30:12, ESV) “There are those who are clean in their own eyes but are not washed of their filth.”
(1 Peter 1:14-16, ESV) “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
If we allow the Holy Spirit to cleanse us of our own sins so that we appear pure and holy as God is holy, then others will see the purity of Christ in us.
Salt purifies as well as cleanses.
(Titus 2:14, ESV) “who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”
3. Salt Creates Thirst
Just as salt creates a thirst for water, we should create a thirst for Jesus.
(Acts 1:8, ESV) “…you will be my witnesses…”
4. Salt Produces Change
(Isaiah 1:16-18. ESV) “Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause. “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”
5. Salt Adds Flavor
We need to present ourselves in such a way that life with Christ is more appealingthan life without Christ.
6. Salt is Valuable
(2 Timothy 2:21, ESV) “Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.”
Growthwork
- Maintain your Christian Identity with the Lord through daily prayer and Bible reading, yes, daily.
- Maintain your Christian Unity with fellow believers by attending weekly church services, yes, weekly.
- Maintain your Christian Witness by being salt in your community.
- Recognizing your value (point 6) to do good work, list how you will live out being salt as described in points 1-5.