MRBC August Communion Service

This Sunday 7th August it’s our Communion service at 10-30am, live at Church. Mark will be exploring the theme Just Add Salt

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For Reflection and Discussion

  1. Try to think of all the things we use salt for. Jesus used the phrase “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again?” in each of the Synoptic Gospels. Which of the uses of salt you just identified most useful as analogies in describing spiritual truths?
  2. Read Matthew 5:14-16. How do the pictures of salt and light help us in understanding what Jesus’ is expecting of His disciples? How may ignoring that call render the witness of an individual or church worthless?
  3. Read Luke 14:25-35. Jesus gives a clear call to discipleship. It seems what He is asking is extreme and this may again be hyperbole for effect. If so, what is the point Jesus trying to make? Why is it so important that we understand the true cost of following Jesus?
  4. Read Mark 9:42-50. Jesus uses hyperbole here to challenge the disciples about their personal behaviour and their relationships with younger or weaker believers. Why are these things so important that Jesus uses extreme language to make His point?
  5. “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again?” Jesus suggest in all three passages that there is a point of no return for those who place themselves in position where they are no longer spiritually salty. There are quite a few deep spiritual issues here you may want to reflect on – like what that point of no return actually means for individual Christians and churches. That said, you may want to consider that Jesus said all these things to ensure His disciples pulled up short of losing their spiritual saltiness!