Sermon Title: How do I Become a Kingdom Influencer?
Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16
Passage Summary: Jesus provides two metaphors to help us understand who we are as His followers. Our identity teaches us how to influence our world for His Kingdom.
Main Question: What does being salt and light tangibly look like for me (for my hearers)?
Main Thought: We protect (salt) and serve (light) others in the name of Jesus for the good of others and the glory of the Father.
Matthew 5:13-16 “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.
Engage: The Rise of the Influencers
The Evolution of the Influencers
1. Early Blogging & YouTube Era (2000s)
- Before “influencers” became a common term, bloggers and YouTubers were the pioneers.
- Platforms like Blogger, WordPress, and YouTube (launched in 2005) allowed individuals to share thoughts, experiences, and expertise on various topics.
2. Rise of Social Media & Sponsored Content (2010s)
- Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat enabled influencers to grow massive audiences quickly.
- Brands began partnering with influencers to promote products, seeing them as more relatable and trustworthy than traditional celebrities.
- Instagram’s growth (especially after its 2012 acquisition by Facebook) fueled visual-based content, leading to the rise of lifestyle, fitness, fashion, and travel influencers.
3. The Age of Viral Content & Niche Influencers (Mid-2010s – Late 2010s)
- Platforms like Vine (short-form video, 2013-2017) and later TikTok (2016) introduced fast, engaging content that made everyday people famous overnight.
- The rise of micro-influencers (10K–100K followers) showed that smaller, more engaged audiences could be more valuable than massive followings.
- Influencers began shaping not just trends but political and social movements, from activism to awareness campaigns.
4. TikTok & The Creator Economy Boom (2020s – Present)
- TikTok revolutionized influencer culture with its algorithm, making it easier for anyone to go viral.
- The pandemic (2020) accelerated online content consumption, creating new influencer stars in gaming, finance, education, and even faith-based content.
- Platforms like YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, and monetization options (Patreon, Substack, brand deals) made content creation a viable career.
Today: The Era of Influence & Responsibility
- Influencers now shape culture, trends, and even real-world events.
- Some use their platforms for positive impact (philanthropy, education, advocacy), while others face backlash for misleading promotions, scandals, or misinformation.
- As influence grows, so does the responsibility to use it wisely.
Examples of Influencers Making a Positive Difference in the World
Stephen Sharer, creator of the “Stephen Sharer” YouTube channel, has positively influenced the world through his content and actions. His channel features engaging videos of stunts, experiments, challenges, and adventures, generating a substantial following. Beyond entertainment, Sharer has participated in philanthropic efforts. Notably, in 2019, he collaborated with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to fulfill the wish of an eight-year-old terminally ill fan named James. Together, they embarked on a backyard adventure inspired by Sharer’s “Pond Monster” series, bringing joy and memorable experiences to the young fan. This act exemplifies how Sharer uses his platform to make a positive impact beyond his regular content.
Another example of an influencer shaping culture and behavior is MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) and his philanthropy-driven content. MrBeast, one of the most popular YouTubers in the world, has used his influence to impact real-world events and causes.
One notable example is his #TeamTrees and #TeamSeas campaigns. In 2019, MrBeast partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation to launch #TeamTrees, pledging to plant one tree for every dollar donated. His initial goal was 20 million trees, and thanks to his influence and support from other influencers and celebrities, over 24 million trees have been planted worldwide.
Similarly, in 2021, he launched #TeamSeas, a campaign to remove trash from the ocean, raising over $30 million to clean up 30 million pounds of plastic and debris. His influence went beyond just views and likes—he mobilized millions of people to take action for the environment.
TRANSITION
These modern examples show how a single person or small group, using digital influence, can create tangible, positive change. In the same way, Jesus calls His followers to be influencers in their world, not just with words but with actual actions that point people toward God’s goodness, resulting in them giving Him honor.
According to a 2023 Morning Consult survey, 57% of Gen Zers (those born between 1997 and 2012) want to be social media influencers. This interest is roughly equal across gender, race, and income.
If I were to ask you this morning, do you want to be an influencer? How would you answer? Many of us may have no desire to be social media influencers like the ones mentioned, yet some may. However, when it comes to being a follower of Jesus, an influencer is what you are to be. We are to be Kingdom Influencers; Jesus expects this of us. So, how do we influence our world for the Kingdom of God?
Using two metaphors, Jesus explains how He expects us to influence our world for our Heavenly Father.
BOOK: Matthew 5:13-16
To be a Kingdom Influencer, we must be Salt.
Matthew 5:13 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.
Before going any further, I want to point out something interesting and important. Notice that Jesus tells His followers (then and now) that we are salt and we are light (you in verses thirteen and fourteen is plural; it is also emphatic, communicating that Jesus’ followers are the only salt and light in the world). This is who we are as people who are poor in spirit, who have recognized and accepted our spiritual bankruptcy and our need for Him. We are salt and light; now, what does this mean for positively influencing our world for our King’s Kingdom?
Throughout history, salt has been a highly valued commodity. In ancient Greece, it was even called theon—meaning “divine.” The Romans considered salt second in value only to the sun, and Roman soldiers were sometimes paid in salt, giving rise to the expression “not worth his salt.”
Beyond its economic value, salt holds a deep cultural and symbolic meaning. Many ancient societies used it as a mark of friendship—sharing salt signified a mutual responsibility for one another’s well-being, even among enemies. Salt also played a role in covenants, much like a modern notarized contract. In biblical tradition, offerings were to include salt as a sign of the covenant (Leviticus 2:13), and God’s promise to David was described as a covenant of salt (2 Chronicles 13:5).
Given these associations, Jesus’ listeners—whether Greek, Roman, or Jewish—would have understood salt as something of immense worth. Though they may not have grasped His full meaning, they knew He was declaring that His followers had a vital role in the world.
What Did Jesus Mean by “Salt of the Earth”?
Interpreters have suggested various symbolic meanings for salt in this passage:
- Purity – Some see salt’s whiteness as representing moral and spiritual purity, aligning with Jesus’ call for His followers to be “pure in heart” (Matthew 5:8). Christians are to contrast with the world’s corruption, standing as beacons of righteousness (James 1:27).
- Flavor – Others argue that salt adds flavor, just as Christians should bring a distinct, enriching presence to the world. Some have even suggested, “Christians have no business being boring.” However, historically, the world has not found Christianity attractive—often rejecting it as restrictive and stifling.
- A Sting to the Conscience – Since salt can irritate wounds, some believe Jesus meant that Christians should prick the world’s conscience by boldly standing for truth. The church’s role is not to conform to the world but to call it to repentance—even when that message is unwelcome (2 Corinthians 2:15-16).
- Creating Thirst – Just as salt makes people thirsty, believers should live in a way that creates a thirst for God in others. When people witness the peace, faith, and hope of true disciples, they should be drawn to the source of that transformation.
The Primary Meaning: Preservation
While these interpretations all have merit, the primary function of salt in Jesus’ time was preservation. Without refrigeration, salt was essential for preventing decay—especially in meat. Likewise, Christians are called to be a preserving influence in a decaying world. Through their presence, they slow the spread of moral and spiritual corruption.
What does “lose its flavor mean?”
In Palestine, much of the salt, particularly from the Dead Sea, was often contaminated with gypsum and other minerals, rendering it tasteless and even repulsive. When such impure salt was discovered in a household, it was discarded. However, because it was harmful to soil and crops, it was not thrown onto gardens or fields. Instead, it was cast onto roads and pathways, where it would be trampled underfoot and gradually disappear.
In a technical sense, salt cannot lose its saltiness. However, when contaminated, it loses its effectiveness and becomes worthless for its intended purpose.
Luke 14:34-35 “Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? 35 Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!”
Jesus was not speaking of losing salvation. Scripture assures us that true believers are eternally secure:
John 10:27-28 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me,
Romans 8:30 And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.
A Christian cannot lose salvation, just as pure salt cannot lose its inherent saltiness. However, a believer can become ineffective in God’s kingdom when sin and worldliness corrupt their life. This aligns with a common New Testament theme: believers are declared righteous, holy, and set apart, yet they sometimes fail to live accordingly (Romans 7:15-25). Peter warns that such a life leads to a loss of assurance (2 Peter 1:9-10), though not a loss of salvation.
Jesus’ warning serves as a sobering reminder: if a believer becomes so compromised by sin that they no longer influence the world for God’s glory, they risk becoming spiritually ineffective, like tasteless salt, fit only to be discarded.
Gavin unhooked the freezer and lost our meat. When the freezer was unplugged from its power source, it could not keep our meat from deteriorating, for it conformed to the summer temperature around it. When we disconnect ourselves and the way we organize and live our lives from God’s Word in knowledge, practice, and application, we are powerless to keep the areas in our lives from being wrecked by sin, including the lives of those we love deeply. We can no longer make a difference and slow down the decay caused by sin in our lives, marriages, families, workplaces, communities, and churches because we have disconnected ourselves from the spiritual power source that keeps us different.
LOVE LIFE’S STORY My journey began in 2012 when friends took me to a local abortion center to show me the atrocity taking place in our city. When I heard the tragic truths of abortion, I was shocked and sad to see so few actively doing anything about it. The Holy Spirit convicted me of my own lack of action and I knew that needed to change. After much prayer, He downloaded a strategy in my heart to end abortion in Charlotte by uniting and mobilizing the Church.” – Justin Reeder, Love Life Founder
- Started in Charlotte, NC – Now in 25 cities across the country
- Has partnered with 1,300 plus churches
- 6,200 plus babies saved from abortion
- 81 plus abortion workers leave the industry
- 1,000 people make decisions for Jesus as lord of their lives
- As of November 2024
Salt Application
Internalize God’s Word
- Personal Holiness Pursued
- Habits of conviction, confession, correction
- Let my love for God be my motivation and dictation for loving others.
- Public Holiness Practiced
- Prayer
- In our marriages (purity, respect, love)
- In our families (kids, grandkids) – media, school, influences
- Those who have fostered, adopted, or added children to your family
- Breaking unhealthy and harmful family cycles
- Doing business with integrity
- Schooling achievements with integrity
- In our churches, we stand for correct doctrine and gently but firmly explain away false beliefs.
- Through counseling and preserving the marriage, family, and life, the enemy wants to break down.
- Marked Men, Women’s Walk
Conclusion
As the salt of the earth, Christians are called to prevent the decay of society, stand for truth, and live in a way that points others to God. Whether through purity, influence, conviction, or creating spiritual thirst, believers must embrace their role as a preserving and transformative force in the world. If we lose our distinctiveness, we become ineffective—and our marriages, families, neighborhoods, churches, nation, and the world, rather than being preserved, will descend further into corruption.
To be a Kingdom Influencer, we must be Light.
Matthew 5:14-16 “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.
Jesus also calls us to be light: “You are the light of the world.” While salt works subtly, light is visible. Salt influences indirectly, preserving and restraining corruption, whereas light actively illuminates and reveals truth. Salt works from within, but light shines outward. The influence of salt is mainly in how we live, while light is about what we proclaim. Salt prevents decay, but it cannot transform what is already corrupt. On the other hand, light exposes what is wrong and brings forth what is right.
Luke describes Jesus’ ministry in Acts 1:1, saying it included “all that Jesus began to do and teach.” Christ’s mission was never just about living righteously—it also involved proclaiming the truth. Likewise, our calling as believers is to reflect both His character and His message.
As Jesus came to shine upon those who sit in darkness (Matthew 4:16), we, too, are called to bring light into a dark and fallen world. Christ is the true light, and we are His reflections—He is the Sun, and we are like moons, reflecting His radiance.
2 Corinthians 4:6 (CEV) The Scriptures say, “God commanded light to shine in the dark.” Now God is shining in our hearts to let you know that his glory is seen in Jesus Christ.
The Jews were entrusted with God’s light, called to be a light to the nations (Isaiah 49:6), but when they rejected that light, they lost their ability to shine. They claimed to be guides to the blind, yet Paul rebuked them for being “blind guides” (Romans 2:19-21). They possessed the truth but did not live by it, leading Paul to challenge them (Romans 2:21-22). Their failure to live by the light rendered them useless as guides. In contrast, believers are called to shine as lights in a dark and perverse world (Philippians 2:15).
Light must be visible to fulfill its purpose. Just as a city on a hill cannot be hidden, neither should believers conceal their faith. A city is seen by day through its structures and by night through its lights. In the same way, a hidden Christian is a contradiction—faith is meant to be seen and heard.
Since Jerusalem sat on a hill, Jesus’ hearers could have pictured the city as He spoke about a city on a hill with its lights radiating at night. However, other cities were situated around the Sea of Galilee that His disciples or others could have glanced at for a concrete visual of what it means to be a city on a hill regarding being His followers.
It seems the most likely city to be viewed from the site of Jesus’ teachings would have been Hippos (Sussita). It was only 10 miles southeast of the location believed to be the setting of our Master’s sermon. The city sat 1,000 feet above the Sea of Galilee. From the western side of the lake (where Jesus likely taught), Hippos would have been visible, especially at night when their lights would shine. As a pagan city, Hippos may have been a striking example for Jesus’ Jewish audience, contrasting a city of worldly influence with the kingdom influence He called His followers to have.
God did not give the gospel to be hoarded in secret but to illuminate the entire world (John 1:9). Many will reject the light and those who carry it, but the mission remains the same (Mark 16:15). The gospel does not belong to us alone—it is God’s truth for all people. As followers of Christ, we are both salt and light—and we must live out that calling faithfully.
The call to let good works shine (Matthew 5:16) aligns with the idea of bearing fruit in keeping with repentance (Matthew 3:8). It does not contradict Jesus’ warning against performing righteous acts for self-glorification (Matthew 6:1). His warning is against self-glorification, here He calls on us to show our faith is genuine by doing good works that point others to the Father.
A Western North Carolina church is seeing God move and change lives in the community hard-hit by Hurricane Helene and other widespread challenges from recent years. Leaders credit serving the community, ongoing revitalization efforts and a focus on the Great Commission.
When Hurricane Helene hit Canton, N.C., last September, the community was already reeling from “a trifecta of disasters” over the last several years.
Flooding from Tropical Storm Fred destroyed homes in August 2021. In May 2023, the closure of the Canton paper mill, once one of Haywood County’s largest employers, left more than 1,000 without a job. Long-term effects from the COVID-19 pandemic lingered.
Then Helene wreaked “catastrophic destruction,” said Dan Page, senior pastor of Crestview Baptist Church.
But now Crestview is seeing “Romans 8:28 right in front of our eyes.”
Between December and February, the church celebrated 20 baptisms. Page described the recent months as a season of harvest, marking a turn for the church that lost about 40 percent of its membership during the height of the pandemic.
“The bad, bad things that have come against us have culminated in the most amazing grace of God and salvation in this community,” he said.
Page credits much of this fruit to community outreach in the wake of Hurricane Helene. When downtown Canton and many neighborhoods flooded, and with church and community members affected, Crestview quickly jumped into action.
On Oct. 6, Baptists on Mission set up disaster relief operations on Crestview’s campus. Church members volunteered to distribute meals and supplies. Rebuild teams have been working out of the Crestview site since early November, and the church continues to use classroom space to house and feed 40 volunteers every day.
Serving their community in need opened doors to ministry, giving Crestview opportunities to connect with families and share the gospel. They’ve seen growth particularly in age and cultural diversity. A Hispanic couple from Nicaragua and Honduras was baptized in the beginning of the year. A college student has been translating for her parents and grandparents. Page said they are hungry for the Word, and the church is exploring language resources to disciple them.
Jarred Rathbone, Crestview’s youth pastor, baptized five students in February. One is discerning a call to ministry.
“It’s been really cool to see God move in the lives of our students, even in the wake of the situations that they’ve been facing with the flood,” Rathbone said.
He said while the baptized youth didn’t originally connect with the church through the recovery efforts, there have been families that have been drawn to the youth ministry because of it.
Rathbone, a bi-vocational minister, was able to take two weeks off from his full-time job to spend time at the church when the relief and recovery work began. He said it was “almost life changing to see … [us] coming back to a community that leans on each other in need. … We’re not as disconnected as we think we are.”
“It’s opened my eyes to what unity brings about … and how the church has come together, working toward one goal of helping the people that have been affected by this flood.”
“Situations like that are evident of His mercy and his grace,” Rathbone said. “Our hope in Him never fails.”
Crestview has participated in the Fill the Tank baptism initiative for two years, and the church plans to take part in it again on April 27. After seeing someone put their faith in Jesus almost every week in recent months, Page is expectant and hopeful about celebrating more baptisms. He said he has found it helpful to focus on a specific day with a specific goal of reaching others and baptizing them.
Jason Miller is N.C. Baptists’ Great Commission catalyst working with Crestview. He called the church a “testament to what God can do when we say ‘yes’ to His mission.’”
“Under Pastor Dan’s leadership, the church has embraced a calling to serve their community and share the gospel. As a BOM host site, they have played a crucial role in rebuilding lives after Hurricane Helene,” Miller said. “This gospel-driven outreach has sparked renewal and remarkable evangelistic growth.”
“Every baptism is a reminder that God has the final word. Though the floodwaters have receded, His river of life now flows through those who have put their faith in Jesus, been baptized, are being discipled, and are carrying the hope of Christ to their families and community,” said Miller.
Page encourages every church and every believer to look for the open door God has given them. He said Crestview’s focus on reaching the community came out of having “synchronized the ministry around the Great Commission.”
Years of revitalization work are “finally bearing really good fruit.”
Practical Application for being light
- Do the right things with the right motive!
- Personally –
- Marriage – serve your spouse, husbands serve your wives without expecting anything in return
- Families – serve your children; do the things you don’t want to do because they want to do them with you. Children, serve your siblings and parents.
- Church – serve, not to be seen by others, but so others see your Father through you.
- Community – serve neighbors, build relationships
- World
- Examples within church
- Team that went to WNC, collection of items for WNC
- OCC
- Backpack Beginnings
- Homeless Ministries – YAMs Tomorrow
- Westwood
- Kaylee Johnson – The Balkans
- Lydia Terry – India
- JP Cawilli – Philippines
TRANSITION
These metaphors challenge believers regarding their role in society. While Christians are not called to control secular power structures or enforce religious values on the world, they must remain active as preservative agents—sometimes even as irritants—calling people to God’s standards. The church must resist forming isolated enclaves that withdraw from the world’s attention; instead, it should remain engaged, impacting God’s kingdom.
REFLECTION / INSPIRATION
In his book Unimaginable, Jeremiah J. Johnston provides evidence for how we who have been blessed by God keeping his promise to Abraham are blessing this nation in which we live. A Pew Research study revealed that 63% of atheists and agnostics think places of worship “contribute not much or nothing at all to solving important social problems.”While everyone is entitled to their opinion, research has shown that faith positively impacts our nation’s well-being.
The following are examples of how God still blesses all people through Abraham’s descendants.
•There are about 350,000 religious congregations in the U.S., and a “vast majority…serve in some capacity as a community safety net for those in need.
•Together with faith-based organizations, congregations help over 70 million Americans annually.
•Over 60% of the 46,000 agencies working with food banks nationwide are faith-based organizations.
•Churches and faith-based organizations are vital in disasters. In light of Hurricane Katrina, a network of more than 50 churches distributed 62 million pounds of resources throughout the storm-stricken region of Louisiana.
Baylor University has ample evidence to conclude that “the total savings to U.S. Society from America’s religiousness is $2.67 trillion per year.
•It is estimated that the nearly 353,000 clergy who serve their communities at little or no cost to those who receive counseling provide about 138 million hours of mental health services per year.
•Baylor’s research concludes that “should all Americans become non-attenders (of church), mental health costs could increase as much as $216 billion.
•Followers of Christ have also helped overthrow slavery twice, in the Roman Empire and the USA, and many are currently fighting against human trafficking, modern-day slavery. There are over 45 million people enslaved throughout the world today.
•The teachings of Jesus in action through his disciples give people’s lives value at every age and stage regardless of color, race, gender, creed, or health.
• Teachings of Christianity have given women a voice and value, something foreign to the pre-Christian world.
•Christianity has positively affected education and healthcare, laying the foundations for hospitals and universities.
ACTION
Far from God – Jesus preserver, restorer, warmth, and guide
Follower – How will I influence? How will you influence? How will we influence?
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