The Power of Influence
Salt and Light: Turning
Our Why Into Action
Since 2019, Bridgepoint Church has come together for something we call 30 Ways in 30 Days.
The idea is simple.
Find 30 or more different people or organizations in our community and look for ways to serve them.
Sometimes that means partnering with an established organization. Other times, it's recognizing a need in our neighborhood, workplace, or community and deciding to do something about it.
These acts of service don't have to be enormous or complicated.
They simply have to be intentional.
Because there's an important truth we cannot overlook:
There has to be a “what” with our “why.”
Over the past two weeks, we've explored our purpose in this world. Jesus told us that we exist to love God with everything we are, love our neighbors as ourselves, and help others follow Him.
But understanding our purpose is only the beginning.
At some point, love must become action.
And Jesus made it clear that every one of His followers has a responsibility to influence the world around them.
You Are Salt and Light
In Matthew 5, Jesus makes two remarkable statements about His followers.
“You are the salt of the earth…”Matthew 5:13 (NKJV)
“You are the light of the world…”Matthew 5:14 (NKJV)
Notice what Jesus didn't say.
He didn't say you might become salt and light someday.
He didn't say you could be salt and light if you had enough education, influence, experience, or spiritual maturity.
He said, “You are.”
Every follower of Jesus has been given a responsibility to influence the world.
In Jesus' day, salt was valuable because of its ability to preserve food and slow decay.
In the same way, Christians are called to have a preserving influence in the culture around them.
Light serves a different purpose.
It provides direction.
It helps people see what they otherwise couldn't see.
And as followers of Jesus, our lives should point people toward Him.
Salt represents preservation. Light represents direction.
We are called to be both.
Jesus goes on to explain why:
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”Matthew 5:16 (NKJV)
Our actions matter because they create opportunities for people to see God's goodness.
Whether we're serving a neighbor, helping a struggling family, meeting a practical need, or partnering with a local ministry, our purpose remains the same.
Love people in ways that point them toward Jesus.
Putting Love Into Action
One example of this mission in our community is the work of Treasure Valley Path Pregnancy Center.
During the service, we welcomed Faith Pothier from Path to help our church better understand the organization's work and the challenges faced by women and families experiencing unexpected pregnancies.
Path provides services including pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, pregnancy consultations, education, parenting resources, and support following pregnancy loss.
These services are offered free of charge, with the goal of helping individuals and families navigate difficult circumstances with care, compassion, and practical support.
Organizations like Path demonstrate how community partnerships can turn concern into meaningful action.
Because it's one thing to say we care about people.
It's another thing to walk alongside them when life becomes complicated.
And that's exactly where the church has an opportunity to make a difference.
Faith in a Complicated World
The conversation also addressed one of the most emotionally charged and debated issues in our culture: abortion.
Following the Supreme Court's 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, states gained greater authority to establish their own abortion laws.
In Idaho, questions surrounding existing abortion restrictions and the proposed Proposition 1 have brought renewed attention to reproductive healthcare, pregnancy complications, parental involvement, and the legal protections available to patients and medical professionals.
These are serious questions with real consequences for individuals and families.
Christians may encounter different interpretations of the law, different personal experiences, and deeply held convictions.
But the sermon challenged us to consider a foundational question before responding to any cultural issue:
What does God's Word teach us about the value of human life?
Wonderfully Made
Psalm 139 offers a deeply personal picture of God's knowledge of us.
“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb.”Psalm 139:13 (NKJV)
David describes God's involvement in his life before he was even born.
He continues:
“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…”Psalm 139:14 (NKJV)
Think about the complexity of human development.
From the earliest stages of life, an extraordinary process unfolds as cells divide, tissues form, and the human body develops.
David's words invite us to recognize the wonder of that process and the God he believed was intimately involved in his creation.
“My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret…”Psalm 139:15 (NKJV)
Even before anyone else could see him, David understood himself to be known by God.
And then comes another remarkable statement:
“Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me…”Psalm 139:16 (NKJV)
The sermon emphasized something important about these verses.
David doesn't describe himself as an impersonal object.
He uses deeply personal language.
Me. My. I.
The passage expresses a conviction that human life is known and valued by God even before birth.
Jeremiah 1:5 carries a related message. God tells Jeremiah that He knew him before forming him in the womb and had appointed him for a particular calling.
These passages remind us of a powerful biblical truth:
Human worth is not something we earn through accomplishment, independence, ability, or recognition.
Our value begins with the God who created us.
And that understanding should shape the way we treat others.
Our Influence Comes With Responsibility
It's easy to look at the problems in our world and feel overwhelmed.
The issues are complicated.
People disagree.
Conversations become emotional.
And sometimes it seems easier to withdraw entirely.
But Jesus didn't call His followers to isolate themselves from the world.
He called them to be salt and light in it.
That requires awareness.
It requires compassion.
And sometimes it requires the courage to engage in conversations that aren't easy.
For Christians, being informed means taking the time to understand an issue rather than relying on rumors, headlines, or emotionally charged arguments.
It means listening carefully, asking thoughtful questions, and considering how our faith informs the way we respond.
Being involved can mean serving through local organizations, supporting families facing hardship, offering practical assistance, participating responsibly in community life, or advocating for people whose needs might otherwise go unnoticed.
Not everyone will agree with us.
And not every conversation will be comfortable.
But disagreement doesn't excuse cruelty.
We are called to speak with both truth and grace.
The Goal Is Bigger Than Winning an Argument
One of the most important reminders from this message is that Christians must never lose sight of the people involved in difficult conversations.
It's possible to become so focused on proving a point that we forget the person standing in front of us.
We can become more concerned with winning an argument than demonstrating the character of Jesus.
But our mission has never been simply to win debates.
Our goal is to help people encounter Christ.
That changes how we approach disagreement.
It calls us to listen before responding.
To speak truth without contempt.
To demonstrate conviction without abandoning compassion.
To remember that every person we encounter is someone God calls us to love.
Being salt and light doesn't mean becoming louder, angrier, or more argumentative than the world around us.
It means allowing our lives to reflect something different.
Something that points people toward Jesus.
Grace Is for Everyone
For some people, conversations about abortion, pregnancy, and difficult decisions bring painful memories.
There may be regret.
There may be guilt.
There may be grief or experiences that have never been shared with anyone.
If that's part of your story, there's something you need to hear:
Jesus loves you.
His grace is not reserved for people with perfect histories.
None of us has lived a life without sin.
Every person in the church has fallen short.
Every one of us needs forgiveness.
And the beautiful message of the Gospel is that Jesus offers that forgiveness.
Your past does not have to define your future.
Your mistakes do not place you beyond the reach of God's mercy.
And whatever you've experienced, you don't have to carry it alone.
Everyone needs grace. And God's grace is available to everyone who comes to Him.
What Does Salt and Light
Look Like in Your Life?
t's easy to admire the idea of making a difference.
It's harder to take the first step.
But Jesus didn't call us merely to appreciate the concept of loving our neighbors.
He called us to actually love them.
That might mean volunteering with a community organization.
It might mean supporting a family experiencing an unexpected pregnancy.
It might mean helping someone navigate a difficult season, giving generously, offering your professional skills, or simply being present when someone needs encouragement.
It might mean learning more about an issue before forming an opinion.
Or it might mean having a difficult conversation with someone while choosing to demonstrate patience, humility, and grace.
The opportunities are different for each of us.
But the responsibility is shared.
We all have a non-negotiable power of influence.
The question isn't whether our lives influence others.
The question is what we're doing with that influence.
Let Your Light Shine
Jesus gave us our purpose.
Love God. Love people where they are. Help others follow Jesus.
And He gave us a way to live out that purpose.
Be salt. Be light.
Preserve what is good.
Point people toward truth.
Care for the vulnerable.
Serve your community.
Speak with grace.
And let your actions demonstrate the love of Christ.
That's the heart behind 30 Ways in 30 Days.
It's not simply about completing 30 acts of service.
It's about developing a way of life in which our faith becomes visible through the way we treat others.
Because the world doesn't just need to hear what Christians believe.
It needs to see what the love of Jesus looks like.
So ask yourself:
Where has God placed me to be salt?
Whose path can I help illuminate?
What can I do this week that turns my “why” into action?
Jesus said it best:
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”Matthew 5:16 (NKJV)
There has to be a “what” with our “why.”
And that “what” begins with choosing to love, serve, and shine right where God has placed us.
Comments