Meeting guide · command 4

Let your Light Shine

Live visibly faithful lives so that others see good works and give glory to the Father.

Read

Read the complete passage aloud.

Primary passage

Matthew 5:14–16

14 “You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden. 15 Neither do you light a lamp and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house. 16 Even so, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

World English Bible

Luke

Luke 11:33–36

33 “No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, that those who come in may see the light. 34 The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore when your eye is good, your whole body is also full of light; but when it is evil, your body also is full of darkness. 35 Therefore see whether the light that is in you isn’t darkness. 36 If therefore your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly full of light, as when the lamp with its bright shining gives you light.”

World English Bible

John

John 12:35–36

35 Jesus therefore said to them, “Yet a little while the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, that darkness doesn’t overtake you. He who walks in the darkness doesn’t know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become children of light.” Jesus said these things, and he departed and hid himself from them.

World English Bible

After calling His disciples salt and light, Jesus says that a lamp belongs on a stand rather than hidden from the people who need its light.

Discuss

Listen carefully to what Jesus says.

  1. What does Jesus command?
  2. What does this passage reveal about Him?
  3. Where do we resist this command?
  4. What is difficult or unclear?
  5. What is the difference between letting good works be seen for God’s glory and performing them for personal praise?

Practice

Choose one specific act of obedience.

Do one concrete good work this week that meets a real need. Do it openly enough to be helpful but without seeking recognition, and be ready to name God’s goodness.

Return

Come back and discuss what happened.

Who was helped, what motive did you notice in yourself, and did the action point attention toward God or toward you?

Close together

Pray. Then prepare to teach.

Pray

Father, make our lives clear and useful light. Free us from hiding in fear and from serving for applause.

Teach

Emphasize that the goal of visible obedience is not self-promotion but that others glorify the Father.