Meeting guide · command 53

Be Salty

Retain the preserving character Jesus gives and live at peace with one another.

Read

Read the complete passage aloud.

Primary passage

Mark 9:49–50

49 For everyone will be salted with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

World English Bible

After warnings about stumbling and judgment, Jesus speaks of salt, inner character, and peace within the disciple community.

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. How do distinctive holiness and peace belong together rather than pulling disciples in opposite directions?

Practice

Choose one specific act of obedience.

Identify one rivalry, resentment, or corrosive conversation in your community and take a truthful step toward peace without concealing harm.

Return

Come back and discuss what happened.

What step toward peace did you take, and how did faithful character shape it?

Close together

Pray. Then prepare to teach.

Pray

Jesus, preserve what is faithful in us, purify what is corrupt, and make us people who create truthful peace.

Teach

Keep salt and peace joined in Jesus' conclusion; distinctiveness that produces pride or division has missed His purpose.