Blessed to Be Light

Samuel Rodriguez
Focus When God first spoke, He said, “Let there be light.” As believers, our faith is not
like any other faith. Our faith is transparent, transcendent, and transformational.
Our faith teaches us to cross over obstacles, shout down walls, break through
crowds, and walk on water—even in the midst of a storm. We have a mandate
from God to be light.

Fun
Open Have you ever been on a ministry trip or traveled overseas? What was your
biggest highlight and your biggest challenge?

Review Key Scriptures: Genesis 1:3; Matthew 5:14–16; Galatians 2:20

• Let there be light. God always begins by turning the lights on. Faith and life
require light. We live in dark times, yet in the midst of darkness comes the
truth: Jesus saves, Jesus delivers, Jesus heals, and Jesus is coming back
again. Matthew 5:14 says, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill
cannot be hidden.”

• Be light by who you are. We cannot be light unless we first discover who we
are. We are not to be defined by our past, our circumstances, or what people
say about us. We are defined by Christ and the Spirit of God within us. We
have been crucified with Christ and we no longer live, but Christ lives in us,
and we are the light of the world.
 • Be light by removing obstacles. We are not to hide the light God has given
us. Don’t hide the light; let it shine before all men. God did not give us a spirit
of fear but of power, love, and sound mind. God is calling us to arise and
shine for our light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon us.

• Be light by where you stand. We stand on the undeniable truth that Christ is
the hope of glory. Jesus is the only way for salvation. We also must stand
committed to righteousness and justice. Justice always speaks on behalf of
those who cannot speak. There can be no righteousness without justice.

• Be light by what you do. Every believer is to let their light shine before men
so that others may see their good works and glorify God in heaven. Jesus
changed the world because of who He was, what He said, and what He did;
let us do the same.

*Group Dynamics Idea* Consider inviting a missionary to come and share with your group.
Lead your group to pray for specific needs the missionary may mention and consider
providing him or her with ongoing prayer support and letters of encouragement.

Discuss 1. If someone asked you, “What do Christians do besides go to church on

Sundays?” how would you answer?

2. What does the following statement mean to you? “You are the light of the
world. A city on a hill.” Share with the group.

3. How would you answer someone who thought it too difficult to be a light
because of past difficulties or present challenges?

4. If you had a brother or sister in Christ who was struggling with their identity,
what would you tell them and why?

5. Is it important for the church and believers to be light? What would happen if
the light went out?

6. Break into groups of 3–5 people. Brainstorm 2–4 practical ideas on how we
can be a light to our families, neighbors, and communities this week. After
 everyone has talked through the question, allow a member of each group to
share their ideas.

Take Home As we conclude, remember the following:

• We are light by who we are.
• We are light by removing obstacles.
• We are light by where we stand.
• We are light by what we do.

Prayer Heavenly Father, we praise Your Holy Name. Thank You for creating light
and then for making us Your lights in this world during this time. We know that
we are here for such a time as this to touch our communities and impact our
world. Empower us by Your Holy Spirit to be the light You have called us to
be. We love You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

*New Leader Tip*

Remember to keep all problems and prayer requests confidential unless you have first
received permission to share them with others. Next, help members build relationships with
others by connecting people with common interests, promoting sharing, and fostering an
atmosphere of trust. These two simple acts will help to ensure honest and open community
within your group!