Part 3 - James 2:8-9

Big idea: What choice do we have to make that changes a culture of loneliness to one of connectivity? 

Main Point: Reclaiming salty

Sub-Point 1: Cross the street

Sub-Point 2: Shake the Flavor.

Prophetic Thought: Culture would push us into cliques and factions: the haves and have-nots, the ins and the outs. This favoritism breeds deep resentment and bitterness, causing the moral and physical decay of families and communities through division and conflict. Where have bitterness, anger, and hate started to fester in our own lives? When unconditional love is chosen instead, it moves us together for our benefit and the benefit of others. Christ so loved us in our moral and physical decay that He sent His Son to die so that we may be completely united with our Creator.

Application: Reclaiming salty. We stay salty by surrounding ourselves with other disciples who challenge us to love well because iron sharpens iron, meaning that if you hang out with cynical, exclusive people, you will become exclusive, but if you hang out with salty people, you learn to love like Jesus. Salty people do not show favoritism; instead, they foster community connection because we can’t hoard God's love for ourselves. When we choose to step out and be the salt and light, our prayers become dangerous as we cry out, "Lord, send me," and we begin to partner with those going out locally, regionally, and globally, which might even mean we go ourselves. There is something truly unique about going that not only allows us to show unconditional love to others, but we actually bring some of that transformative love back home with us.