Light: The Brilliance Of God
1 John 1:5
God is light, and in Him, there is no darkness at all.
Matthew 5:14-16
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand,
and it gives light to all in the house.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
The Nature of Light:
Light is invisible, but at the same time, everything we see is because of light.
The Nicene Creed starts with:
“I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.”
God created the world giving us something to see.
He created light giving us a way to see it.
Just As Light Makes All Things Visible, God’s Presence In Our Lives Reveals Truth, Righteousness, And Purpose.
Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
The Nature Of Darkness:
Darkness doesn’t exist on its own; it is the absence of light.
Like darkness, evil is the absence of something God.
1 John 1:5
God is light, and in Him, there is no darkness at all.
The Source of All Light:
The story of creation begins with God commanding, “Let there be light.”
It’s why God continually rescues His people by being a light in the darkness.
Psalm 34:5
Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.
John 1:9
“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world”
The Victory Of Light Over Darkness:
We have been called to dispel darkness wherever we go, with light of God shining through us.
Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world…let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
John 1:4–5
“In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it”
TABLE TIME:
How does Jesus being “the light of the world” influence our lives as His followers?
Scripture Reference: John 8:12 -
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’”
What do you think it means to have the “light of life” as a follower of Jesus?
Why do you think Jesus emphasizes the importance of letting our light shine before others?
Scripture Reference: Matthew 5:16 - “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
What are some practical ways we can let our light shine before others through good deeds/works?
Scripture Reference: Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden… In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
How can we balance the call to good deeds/works with the understanding that we are saved by grace, not by our works? How does this relate to our personal faith?
Scripture References:
James 2:17
“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
Ephesians 2:8-9
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
How does/should the truth that “God is light” impact our understanding of the darkness of sin and righteousness?
Scripture Reference: 1 John 1:7
“But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.”
Light, particularly ultraviolet light, is used to sanitize surfaces by killing bacteria, viruses, and other harmful microorganisms.
Why is it necessary to regularly bring our sins and struggles into the light of God, and how can we allow God’s light to sanitize or cleanse our hearts and minds?
Scripture References:
Ephesians 5:13 - “But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.”
Psalm 51:10 - “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
How does God’s light offer hope in the midst of personal or culturl darkness?
Scripture Reference:
John 1:4-5 “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
What does this promise mean for us when we face dark or challenging times?
PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER:
WHAT IS GOD SAYING?