The Dream Team, Part 4
Type: Sunday Morning Service
Series: The Dream Team
Sermon: Part 4 - The Winning Strategy #2
🗣️ Speaker: Pastor Tom Van Kempen
In a dark and hurting world, followers of Jesus are called to be the light—openly, courageously, and consistently—so others can find safety, hope, and direction. Light exposes darkness, awakens sleepy hearts, and transforms environments through visible good works that glorify God. Because life is short and the need is urgent, every believer must shine—at home, at work, and in the community—through service, integrity, and love.
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Additional Info
The info below was generated by an AI from the audio recording of the sermon.
You Are the Light of the World: Why Your Witness Matters Now
Our world feels heavy with confusion, fear, and moral drift. Into that darkness, Jesus’ words still ring true: “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14–16). Light is not merely a metaphor—it’s God’s nature (1 John 1:5), the identity of Jesus (John 8:12), and now the calling of His people. Light reveals, warms, guides, and gives life. When believers shine through humble, practical good works, God’s character becomes visible and people see a pathway home.
Light Reveals What Darkness Hides
Light exposes what’s hidden—both the danger and the way out. Jesus explained that some resist the light because they love darkness (John 3:19), while others are simply unaware and need illumination. When you live truthfully, speak graciously, and act righteously, your presence can change a room. The aim isn’t to shame; it’s to show. Integrity at work, purity in relationships, and faithfulness in service can transform an environment from the inside out (Philippians 2:14–15).
Becoming What You Reflect
This calling is not behavior modification but transformation. In Christ, people don’t just receive light; they become light (Ephesians 5:13–14). God shines in our hearts (2 Corinthians 4:6), making us a new creation with a new essence and new purpose. Lighted lives—consistent, joyful, repentant, servant-hearted—become living proof that Jesus is alive and still leading people out of darkness.
A City on a Hill: Why Visibility Matters
In the ancient world, night travel was dangerous. A city set on a hill, glowing with lamps, brought relief to weary travelers. That’s the church’s calling: be visible, accessible, and dependable. Hide the lamp under a basket—through compromise, complaint, or fear—and people stay lost. Lift it high—through good works done in Jesus’ name—and people find safety, provision, and community (Matthew 5:15–16).
Everyday Ways to Shine
Light shines most powerfully through ordinary faithfulness. Serve children and families with practical care. Offer presence and prayer in crisis. Show up with excellence at work, integrity in conversations, and compassion for neighbors. Whether driving a bus, holding a nursery baby, packing relief kits, or welcoming students, small acts become bright markers pointing to a big God (Romans 8:28).
Choose Whom You Will Serve—Today
God refuses to coerce. Like Joshua’s bold challenge—“Choose this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15)—each of us must decide. Life is short, needs are urgent, and the world is watching. Step into your calling. Lift the lamp. Let your good works shine, and may many glorify your Father in heaven.
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Use the questions listed below as a launching point to discuss the sermon points together as a family. These are great for dinner table discussions and small groups.
Opening: Share a time when light—literal or spiritual—helped you avoid danger or find your way.
Read: Matthew 5:14–16; John 8:12; Ephesians 5:13–14.
Discuss:
What does it practically mean that God is light (1 John 1:5) and that Jesus calls us light?
Where do you see darkness most clearly in daily life? How might light lovingly expose and guide there?
What “basket” most tempts you to hide your light (fear, busyness, compromise, apathy)?
How do good works point to God without pointing to us? Share examples you’ve witnessed.
What environment could be transformed if just one person (you) chose to shine this week?
Prayer: Ask God to awaken hearts, remove fear, and make your group a “city on a hill.”
Action Step: Each person chooses one concrete good work to do this week that increases visibility of Christ’s love (e.g., serve a child, encourage a coworker, meet a neighbor’s need, join a church serve team).
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Matthew 5:14–16 — Part of the Sermon on the Mount (c. AD 28–30) delivered in Galilee to disciples and crowds under Roman occupation. Cities on hills (often limestone/clay villages) were visible guiding points for travelers in a world without streetlights. Jesus frames identity (light) before ethics (good works), anchoring witness in being before doing.
John 8:12 — Spoken in Jerusalem during or near the Feast of Tabernacles, when giant temple lampstands illuminated the city to recall God’s wilderness guidance. Jesus claiming “I am the light of the world” linked Him to God’s Shekinah presence and Exodus pillar of fire.
John 3:19 — Jesus’ nighttime dialogue with Nicodemus (a Pharisee, Sanhedrin member) highlights spiritual rebirth. The verdict: rejection of light is moral, not merely intellectual; people “love darkness” when their deeds are evil.
Joshua 24:15 — Near the end of Joshua’s leadership (late Bronze Age), Israel had largely secured the land but still faced syncretism. At Shechem, a covenant renewal ceremony called the nation to exclusive loyalty to Yahweh over ancestral Mesopotamian gods or local Canaanite deities.
Ephesians 5:13–14 — Written by Paul (c. AD 60–62) to believers in a pagan, affluent port city shaped by Artemis worship. The passage contrasts old darkness with new identity in Christ, likely quoting an early Christian hymn: “Wake up, sleeper…”
Philippians 2:14–15 — Paul writes from imprisonment (c. AD 60–62) to a Roman colony proud of its status. He urges unity and blameless living so believers “shine like stars” amid a “crooked and perverse generation.”
2 Corinthians 4:6 — In a letter defending apostolic ministry (mid-50s AD), Paul echoes Genesis 1. God’s creative word now recreates hearts, revealing His glory in the face of Christ.
Romans 8:28 — Written to a diverse church in the empire’s capital (mid-50s AD), Paul assures suffering believers that God orchestrates all things for the good of those aligned to His purpose.
1 John 1:5 — Late first-century Asia Minor context, combating false claims about sin and Jesus’ nature. John anchors community life in God’s moral purity: “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.”
2 Chronicles 13:5 (Covenant of Salt)
Abijah addresses Jeroboam amid divided monarchy tensions (Judah vs. Israel). A “covenant of salt” symbolized permanence and loyalty, likely linked to the durability and preserving nature of salt and its presence in offerings.2 Corinthians 3:17–18
Written by Paul to the church in Corinth (mid-first century), these verses contrast the old covenant (Moses’ veiled glory) with the Spirit’s transforming work in the new covenant. Freedom and ongoing transformation anchor Christian identity and ethics.Colossians 4:6
Paul’s instructions to the Colossian church (in a syncretistic, Roman city) call believers to wise, gracious speech “seasoned with salt,” suggesting words that preserve truth, add grace, and invite thirst for the gospel.2 Kings 2:19–22
In the early ministry of Elisha (9th century BC), salt is cast into a poisoned spring at Jericho. The miracle dramatizes God’s power to cleanse and restore what is corrupt, using a familiar preserving agent to display divine renewal.Ezekiel 22:30
Ezekiel, prophesying during the Babylonian crisis, laments the absence of someone to “stand in the gap” for the land. It underscores God’s search for intercessors and reformers who will preserve a community from judgment. -
Theme: Let Your Light Shine
Scripture: Matthew 5:14–16; John 8:12Introduction (5 min): Turn off the lights (if possible) and shine a flashlight. Ask: What changes when the light turns on? Share: Jesus is the Light—and He tells us to shine too!
Story Time (5 min): Read Matthew 5:14–16. Explain how a city on a hill helps travelers find safety at night. Jesus wants us to help people find Him.
Craft (7 min): “Paper Lantern of Good Works”
Materials: Construction paper, scissors, crayons, stapler/tape, LED tea lights.
Instructions: Fold paper, cut slits, roll into a lantern. Write or draw one good work on each “panel” (helping a friend, telling the truth, praying for someone). Place an LED light inside.
Game (5 min): “Light Tag”
One child is “Light” with a small flashlight (or paper sun badge). When tagged, players freeze and say one kind action they can do to “shine,” then rejoin.
Discussion (5 min):
Who is the true Light? (Jesus—John 8:12)
How do we shine? (Good works, kind words, brave choices)
Where can you shine this week—home, school, team?
Wrap-Up & Prayer (3 min):
“Jesus, thank You for being our Light. Help us shine with kindness and courage so others can see You. Amen.” -
If you're a visitor with us, you might see a couple of basketball hoops up on the stage and what appears to be an Olympic box for a gold medal and a silver medal and a bronze medal, and that's because we're in the middle of a series entitled The Dream Team. But sometimes things happen in the midst of life that need to be addressed. Sometimes things take place that don't don't seem to make sense in any way, shape, or form. So as we get started this morning, I need to acknowledge something that's heavy on my heart and maybe many of your hearts as well. And that's the death and the passing of Charlie Kirk. Like you, I was saddened when I heard the news of this heinous act of evil. Unfortunately, I have to be honest. I wasn't shocked in any way, shape, or form. Evil seems to be such a part of our world today that things like this seem to go on again and again and again and again. And this very present evil that seems to surround many of the institutions of our nation has been festering at the university campus level for over 50 years. And I am done with it in Jesus' name. I don't want to hear about these things. I want to take charge in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Listen, Charlie's courage to go to those very university campuses and to confront the lies of the enemy have made Charlie Kirk a hero. He didn't cower in fear. He didn't shrink back from the challenge. He courageously went into the very proverbial lion's den and proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ. Please make no mistake. Charlie Kirk was not killed because of political beliefs. He was killed because he boldly stood on Christian principles. And for that, he was murdered. Charlie Kirk is a modern day martyr for Jesus Christ. With that said, I want to make two points very clear this morning. Number one, what the devil intended for evil, God will turn around in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. God will get all, say all, he will get all the glory. My Word tells me in Romans 8.28, and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose, and Charlie Kirk was called according to His purpose. Who can say amen? Now listen, as untimely as his death was, Charlie Kirk's purpose was to be one of the brightest of stars in the darkest The voice that the enemy thinks he silenced will rise up 100-fold in the name of Jesus Christ. The blood of martyrs has always fueled revival. It has been going on for 2,000 years, and Charlie Kirk's death will only embolden both young and old Americans as well as people around the world to Stand for righteousness to confront evil and to shine bright in the world today. Who can say amen? But number two, his death reminds us that life can be very, very short. And this is why the Scripture that God had ordained for me to preach on today is so crucial for us to understand. you are the light of the world. And our world is desperately in need of light. Charlie's passing reminds us that we cannot waste time keeping the light of Christ hidden by arguing among ourselves through petty grievances, through selfish living. So today, I want to lean into Jesus' words with urgency. and with hope. And you and I need to understand that it's not somebody else's light. It's our light. It's not just the famous voices that can be light. But everyday believers like you and I can be the light of the world who can say amen. And so with that, we begin today's message from Matthew 5, verse 14, where Jesus says to His disciples, You are the light of the world. After Charlie's death on Wednesday night, I was probably in shock on Wednesday night. I had people running into church here saying, Charlie Kirk was just shot in all of this kind of stuff. And I was just numb. I was just numb. I was just grateful that Pastor Scott had to preach Wednesday night because I didn't know what to do. I didn't know what to say. I was just I have actually been to Phoenix Arizona where his Turning Point USA tour has a lot of things happening at the Dream Center church there in Phoenix Robin and I have been to one of the conferences listening to him and I was startled by the clarity of his message at 27 years of age four years later at 31 he was even more articulate and more learned in all of the things. And he never even went to college. Did you hear me? He read, he studied, he discovered the truths, and he based it all on the Word of God. And so as I was reading this scripture for this week, I was thinking about you're the light of the world. And I remembered all my Sunday school classes. And I remember singing this little light of mine and all of that kind of stuff. And I want to make sure that you understand that what God is saying in this particular verse is far more stunning than what He said last week in regards to the salt of the earth. That this metaphor should boggle your mind. So please don't sit back in your Sunday school mode and think how cutesy it is that we're going to be a burning candle for Jesus Christ because that's not what God has in mind here. God is in mind coming into a dark place and shaking things up in Jesus' name. This is a big deal because in 1 John 1, verse 5, John states this, God is light. Wait a minute. God is light and we're the light of the world? God is trying to get you to understand. that there is a special relationship between He and the church. Let's go back to day one of creation. On the very first day, God created light. So when John wrote that God is light, we are given a glimpse, a hint, a snapshot into the very character and nature of God Himself. And so as we begin this message, we need to take a step back and say, okay, what is light? Light is something that turns on when we hit a switch. But more technically speaking, what is light? We know from science that light is an electromagnetic energy that travels as a wave, but it also travels as particles. So science itself is confounded by what light is. So we base it more on what it can do for us than what it really is. And what it can do for us is it illuminates things. We can see. It brings life. It brings warmth. It's super, super fast. I guess the speed of life is like 186,000 miles per second, which I cannot even comprehend. But what John is trying to get us to understand is the same way that light brings warmth, God brings warmth. The same way that the sun brings light, the only way you can really see in this world is if Jesus Christ is a part of your life. Who can say amen? That for the very existence of life itself, without God, there is no such thing as life at all. And with that, the New Testament then repeatedly refers to even Jesus Christ Himself as being the light of the world. Jesus is the light of the world. And you're the light of the world. In John 8, verse 12, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness. The implication is whoever follows you should never walk in darkness. You are described as this very same essence as God and Jesus Christ themselves. They are light. is also supposed to be light. And when that happens, they will have the light of life. That's what we are supposed to be offering the world. People need Jesus. Jesus is communicating that the church is greatly needed in the world because they are the only light of the world. Who knows? Jesus isn't here any longer physically speaking. Jesus through the Spirit lives on the inside of us. So the only reflection the world gets is what's shining out of us. So it needs to come out of us every single day. Who can say amen? Now, here's the challenge. The light exposes darkness. And a lot of people don't even know that they're in darkness. They're ignorant of it. And so when the light shines on them, they're a little startled. But the Scripture also tells us that there's a lot of people who are purposed living in the dark. Jesus is having a conversation with Nicodemus in John chapter 3. And Nicodemus is saying, well, we know you're a good teacher, Jesus, but your message just doesn't make sense to me. And Jesus says, well, unless a man is born again, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. And Nicodemus is like, what do you mean? How can a man reenter his mother's womb and be born again? And he says, oh, no, no, no, no. Unless a man is born of water, and of the Spirit born again. He cannot see. Say see. He cannot see the kingdom of God. And so you walk around in blindness until you receive the gift that God sent through His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the way. But a lot of people don't want to know the way. So at the end of this conversation, Jesus says in verse 19, this is the verdict. Light has come into the world. But people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Evil is alive and well in the world today. And it is alive and well because people want to be their own God and they want to do their own thing. On the other hand, there are those who ignorantly live in the dark. And after seeing the light, they see a way out. They want to escape from their sin. They want to escape from their bondage. And they do that by accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior. Who can say amen? Jesus is the way. Jesus is the truth. Jesus is the life. Jesus is the light. But each and every one of us has an opportunity to say yes or to say no. God does not force himself upon everyone. People literally have a choice. I find it interesting that in the Old Testament, Joshua is leading the children of Israel for 25 years. And they're having mostly victories, lots of victories in the promised land. They're defeating kingdom after kingdom after kingdom and winning a majority, like over 90% of all of their battles and all of their wars. and after leading them for all of that time, this is what he says in Joshua 24, 15, but if you refuse to serve the Lord, what? How is it you just defeated all of these nations and you're still contemplating doing it on your own? You're still contemplating thinking about doing it your own way? Then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the So he's going all the way back to Abraham. And he's saying Abraham came out of idolatry in the land of Mesopotamia, which is now modern day Iran and Iraq. He came out of that idolatry and started serving God. So would you rather prefer to serve them or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? In other words, all of the people you just defeated, do you want to serve their gods? Because they're not strong. They're not powerful. They're not even real. But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord. Who can say amen? We're going to serve the Lord. And once you choose God, you become a part of His team. Last week, we were the Oxford salts. This week, we're the Oxford lights. Or maybe we're the Oxford beacons because the church is the hope of the world. The The church is the only hope that any government has, that any school has, that any family has. It is only the church. And that's because Jesus is the head who can say amen. We're the hope. And with that, Jesus says, you're the light of the world. God's the light of the world. Jesus is the light of the world. And now we've become the light of the world. Now, I want to make sure that you understand. I'm not talking about following a moral code. I'm not talking about following rules and regulations or anything like that. I'm talking about nothing less than total transformation in the name of Jesus Christ. You see, what Jesus offers is to change you at the root of who you are. What Jesus offers is a total conversion or as 2 Corinthians And when you look that up in the Greek language, you understand that it is something entirely new. Something that has never existed before in the history of the world. Listen to how Paul puts it in Ephesians 5, verse 13. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible. In other words, everyone is visible in front of the light. But watch this. And everything that is illuminated. So some things become illuminated. And some things are not illuminated. They reject the light. But those things that become illuminated. Listen to what it says in the NIV. Becomes a light. When you accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. You literally become a light. He changes who you are literally. You are no longer darkness. You are light. You are no longer lost. You are found. You are no longer dead, but you're alive. And when that happens, you literally become the light of the world. And this is why the rest of verse 14 says this, a city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. You can't be hidden. You will stand out like a sore thumb, and that is on purpose. God wants you to shine. He wants you to reflect His glory, His goodness, His greatness. And so Jesus emphasizes that light must be on display in a prominent place at all times. Why? Well, let's go back to the analogy. We're cities on a hill. And if you think back 2,000 years ago, there was no electricity back then. And so people traveled almost exclusively during the day. There were no paved roads. There were no road signs. There were no road lights of any kind. And so if you wanted to be safe, you traveled during the day and you would time it whereas the sun was setting, you were showing up at your next destination. At night, things got dangerous. Bandits lurked. Wild animals hunted. People's imaginations got the best of them and they started seeing lions and tigers and Bears. Bears, that's right. Whether they were real or not. Sometimes they were real, sometimes they were not. But fear started coming upon them. Many cities in Jesus' day had a prominent position on Him. And when weary travelers would see the light of the city, they'd feel this great sense of relief. And their fear would be alleviated because they knew that they were going to be safe. How many of you have ever been afraid of the dark? What I find interesting is sometimes fears of the dark are just in the imaginations, and then sometimes fear is justified. And let me tell you what I mean by that. Probably 20 years ago, someone at our church in Las Vegas told us that we could stay at their cabin up in the Rocky Mountains. And so we decided to take a family vacation up there. They had quads. They had fishing poles. They had just all kinds of cool stuff for the kids to do. And so we couldn't wait to get there. So after work one day, we get in our car and we're heading on up to the Rocky Mountains. And so our timing wasn't perfect because since we left after work, the sun started setting and we didn't show up in the area that we needed to go to until somewhere, until like probably midnight. It was really, really dark. That's all I can tell you. Because the further up into the mountains we got, the further we got away from civilization. And the further into the mountains, the more dispersed were the homes. And so even the little bit of light that we did see, it was here and then it would be gone for a mile. And then we'd see it again and it'd be gone for a mile. And we went from paved roads to dirt roads. And then all of a sudden, I know that the house is out there somewhere. And I'm driving maybe five or ten miles an hour at the And I keep telling my wife, I know it's over here somewhere, it's over here somewhere, but I'm looking for an address. I'm looking for something to direct me, and I can't see a sign. And all of a sudden, we start going up this steep incline. And I just sense that we're going in the wrong direction. And I tell Robin, I got to turn around. There's just one problem. That as we're going up this incline, it's at the most, it's a lane and a half. It's not two lanes. That's for sure. And it's more like a lane. But I tell her I'm going to try and turn around as I'm going up this hill. And so I get as close to the mountain as I can. And then I turn the wheel. And then I try and back up a little bit. And then I don't know what's behind me. So I hit my brakes and turn the wheel back. And I do that, I don't know how many times, six or eight or ten times, until I'm finally turned around, heading the other direction, go down the hill. And thank the Lord we finally find the house. So the next day I take the kids out quadding and we quad up that same mountain. And I get to the place where we were. And I discover that I was six inches away from falling down a 200 foot embarkment. 200 feet. Darkness is scary for a reason. There are things in the dark that are scary. I'm just letting you know. Fear gripped my heart and it was the next day. I thought about, I almost killed my entire family because I didn't have any light. I'm here to tell you, moms and dads are killing their family on a regular basis because they don't have any light. We need the light because it guides us to the way. It guides us to the way of Jesus Christ. Christ, which is the way of safety. And the church needs to be an environment like a lighthouse that people in ships are trying to look. How do I get in there? I'm not sure how to get there. We're like a landing pad at an airport, and we can see the light, and the planes are coming in, but some of them are, it's an emergency landing. And we need to have our medical crews out there ready to take care of them when they come crashing in. Who can say amen? See, this is what service and love for our neighbor is all about. Light guides the way to provision. When those weary travelers saw that light, they knew that food and shelter was close by. Do they know that about the church? Does the world know that we will provide spiritual sustenance for their needs every single day? That we'll be a loving and accepting environment no matter who they are, no matter what they do. Will we be family on their behalf? I say yes. I say they all belong here. Who can say amen? This is where they belong. This is where they'll be loved. Verse 15 says, nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket. Light is meant to shine bright. And so Jesus is saying that you have something to do with this. You naturally should reflect, but there are things that you can say, and do and attitudes that you can share that will actually hide the light of Jesus Christ from the world. That's when the little Sunday school lesson should come to mind. In the middle of work where things are driving you crazy, under your breath you can start singing, this little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. Let it shine! Let it shine! Don't let Satan! Don't let Satan! Don't let Satan! I'm gonna let it shine! Let it shine! Let it shine! Let it shine! Hide it under a bushel. I'm Nobody did that in first service. Okay, now I'm ready for it, okay? Hide it under a bushel. I'm gonna let it shine. Hide it under a bushel. I'm gonna let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine. Listen, listen, listen. So I'm in Las Vegas, Sin City itself. The last place I ever wanted to pastor in my life. And that's where God sends me. And so in order to be the light of the world, you have to go and mingle with people that are in the world. And so I joined an athletic club and I started just being the light of the world. I didn't preach. I didn't teach. I just was myself. And within less than a year, everyone knew there's the preacher. Don't swear in front of him. Don't look at girls. He will judge you. I never judged anybody. You know? But if we went out for lunch, I would casually say, aren't you married? And they'd go, well, yeah, what does that have to do with anything? I can't window shop? And I'd go, you're doing more than window shopping according to the Sermon on the Mount. Okay? And I would communicate those things. And it was so interesting. One day after I'd been there for one to two years, A guy comes running on over. We're doing some pickup basketball. And I'm sitting on the sideline waiting for my turn to get in. And he comes running on over. And he sits right next to me. And he's just sitting there talking, how you doing, Pastor? I go, I'm fine. How you doing? He goes, I'm good. And then this is what he does. He kind of gets up and looks over here. Looks over my head. And he leans in and he whispers, I just want you to know, I'm a Christian. I wanted to say I didn't know there were secret agent Christians because what are you afraid of obviously he was afraid of something he didn't want people to know that he was in on this thing he wasn't letting his light shine our responsibility Philippians 2 14 and 15 do all things without complaining and disputing that you may be become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world. Who can say amen? We can shine like lights in the world. This is what Jesus knows that we need to understand. Our light can transform any environment. Charlie Kirk knew that when I'm on the campus, I change the atmosphere of this campus. Just by me being here, even if people are upset that I'm here, my presence literally transforms the environment. Jesus changed every environment he entered. He brought joy through his attitude. He brought change through his teaching. And he brought life through his miracles. And you and I can do the same thing. So listen, one person can transform a work environment. Robin and I, I'm 24 years old and I've worked for the Sean Williams paint company for three and a half years and I was a trainee then I was an assistant manager then I was a manager then I was a credit manager out in California and I got promoted to be a commercial branch manager at the Sean Williams paint store and I was told that I was the youngest commercial branch manager in America. Sean Williams at the time had like 60,000 employees. So I'm like, wow, I'm a big dog here, you know, and didn't even know it. And so the regional sales manager takes me out for lunch one day, and he says, you're one of the luckiest managers. And I go, why is that? And he says, because the girly strip joints are right around the corner. I'm like, what's your point? And he said, well, that's where we take all the paint contractors, and we get them nice and drunk over there and let them watch naked girls and then they buy lots of paint from us. I said, I'm not going to do that. He said, well, then you'll fail. I'm like, I'm not going to do it and I'm not going to fail. And he said, we'll see. And so a couple of months later, I'd been managing for a while. They decided to come out with this new Manager of the Month award. And the first month, I won the Manager of the Month award. I'm like, how's that for failing? Month two, I won the Manager of the Month award again. Month three, I won the Manager of the Month award again. Month four, they decided to do away with the award because the same guy kept winning it every month. Listen, God honored my stance and gave me favor anyway. Who can say amen? the light of the world. Whether it's at work, whether it's at play, whether it's at home. This verse goes on, nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lampstand and it gives light to all who are in the house. Peter tells us that unbelieving husbands can be won to Christ by observing the behavior of their wives. Who can say amen? Studies have shown that most children are won to the Lord through their father's witness, not through their mothers. How do you feel dads? I'm just asking. Because it's like fourfold you're more influential on your children for Christ than mom is. Now kids love their moms, alright? But they become Christians primarily because of their father's example. Matthew 5.16 goes on, so let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Jesus tells his disciples to turn on their lights. Jesus is telling us, turn on our lights. And he gives us the key. He says the key is in your behavior. The key is in your good works. The key is, he's talking about light in Matthew chapter 5. And listen to what Paul says, wake up sleeper. In other words, the acts of righteousness and goodness are the things that wake people up towards God. Our light awakens those who are sleeping. So I got online today, or this week, and I said, how is light measured? Does anybody know how light is measured? It's measured in candles still. I thought that was kind of silly that it's called candela. or something like that. But it's still candles. It's the output of one standard candle is how you measure even these lights that are shining on me right now. So that might be a hundred candelas or a thousand candelas or something like that. But light is still measured in candles today. And so when I'm reading this and understanding, I'm wondering what is the strength of Oxford Assembly of God in spiritual candles? Our lights switched on. So I want to show you a little experiment. Would you turn the house lights off, please? And I need everybody to get their phones out. Would you get your phones out for me? So obviously we have a little bit of light sifting through the exit signs and in the back and even my iPad here is lit up. But I just want to show you that I've just turned my phone off. right here. And it's got a little bit of influence. And the darker it is, the more this light would shine. Would you start turning your lights on? Just start turning them on. Okay, so when we started this, I couldn't see any of your faces. Now all of a sudden the light is exposing what you look like. Keep turning them on. If you've got more, keep turning them on. Okay? Look around. I mean, what is there? 200 of us in here? 250 of us in here right now? We're lighting up an entire sanctuary with a few little tiny phone lights. Can you imagine the impact we can have on this county, on this city, on this state, in this world? We have far more power than we ever imagined. You can turn the lights back on. You can turn yours off. I just want you to see what it is that Jesus was trying to communicate. That literally, it's not because of you. The light that you're shining anyway is nothing more than a reflection of Jesus Christ Himself. That's what it tells us in 2 Corinthians 4.6, for God said, let there be light in the darkness, has made this light to shine in our hearts. It's Jesus that shines inside of us. I remember learning when I was living in Las Vegas that Las Vegas is the brightest city in the world. If you ever have seen one of those cameras from a satellite that takes pictures of the earth, North Korea, for example, will be totally dark. And then the more westernized world, will have more light. And the brightest spot is Las Vegas because of what's called the strip. It's all these lights congregating in one spot. And then, of course, one hotel is shooting a light straight up into space for the world to see. But it's the brightest city in the world. I would love to be the brightest church in the world. How do we do that? Well, this whole series is about challenging us to become a part of the team. And we're already a part of the team, but are we actively engaged? I've got two examples here of things that we do that can make a difference in the world. Number one, children's ministry is something that we value greatly. Did you know I got in the little history pamphlet about our church? And all the way back in the 1940s, talking about 80 years ago, people were driving and picking up kids in the neighborhood and bringing them to church. That's who we are as a church. We love the next generation. We have a heart for the next generation. And we have a children's ministry that gives you opportunities on a regular basis to become a part of the team. You might say, Pastor, what are you talking about? Well, number one, and what we're signing up for this fall, is walk. How many have already served in walk in the past? Let me see your hands. You've served in walk. Look at that. That's a lot of us. If you haven't served, I want to encourage you to think about it. This fall, it's going to be six weeks. It's going to start in October and last until the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. It's our ministry to primarily the public schools. And the public schools, need our help desperately in the name of Jesus Christ. There is a cloud of darkness, not just over the university system, but over the public school system. And we need to be praying for them. We need to be serving them. We need to be helping them. The nursery needs Dream Teamers. Every time you hold a baby, you're showing that baby the light of Jesus Christ. Children's Church needs needs dream teamers. The walk program needs bus drivers. If you've got a CDL, please consider picking up children and taking them home at around three in the afternoon and maybe later that evening. We need you. The kingdom of God requires that we be light. Another ministry that is so important here is Convoy of Hope. And I know our church has partnered with Convoy in the past. in regards to disaster relief. We've actually sent teams around the state of Florida after a hurricane hits, and we help pick up trash and rebuild buildings and things like that. And I just need you to know that I think God wants more of us. And what I mean by that is up here on the screen, you'll see we have hygiene kits that go. We pack those on a regular basis. The Convoy of Hope team is actually getting together tomorrow to pack some of these and to see what we're missing. So I am requesting you to bring some of these items over the next couple of weeks and maybe even sign up to be a part of the team at the Dream Team Expo. We need combs, bars of soap. And they're very specific. Please, if you're going to do this, follow the rules because if they're not 2.5 ounces or 2 to 5 ounces, we can't use it. And so these are very specific because they have to fit in and be sent out in a specific way. This is something we can do. But I'd like to up the ante a little bit. I would really enjoy being a partner that Convoy of Hope could count on. And what I mean by that is there are some churches that become distribution centers during a crisis of some kind. And I would like for us to be one of those distribution centers. I actually have a call with Convoy of Hope this week, and they're going to share with me what something like that might look like. And if you're not sure what that would entail, if you have a servant's heart, you could do it. You're packing up stuff. You're maybe using a dolly to move things around. You're maybe getting in a van or a car, and you're going to a site and sharing water and food and some of these high Gengen Kits, different things like that, because we know we haven't seen the last hurricane, right? There's going to be more, and I want to be ready for that. The question is, how can we be light? Jesus told us plainly, you are the light of the world. Our time is short, but our opportunity is great. Every act of service, every good work, every word of hope spoken in Jesus' name is a chance to shine the light of Jesus Christ. So I'm asking you to partner with me in being the brightest light in the city. Would you stand with me, please? Thank you.
