We have finished the “Beatitudes” and now Jesus is going to break them down into more understandable parts. He is going to approach these issues from several different angles. The first thing that Jesus deals with is the importance of the Beatitudes so we can have a positive impact on the people around us. He uses the example of salt that is to be used to permeate our food.

Like ministry, it is all about character, commitment, relationship, and influence. Salt has a purpose in the typical household. In order to fulfill that purpose, the salt has to have the right character, commitment, relationship, and influence.

1. Character: What is the salt made out of? Is its chemical makeup correct so as to truly be salt?


2. Commitment: Will the salt stay salty until it is needed?


3. Relationship: Will the salt go into the soup and lose itself and become one with the soup? Or, will it refuse to melt?


4. Influence: Will the salt influence the soup with saltiness or will the soup so dilute the salt that it loses its saltiness?