Scripture: MATTHEW 5:14–16 (NASB)
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 the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Transcript
Good morning, Bromley! If we haven’t met yet, I’m Jason, a Lay Pastor at Bethany Baptist Church. When Rob invited me here, he teased that preaching at Bromley would be a real challenge. Now, if you do not understand the secret language of pastors, what he really meant was, “Please… don’t embarrass me!” So, no pressure, right? I am only joking! It’s an honor to be with you today.
We’re continuing the Storyteller series, and today, we’re talking about the Parable of the Lamp from Matthew 5:14–16. Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Those words make me think of something we’ve all been through at one point or another—a power outage. Picture this: You’re in a crowded shopping mall. The place is packed with people talking, eating, and shopping. Suddenly, the power goes out, and everything turns into total darkness. At first, there are no signs of emergency lights, and the whole place turns into chaos. People start bumping into each other, kids are crying, and everyone is scrambling to find the exits. Your heart races as you trip over abandoned items, feeling lost and confused in all the panic. But then, after what feels like forever, the emergency lights turn on.
Those steady beams cut through the darkness, lighting up the aisles and doorways. They guide people safely out, calm the panic, and restore some order. Just that little bit of light changes everything. And that is exactly what Jesus is calling us to be—a light that makes a difference.
So, what does this look like in everyday life? In 2019, I was invited to speak at the Government’s Professional Development Week conference. I was standing backstage, and my hands were shaking like leaves in a strong wind. Looking around the room, I saw hundreds of government leaders and colleagues, and my mind was racing with all sorts of doubts. What if I forget my words? What if they laugh at me? What if they already heard this idea before? A big part of me wanted to bolt out the door and never look back.
Sitting near the stage, a total stranger noticed how nervous I was. Without saying a word, they approached me, smiled, and gave me a quick, reassuring hug. That simple act was like a small light shining in my dark moment. It didn’t change the situation, but it completely changed how I felt inside. I took a deep breath, stepped onto that stage, and started sharing my idea.
As I spoke, I looked out and saw faces lighting up. People were nodding, smiling, and in that moment, I learned something powerful. Even when we feel scared or small, if we let our light shine, it can guide others and make a real difference.
What about you, Bromley? If we are honest with each other, we all have moments when showing our faith is hard. We know our worth is supposed to come from God, but life pulls our attention and our hearts in so many directions. We hope for acceptance from friends. We look for respect and security at work. We try to find value in our achievements, our relationships, and how we fit in. We worry about standing out, looking odd, or making things uncomfortable.
Maybe you’re at a restaurant, wanting to pray before your meal, but you stop because people might stare or say something. Perhaps a table over, you hear someone say “OMG” out of habit or use Jesus’ name as a swear instead of a prayer. Do you say something or stay quiet? When those everyday moments come, we often hesitate to respond, don’t we? That pause we feel—to speak, act, or let it slide—is completely normal. But it’s also a warning for us. It highlights what is going on beneath the surface. Are you looking for approval from others, or is your confidence truly in God? Are you worried about fitting in, or about standing up for what matters to you?
The check engine light in a car isn’t the root cause of a problem—it simply lets you know something deeper is going on. It is a warning meant to get your attention before a bigger problem develops. Everyone faces these struggles, no matter how much faith you have or how long you’ve followed God. What matters is noticing these warning lights and letting God re-center our hearts. But some people cover up or simply ignore those warning lights, don’t they. It’s like getting into a taxi or Uber and spotting a strip of black tape covering the check engine light. The warning is still there, but it’s hidden from view. But just because we hide the signs, it doesn’t make the problem go away.
Scripture says that God’s light reveals what’s hidden in the darkness. His light doesn’t just light our path; it also exposes our sin and brokenness, not to shame us, but to heal us and allow the light to get brighter. When we allow God’s light to shine on those hidden places, He brings truth, conviction, and ultimately restoration.
So, how do we let our light shine in a world that sometimes feels dark? The Parable of the Lamp gives us three clear truths to light the way, and the first truth is this: You Are the Light of the World. In John 9:5, Jesus said, “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” While He was walking here on earth, Jesus did all sorts of good things. He helped people who couldn’t see, fed those who were hungry, and went out of His way to show real kindness. Wherever Jesus went, He pushed away sadness and brought hope. He showed us just how bright God’s love really is.
Now, when Jesus went back to heaven, He didn’t leave us all alone in the darkness. Instead, He sent the Holy Spirit to live right inside anyone who follows Him. That means you and I are never on our own, no matter what happens. Now, here’s something surprising! In Matthew 5:14, Jesus looks at regular people—people like us—and says, “You are the light of the world.” He didn’t say, “Try to be the light,” or, “Maybe one day you’ll be the light.” He said, “You are.” It’s already true. So, what does that mean, exactly? It means we carry Jesus’ light on the inside.
Picture yourself outside on a quiet night. The moon is high above, lighting up everything below. But here’s the thing—the moon doesn’t make its own light. It only shines because the sun’s light bounces off of it. Without that sunlight, it would be cold and dark. We’re the same way—Jesus is our source of light, like the Sun. On our own, we can’t shine. But when His light fills us, we reflect it, just like the moon, so the whole world can see.
But sometimes, the moon sort of disappears, doesn’t it? This happens during a lunar eclipse. The earth slips in between the sun and the moon and blocks the sunlight. Suddenly, the moon turns dim or goes nearly dark. And sometimes, this exact thing happens to us as well—let’s call it a spiritual eclipse. A spiritual eclipse is when something comes between us and Jesus. It might be something we know is wrong, distractions, worries, or we just feel our hearts are far from God. When something gets in our way with Jesus, it doesn’t mean our light is gone; it’s just hidden. But here’s the good news. Just like the moon shines bright again when the earth moves out of the way, our hearts can shine bright too when we turn back to God and ask Him to help us.
Now, here’s something else to notice about light. It doesn’t just help you see where to go. Light also reveals all the things in your path that could make you stumble. In our story, before the emergency lights came on, you might have tripped over a stroller, a shopping bag, or a wet floor sign—things you never even saw coming. But once the light shines, you can spot those hazards clearly, step around them, and move safely. This is what the light of God’s Word does in our lives. It doesn’t just give us hope or direction when life feels dark. It actually shows us the things that could trip us up—bad habits, sin, attitudes, or relationships that aren’t healthy. God’s light reveals what needs to be moved out of the way, so we don’t keep falling into the same traps.
If you belong to Jesus, your light is always on—even if it feels dim sometimes. The Holy Spirit is inside us, which means we can’t switch our light off like a lamp. So, the real question is: Is your light shining clear and bright, or are you letting something hide it? Think of Adam and Eve in the garden. When they sinned against God, they tried to hide. Their hearts grew afraid and ashamed, and their light pointed more toward fear than faith. But God didn’t give up on them—He came looking for them, just like He still does with us.
So, let’s ask ourselves: Are we letting Jesus’ love shine through us—showing kindness, sharing hope, forgiving others? Or is our light being dimmed by fears, selfishness, or the things of this world? Being the light of the world means knowing that your light is always shining. The next step is choosing, every day, to let that light point to Jesus and not just to ourselves or to what the world chases. Jesus is the true light—He shines through you. And when you let His love through, you can light up even the darkest places around you.
This leads us to the second truth: Your Light Must Be Positioned Correctly. One summer, I worked a job but did not have enough money for a car. So, I rode my motorcycle everywhere. One evening, on the way home from work, something a little scary happened: my one and only headlight burned out. Now, I grew up in Prince Edward Island, out in the countryside, where there weren’t any streetlights for kilometers. So, suddenly, I was surrounded by darkness. All I could do was turn on my signal light and drive very slowly, seeing just a couple of feet ahead.
Partway home, a car appeared in front of me. I think the driver thought that I was the police or something because of my blinking light, because they pulled over to the side of the road! But as I got closer, they realized what was really happening. They pulled back on the road and started driving right behind me, slowly, shining their headlights ahead. Their light cut through the darkness and lit my path all the way home. Thanks to that kind stranger, I made it back safely.
The next day, my dad and I bought a new headlight and put it on my motorcycle. But here’s the funny part: we accidentally put it on upside down! When I turned on the headlight, the light shot up into the trees instead of the road. We laughed, then took it off and flipped it the right way. That headlight only helped me when it was pointed where it needed to go. In other words, where you aim your light matters.
In Luke 8:16-18, Jesus said, “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”
Your light—your faith, your actions, your influence—only helps if it is aimed the right way. If you follow Jesus, your light is always shining because the Holy Spirit lives in you. But where your light shines shows where your heart really is. If your heart is turned toward loving God, helping others, showing kindness, and telling the truth, then your light points straight to Jesus. It also shines a path for the people around you. But if your light is aimed the wrong way—at selfish goals, chasing money, hiding in fear, or focusing just on yourself—then your light is still shining, but in the wrong place! It might look bright, but it does not help anyone find their way.
And here’s the serious part: Jesus said if your light is hidden or wrongly aimed, you could lose even what you have. It is like a muscle that gets weak or a skill that fades when you do not use it right. Imagine someone using a strong flashlight but always shining it down at their feet instead of ahead to see the road. They will end up tripping and falling because the light was not aimed where it could help. Spiritually, if we are always focused on our own comfort, our own image, or what we want, instead of pointing our light to God and people who need Him, we begin to lose the power and purpose of that light.
But amazing things happen when you flip your light right-side up, just like I did with my motorcycle. God makes your light even brighter! He gives you more wisdom, more chances to make a difference, more joy in your daily life. So, let me ask you: Where is your light pointed today? Is it aimed at reflecting Jesus—loving others, encouraging people, making choices that look like Him? Or has your light gotten turned toward something that does not really matter in the end? Maybe this week, you need to do what my dad and I did—make a little adjustment, flip your light, and aim it where it matters most. Stop lighting up the wrong things and start shining for the people and purposes God has put nearby. Your light is always on, so make sure it is aimed right—so you do not lose its power to bless, help, and point others to Jesus. When you do, your light does not just stay the same; it grows, spreads, and leads others home, just like that kind stranger’s headlights once led me home in the dark.
And the last truth is: Your Light Multiplies When You Let It Out. Let me tell you about something that happened in one of the most ordinary places you can think of—Shoppers Drug Mart. I was on what I like to call a top-secret mission, something even more important than a spy saving the world. I was hunting for my favorite snack—Whisps. They are these little clouds of cheesy deliciousness that Costco only stocks a few times a year, so I had to grab some at Shoppers, even if it meant paying more.
As I was walking the aisles looking for my treasure, I noticed a young man carrying a school bag. He grabbed some loaves of bread and headed toward the checkout—or so I thought. A minute later, as I started to pay for my snack, I saw him again by the ice cream freezer. You know the one—the blue freezer by the checkout, packed with frozen goodies calling your name? Well, he dropped his bag on top of it, stuffed the bread inside, and then just walked right out without paying. People just looked at each other, stunned. What had just happened? I told the cashier, expecting some kind of reaction. But she just shrugged and said, “It happens all the time. There’s nothing I can do.”
That shrug felt like a thick, heavy fog muffling any urgency to act. The truth is, being the light often means showing up in those messy, uncomfortable, and awkward moments. I kept thinking—if I had been quicker, I could have stepped up and told that young man I would have paid for his bread. That moment stayed with me—not because of the stolen bread, but because it was a living example of how easy it is to look away, to choose comfort instead of courage. How often do we let chances to do the right thing slip by because it’s easier not to rock the boat? Whether it’s something small like a loaf of bread or something big like an uncomfortable conversation about faith, the challenge is the same. Are we willing to step out and shine—or do we stay quiet and hidden?
Now, let me tell you about someone who refused to hide their light, even when danger came. You might have heard of Bishop Emmanuel from Sydney, Australia. In April 2024, during a church service, a young man suddenly attacked him on stage. It was terrifying, and it was even caught live on camera. But here’s the amazing part. From his hospital bed, just days after the attack, Bishop Emmanuel sent out a message. Instead of anger or hate, he spoke forgiveness. He prayed for the attacker and called for peace. He said, “I forgive whoever has done this act… and I will always pray for you.” His forgiveness didn’t just heal his wounds; it sparked hope everywhere. People around the world saw something powerful—a light that would not be dimmed by violence or fear. His choice inspired many to choose love instead of hate, even leading people to talk about faith in places where darkness seemed to hold all the power.
These two stories—one quiet and uncomfortable, the other bold and life-changing—show us what Jesus meant when He said in Matthew 5:16, “Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Your light was never meant to be bottled up inside. It is meant to multiply when you let it out. Think of a single candle lighting a dozen more. Or a little ripple in a pond growing into waves. One small act of kindness, forgiveness, or courage can spark another and another.
In the Shoppers story, silence let the darkness stay. But imagine if someone had stepped in with generosity—a small light could have changed that young man’s day… or maybe even his whole path. With Bishop Emmanuel, his courage and forgiveness lit a fire of hope that spread across communities far beyond that hospital room. When you let your light out—whether through a kind word, a brave action, or a humble act of grace—it does not get smaller. It grows. It reaches families, friends, coworkers, and even strangers in ways you might never see but can trust are happening.
You see this kind of multiplication all the time in church too. We tend to think individually when we imagine being the light—like lone rangers performing random acts of kindness. But in Scripture, the lampstand often represents the whole church—the collective body of Christ. In Revelation, lampstands represent congregations, not just single lamps on isolated stands. This means that our call from Jesus is for our entire congregation to join their lights together.
Imagine being in the middle of a worship song. One person starts clapping because they really feel the joy and energy. Soon, someone next to them joins in. Then a few more. Before you know it, the whole room is clapping and celebrating together. Or think about when just one or two people stand up in worship, the music touching their hearts. Their courage encourages others to stand too. Pretty soon the whole place is on their feet, the energy growing and filling the room with joy. That is the power of letting your light out—one small spark ignites many, and the whole space is filled with brightness and hope. It draws everyone closer—closer to each other and closer to God.
So, remember this: Your light multiplies when you let it out. Shine your light. Don’t hide it. You never know whose life you might change just by being brave enough to shine.
To wrap this up, you’ve heard three important truths today: First, You Are the Light of the World. Jesus carried the light, and now He shines through you. Second, Your Light Must Be Positioned Correctly. It’s not enough to just shine—your light needs to be aimed at the right things like love, kindness, and truth, pointing others to Jesus. And third, Your Light Multiplies When You Let It Out. When you show kindness, forgiveness, and courage, your light spreads in ways you might never fully see.
Now, what do you do with all this? Here’s something practical: Do not fear the value system of this world—things like your job, money, or what other people think. Your real value comes from God. Know that. Hold onto that. And let that confidence free you to shine boldly, no matter what.
I want to leave you with a beautiful thought I saw on Facebook. When a flashlight grows dim or quits working, you don’t throw it away. You change the batteries. When a person messes up and gets themselves in a dark place, do you cast them aside? Of course not. You help them change their batteries. Some need AA—attention and affection. Some need AAA—attention, affection, and acceptance. Some need C—compassion. Some need D—direction. And if they still don’t seem to shine, simply sit with them quietly and share your light.
I think that’s great advice. So, ask yourself: Do your batteries need changing? What size do you need? God knows exactly what you need. All you have to do is ask. Whether it is attention, affection, acceptance, compassion, or direction—or maybe all of these—God is ready to give it. And if you see someone whose light is dim or even out, be that person who shares your light with them. You could be exactly what they need to start shining again. Remember, you carry God’s light. Aim it well. Share it freely. And watch how it grows. Amen.
