Be Salt

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the service module is to teach the children what service looks like in their lives. For fifth graders, it's important to develop their relationship with God and to make the Lord very real to them. Every week of this module will focus on relating their action to the words of the Lord: week 1 -- Be Salt, week 2 - Be Light, week 3 - Be Leaven, week 4 - Be Ambassadors and Apostles. Help them realize how their actions are a service to those around them.

INTRODUCTION & HOOK - 10 Minutes

Salt and Ice Experiment

Photos of steps can be found here:

Ice Cube String Experiment

Materials

  • Ice cubes in a glass of water
  • Salt
  • String

Try and pick up the ice cube with the string and see how impossible it is. This represents us when we fall into sin or feel like we are stuck or hopeless.

  1. Sprinkle top of ice cubes with ½ tsp. salt.
  2. Cut a piece of string longer than the width of the cup. Lay the string over the ice cube.
  3. Wait 60 seconds. You should be able to lift the ice with the string

When we add salt (being more Christ-like) we are able to do things that weren't possible before.

  • Have them discuss SALT, what is it used for, where is it found, why salt is important
  • Bring in salted crackers and unsalted crackers, and/or salted popcorn and unsalted popcorn to taste while they are sitting in groups. Bring in an example of preserved food like beef jerky.
  • Salt is used to season food, to preserve food, to clean food
  • Salt is found in mountains and deep beneath the ground- salt mines, ocean and sea water.

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 5 Minutes

Read the first Bible passage below together with open Bibles. More Biblical passages pertinent to this theme are included below as well, if possible, to read and address them.

  1. Matthew 5:13-16 (Jesus said...) "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men."
  2. Colossians 4:6 "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how to answer each one."

CONTENT (KEY POINTS) - 15 Minutes

The following notes are compiled from a sermon by Fr. James Gendi---(see resources)

  1. Our Lord said we were the "salt of the earth." Why did He say that?
    1. A long time ago, before refrigerators, or freezers, or air conditioners even, people wanted to keep their food fresh. One way they could do that was to cover it in salt. That way the food would stay nice and fresh. It wouldn't go bad.
    2. Jesus said we are the Salt of the Earth to keep it from going bad. How can we do that?
    3. If you have good salt in your life, how will this make the world a better place?
    4. Can you imagine a world with no salt? Food would be very bland. In fact, it is hard to find even one recipe that does not call for some salt. Salt gives food more flavor. In some recipes, even though the salt cannot be tasted, it is there.
    5. Be wise in the way you act toward everyone; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. -- Colossians 4:5-6. The Bible tells us to season our speech with salt.
    6. Our words should be wholesome and bring out the best in other people. Ephesians 4:29 says, "Don't let any evil talk come out of your mouths. Say only what will help to build others up and meet their needs. Then what you say will help those who listen."
    7. Godliness and God's Word should always be a part of our conversations.
  2. "Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned." (Luke 14:34)
    1. Discuss with Students: What are the characteristics of salt that render it useful at the Lord's table?

Salt is a Preservative

  • True disciples are a preserving influence
  • "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed." (Gal 1:8)
  • "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." (2 Tim 2:2)

Salt Purifies

  • "Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, Thus says the Lord: I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness." (2 Kings 2:21)
  • A true disciple should have a purifying effect on the world

Adds Flavor

  • "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one." (Col 4:6)
  • A true disciple makes others better
  • Just a little makes a difference
  • "And the Lord said to Gideon, The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, My own hand has saved me." (Judges 7:2)

Induces thirst

  • "Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word." (Acts 8:1-4)

Keeps People Afloat

  • "...let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins." (James 5:20)

Essential for Human Life

  • "It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out." (Luke 14:35)
  • "None of those men who were invited shall taste my supper." (Luke 14:24)
  • The Lord Jesus is looking for serious disciples

DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 10 Minutes

Ask Students and Discuss.

  1. Does the life that you live glorify God?
  2. Do the things you say or the way you act on the sports fields, in your school classes, with your groups of friends shine the light of Christ?
  3. Does the way you treat your parents and siblings, season your home with the salt of the Gospel?

LIFE APPLICATION (Action) - 5 Minutes

No matter how old you are, you can be the salt in the world you live in.

  • 1 Timothy 4:12 - Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Ask students to discuss in pairs and share what the verse above means in their own words.

ACTIVITY - 10 Minutes

Use one of the attached worksheets to help the children in memorizing the verse and message of the lesson.

RESOURCES

"Salt of the Earth" Sermon by Fr. James Gendi

PARENTS CORNER/HOMEWORK

Discuss the following questions with your children regarding the following verses:

  • Matthew 5:13-16 (Jesus said...) "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men."
  • Colossians 4:6 "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how to answer each one.
  • 1 Timothy 4:12 - Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
    • Does the life that you live glorify God?
    • Do the things you say or the way you act on the sports fields, in your school classes, with your groups of friends shine the light of Christ?
    • Does the way you treat your parents and siblings, season your home with the salt of the Gospel?

LESSON ATTACHMENTS

Grade 5 Week 1 Activity (Service).pdf