Salt Life Videos & Discussion Guides

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"You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless." Matthew 5:13

"Simon Peter said, 'I'm going fishing.' 'We'll come, too.' they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night. At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn't see who he was. He called out, 'Fellows, have you caught any fish?' 'No,' they replied. Then he said, 'Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you'll get some!' So they did, and they couldn't haul in the net because there were so many fish in it. Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, 'It's the Lord!' When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore. The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore. When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread. 'Bring some of the fish you've caught,' Jesus said. So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn't torn. 'Now come and have some breakfast!' Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, 'Who are you?' They knew it was the Lord. Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish." John 21:3-14

The Christian’s life is not always a bowl of cherries. Being a child of God assures me a great someday but not a great day today. Failure is a reality, so how do I respond when things don’t go my way? Jesus promises his presence, and I can count on His support and encouragement, especially when life is hard or when I am unsuccessful. Today’s Scripture looks at Peter during a time when he thinks his world has come crashing down along with all his hopes and dreams for the future. He denied his Lord, who he had pledged to follow even if it cost him his life. But then the Lord shows up offering him encouragement and refreshment. Jesus lets Peter know that He still has a plan and purpose for His beloved disciple. Today’s message teaches me how I can go forward even when I fail.

WHAT TO DO WHEN I FAIL

1. Run to God, not from God.

"When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore." John 21:7

Discussion: When I sin, am I more prone to run to God or to run away from God? Why?

2. Refuse to let my failures define me.

"After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, 'Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?' 'Yes, Lord,' Peter replied, 'you know I love you.' 'Then feed my lambs,' Jesus told him." John 21:15

"'Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means 'rock'), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.'" Matthew 16:18

Discussion: Do I believe God loves me despite my failures and can still use me for His good?

 3. Recycle the pain from my failures.

"A third time he asked him, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, 'Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.'" John 21:17a

Discussion: Why does following Jesus require my total love and submission to Him?

4. Relax in God's grace.

"Jesus said, 'Then feed my sheep.'" John 21:17b

Discussion: Does God’s grace give me peace even though I know there will be times when I fail?

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"You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless." Matthew 5:13

"Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. That evening the disciples came to him and said, 'This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.' But Jesus said, 'That isn't necessary—you feed them.' 'But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!' they answered. 'Bring them here,' he said. Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people. They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. About 5,000 men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children!" Matthew 14:14-21

WE OVEREMPHASIZE OUR PROBLEMS AND WE UNDEREMPHASIZE OUR RESOURCES, BECAUSE WE UNDRESTIMATE OUR GOD.

1. Know that the situation is not hopeless.

"That evening the disciples came to him and said, 'This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.' But Jesus said, 'That isn't necessary...'" Matthew 14:15-16

Discussion: Share a situation that makes you feel hopeless. Pray and encourage one another. Examine what skills, talents, and passions you have that God can use to help perform miracles in these situations.

2. Realize that God wants to use me to make a difference.

"...you feed them." Matthew 14:16

"Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people." Matthew 14:19

Discussion: Are there areas you are willing to step out in faith and allow God to use you?

3. Always entrust everything into his hands.

""'But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!' they answered. 'Bring them here,' he said." Matthew 14:17

Discussion: What are some problems you've been trying to solve that you need to bring to Jesus?

4. Learn to thank God and celebrate the miracle to come.

"Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them." Matthew 14:19

"They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. About 5,000 men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children!" Matthew 14:20-21

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"You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless." Matthew 5:13

"One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, 'Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!' And they left their nets at once and followed him. A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind." Matthew 4:18-22

The world today really needs Jesus. So many people have lost all hope without even knowing that God offers hope through faith in His Son Jesus. This is why it is so important that Christians influence our culture for Christ. This is what this series is about—living in a way that shows God’s love and grace to a lost and hopeless world. Christians have the answer to a blessed and peaceful life, but if we are not living in a way that testifies to God’s goodness, then how will the hopeless ever know? In today’s message, Pastor Beau relates from God’s Word how to live a life that is a witness to God’s love.

HOW TO LIVE A LIFE WORTH LIVING

1. Choose carefully who I will follow.

"Jesus said to the people who believed in him, 'You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'"

"I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!" Revelation 3:15-16

Discussion: What are some practical ways I can be a more godly influence to those around me?

2. Choose carefully what I will value.

"So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, 'You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.' But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich." Luke 18:22-23

"If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple." Luke 14:26

"Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"

Discussion: Talk about life's priorities and anything in my life that is taking the place of God.

3. Choose carefully when I will go.

"Then He said to another, 'Follow Me.' But he said, 'Lord, let me first go and bury my father.' Jesus said to him, 'Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the Kingdom of God.'" Luke 9:59-60

"So he said, ' I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you...'" Luke 12:18-20

Discussion: Why is it so important that I say yes to God today?

Application: Think about how I might show God’s love to someone who needs it this week.