WELCOME
Good morning First Baptist. We welcome you to worship this morning. Be sure to remember your brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the week as you pray for them, and as the Holy Spirit brings their faces to your mind. Be sure to also connect with them in the ways that are possible. And if you have any questions or would like to talk to someone, please don’t hesitate to contact the church through the church telephone and leave a message. (519-733-4144)
Songs
Call to Worship
We have come this morning to worship the God who lights our path and shapes our days.
Psalm 112 says: “Blessed is the one who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in His commands. Their children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.”
Even in our jobs, our homes, wherever we find ourselves God calls us to live faithfully and boldly. We are, each one of us, God’s hands and feet in the world. So, let’s worship together the One who empowers us to shine, for the sake of the world.
Songs
Prayer
CONFESSION:
God of light and life, we confess that too often we live as though our faith is confined to Sunday mornings. We scroll endlessly, reacting with cynicism instead of hope. We rush through our work, our homes, our relationships, forgetting that You have placed us there to be salt and light. Forgive us for the times we blend in when You’ve called us to stand out, for the times we hoard grace instead of offering it freely, for the moments we respond to the world with indifference instead of reflecting Your love.
Let’s take a moment now for private confession. As you reflect silently, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the ways you where you can live more like Jesus in your work, home, or even online.
(silent, personal confession)
Lord, we bring these private confessions to You now. We want to live like Jesus, not just believe in Him. Help us to bring peace where there is chaos, to shine light where there is darkness, and to be faithful in the small rhythms of our everyday lives.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE:
Jesus Christ came into the world, fully human, fully God, to show us the way. Through Him, our sins are forgiven, our hearts are renewed, and our lives are empowered to shine. We are not alone. We are not without hope. Thanks be to God, who calls us to live for the sake of the world.
Amen.
Following Jesus in Real Life
The Way at Work, Home, & WIFI
Today's Message: Pastor Dave Page
Hey friends! Before we dive in, let’s do a quick recap.
- Week 1: “Lost the Plot?” — We realized it’s easy to drift from a life with Jesus into a life just about Question: “Am I actually following Him, or just keeping busy?”
- Week 2: “Habits > Hype” — Transformation isn’t about inspiration alone. It’s built in the little daily choices, the rhythms we actually practice.
- Week 3: “No One Follows Jesus Alone” — Community matters. Growth happens in relationship, not isolation.
And that’s where we are now. All those lessons lead us to this question: How do we actually live Jesus in the spaces we spend most of our time, our jobs, our homes, and yes, even online?
That’s why I’ve titled today’s message “The Way at Work, Home, and WiFi.”
Read Matthew 5:13–16
Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:13-16; Jeremiah 29:4-7
Matthew 5:13-16
Believers Are Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 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. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Jeremiah 29:4-7
4 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon:
5 Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. 6 Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters—that you may be increased there, and not diminished. 7 And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace.
Jesus didn’t say, “Try to be the salt of the earth… maybe someday you’ll shine a little light.” No. He said, “You are.” Your presence matters. Your habits matter—not just for your own growth, but for the world around you.
Be Salt and Light Everywhere
Salt adds flavor, saltiness. It preserves. It stands out. Light illuminates and reveals. And Jesus says: that’s you.
Let me give you some practical examples:
- At work: Maybe everyone is stressed, complaining, or cutting corners. You bring integrity, encouragement, and calm.
- At home: Dinner feels chaotic? Put your phone down. Be present. Your calm, patient presence is like seasoning in a bland meal.
- Online: Social media can feel like a swamp of negativity. But one post, one comment, one story of encouragement can cut through the noise.
Ever had a meal and someone says, “Needs salt!” That tiny pinch transforms everything and, that’s exactly how small acts of faithfulness transform your space. Let’s be honest, if salt loses its saltiness, who wants that? It’s like decaf coffee, it technically exists, but nobody’s to excited about it.
Reflection: Where is your “bland meal” this week at work, home, or online that could use a pinch of salt or a little light?
So, salt and light aren’t optional. But here’s the thing—being effective doesn’t happen by accident. You were placed where you are on purpose.
You’re Placed Where You Are on Purpose
Read Jeremiah 29:4–7
Jeremiah tells exiles in Babylon: “Settle down. Build houses. Plant gardens. Seek the peace of the city. Don’t wait to be rescued—be a blessing now.”
Translation: You’re not in your job, your family, or your city by accident. God put you there for a reason.
- Work: Not just for a paycheck—you shape culture, show integrity, and encourage people.
- Home: Not just surviving chaos—you bring grace and presence.
- Online: Not just scrolling—you can influence, encourage, and point people toward hope.
What is the difference between a thermostat and a thermometer. A thermometer reflects the temperature. A thermostat sets it. Jesus calls us to be thermostats, bringing the climate of the Kingdom wherever we are. And let’s face it, no one wants to be the human thermometer, just reacting to everything and maybe complaining along the way. Been there, done that, right?
Reflection: Where this week can you “set the temperature” instead of just going along with the culture?
We know where we are and why we’re there, now, what we do matters. That brings us to the third point.
Good Works Point People to God
Jesus says: “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father.”
I want you to think of your life as a window, not a billboard. People notice God through your actions, not flashy promotion.
- Work: Deliver excellent work with integrity—people notice and may ask why.
- Home: Sacrificial love, patience, presence—your kids see God’s love in action.
- Online: Thoughtful engagement, encouragement—your posts can point people toward hope instead of cynicism.
Think about Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, or LinkedIn, whatever platform you tend to hang out in. One person posting encouragement instead of outrage can literally change someone’s day, or even perspective, without ever saying a word about God. Salt and light, in WIFI form.
Reflection: Identify one “window moment” this week where your actions can point someone toward God in your job, home, or online life.
That’s not theory, that’s practical. Now, let’s make it actionable.
Application
Here’s your challenge this week:
- Identify your place of impact: Where has God already placed you, work, family, digital space, and how can you bring salt and light there?
- Pick one intentional act of service: Write an encouraging email. Give full attention at dinner. Post a hopeful thought online.
Take 30 seconds and write down one concrete thing you’ll do this week in work, home, or WIFI space to live like Jesus.
Some time ago, another Pastor told me about a guy from his church. He works in IT. He’s not a pastor, not a missionary, just a regular guy fixing computers. But here’s what people noticed: At work, he stayed calm when others stressed out. He encouraged coworkers instead of gossiping. Eventually, someone pulled him aside and asked, “Why are you different?”
At home, this person put his phone away at dinner and gave his family his full attention. His family started saying that dinnertime was their favourite part of the day, because Dad was really present.
And online? Instead of ranting like everyone else, He chose to post little encouragements, bits of hope. One day an old high school classmate messaged him: “I don’t believe what you believe, but honestly, social media needs more of you.”
That’s salt. That’s light. Not dramatic. Not flashy. Just faithfully living the way of Jesus, at work, at home, and even on WIFI. And that’s the call for us too. We don’t just live for Jesus on Sundays. We live like Jesus in the office, at the dinner table, and even on our phones, for the sake of the world.
And the good news? We’re still practicing.
Where can you bring salt and light this week in the places you actually live?
Prayer
Gracious God,
We come to You today thankful that You place us exactly where we need to be, at our work, in our homes, in our communities, and yes, even online. Thank You for entrusting us with the gift of influence, the ability to be salt and light wherever we are.
Lord, we pray for our workplaces. Help us bring integrity, kindness, and wisdom into every task, every interaction, every decision. Where there is tension, give us patience. Where there is discouragement, give us hope. May our presence point others toward You without us ever having to say a word.
We lift up our homes to You. Teach us to be fully present with the people we love. Let our words be gentle, our actions intentional, and our hearts ready to forgive. Help us create spaces of peace, joy, and hospitality even in the midst of chaos.
And Lord, we pray for our digital lives. In a world filled with endless scrolling, noise, and negativity, give us discernment to post, comment, and share in ways that reflect Your love. Let us be beacons of encouragement, truth, and hope in the spaces we inhabit online.
Father, remind us that the small acts of faithfulness matter. A kind word, a patient gesture, a thoughtful post, these are the ways we live like Jesus for the sake of the world. Strengthen us to be consistent in these everyday practices, knowing that You are at work through them.
Finally, Lord, we ask that You guide us in finding our unique opportunities to serve this week. Show us where You want our flavor and light to go and give us the courage to act. May our lives point people to You, not for our glory, but for Yours.
We pray all this in the name of Jesus, our Savior and Guide. Amen.
Song
Benediction
Go out this week knowing you are salt and light.
Carry kindness into your work, peace into your home, and hope into every corner of your life even online. Remember: small acts of faithfulness matter. You don’t have to do everything, just do the next right thing, and God will take care of the rest.
Go live like Jesus—for the sake of the world. Amen.