Glowing with Christ's Light

Before doing this study, please read the one-minute introduction 7 Ways to Shine for Christ. 

When we belong to Christ, we reflect His light, and we are meant to share that light with the world.

1. In the passage below:

A. How do salt and light have similar and different purposes? 

B. Why do you think God stressed not hiding our light?

C. What are ways we might hide our light and what are ways we can "put it on a stand"?  

D. Who is glorified by our good deeds?

Matthew 5:13-16: “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 underfoot.14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

See The Light Makes Everyone Happy, Right? Wrong!

2. What responsibilities come with being a light in our secular world?

Ephesians 5:8-16: For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” 15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 

See Jesus Isn't Looking for Silent Partners.

3. What about these verses encourages and comforts you?

1 John 1:4-5: We write this to make our joy complete. 5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

1 John 1:7: we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

John 1:3-5: Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

See Shining in the Darkness and 8 Truths About the Light of the World.

copyright 2015, Gail Burton Purath, BiteSizeBibleStudy.com, updated and edited 2025 

The Power and Limit of Words Study

Before working through this Bible study, please read the 1-minute introduction The Power and Limit of Words.

It addresses misunderstandings about Proverbs 18:21: "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit."  

1. It's dangerous to base theology on a Proverb alone.

Solomon prefaces the book of Proverbs saying it is a book of "wise sayings." Nowhere is it presented or described as promises. 

If every Proverb were a promise, all righteous people would be wealthy and live long lives while the wicked would die young (Proverbs 10:22,27). Righteous people would never be harmed (Proverbs 12:21). 

I could offer more examples like these, but I think you get the idea that we can't claim all Proverbs as promises. Proverbs offer biblical principles, many of which apply in a spiritual sense, not a physical sense. 

For more on this subject, check out this Bite Size Study help: Proverbs Aren't Promises.

2. It is dangerous to create theology on a single verse even if it isn't a proverb. 

For example, if we drew all of our beliefs about healing from James 5:14-16, we would assume all sickness can be healed by the prayers of the elders and/or confession of sin although it doesn't specify "all." But James 5:14-16 is only part of the story on healing. we must add it to every other passage on healing before drawing conclusions. If you want to see this illustrated with the subject of prayer, check out Pieces Parts. 

3. What Scripture teaches on our words: 

Matthew 12:36: But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 

Ephesians 4:29: Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 

James 3: 5-6, 9-10, 17-18: Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell...9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be...17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. 

But our words do not bring physical life and death. If we want to understand what Scripture teaches about physical healing, we need to combine all that it teaches.

If you'd like to do that these devotions can help: The Biblical View of Healing. 

And this article offers some important information about the history of the word of faith movement, a movement that teaches that our words can heal or make sick, bring wealth or poverty: Proverbs 18:21 doctrine.

copyright 2015, Gail Burton Purath, BiteSizeBibleStudy.com, updated in 2024.

Hate Crimes Bible Study

Before doing this study please read the 1-minute introduction Christians Should Reject All Hate Crimes. It talks about the way culture has twisted the meaning of love and hate, calling God's commands hateful and calling Christians who believe in God's commands hateful. 

1. Many of the "hot topics" in our culture revolve around sexual practices. 

When Christians speak up for God's truth, no matter how gently and carefully they do so, they are typically mocked. This passage specifically addresses sexual immorality and God's emphasis on it.  Can you list the main points in this passage?  

1 Thessalonians 4:3-8: It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.

2. The following instructions were given to Titus, a young Christian leader. 

Do you think most young Christian leaders are eager to teach, encourage, and rebuke in areas that contradict our culture?    

Titus 2:11-15: For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. 15 These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.

3. How can we read the warning below and talk about the sins of idolatry, adultery, theft, greed, drunkenness, slander, and swindling, but say nothing about homosexuality? 

Is it loving to stand by and let homosexuals go to Hell without warning them and offering them a way to set themselves free from a sin that is damaging their souls?

1 Corinthians 6:9-11: Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

I have been to churches all over the U.S. and in several European countries, and I've never met a Christian who believes in mistreating LGBTQ people. Sometimes cases of mistreatment are shared on social media, but these cases are so rare that they have to be hunted down. It would be much easier to find cases where Christians are called names and mistreated than to find cases where LGBTQ persons are mistreated. Christians must not allow themselves to be influenced by biased news reporting.

Please read the one-minute devotions:

Don't Fear Speaking Up

Can Christians Live Sinful Lifestyles?