This past Sunday, we continued building on the message of the Kingdom with a powerful focus on “Kingdom Influence.” If we truly belong to the Kingdom of God, then our lives are not meant to be hidden, passive, or disconnected from the world around us. Kingdom citizens are called to influence their environment, not blend into it.
Jesus made this clear in Matthew 5 when He said, “You are the salt of the earth” and “You are the light of the world.” Those statements are not suggestions. They are declarations of identity. Salt affects whatever it touches. Light changes the atmosphere wherever it shines. Influence is not optional for a believer; it is part of who we are.
Kingdom influence does not come from loud opinions or cultural dominance. It comes from living under the authority of the King and reflecting His character in everyday life. Influence begins with integrity. It grows through consistency. It multiplies through love and truth lived out in real situations.
When Jesus called us salt, He was reminding us that we are meant to bring flavor and preservation into a decaying world. When He called us light, He was reminding us that we are meant to reveal truth and bring clarity into confusion. Influence is not about controlling people. It is about embodying the presence of Christ so clearly that others are drawn to Him.
Too often, believers underestimate their influence. We may think influence only belongs to leaders, platforms, or public voices. But Kingdom influence starts in homes, workplaces, classrooms, and conversations. It shows up in how we respond under pressure, how we treat those who disagree with us, and how we love when it is inconvenient.
Influence also requires courage. Salt that loses its flavor becomes ineffective. Light that is hidden cannot serve its purpose. If we compromise our values to gain acceptance, we lose the very influence we were meant to carry. Kingdom influence is strongest when we remain rooted in truth while walking in grace.
As a church, we are not called to retreat from culture, nor are we called to mirror it. We are called to impact it. That impact begins with personal surrender. The more we submit to the rule of the King, the more His influence flows through us. Our words carry weight. Our actions carry witness. Our lives carry light.
This week, consider where God has positioned you. You are not there by accident. You are there as salt. You are there as light. You are there as a representative of the Kingdom. Influence does not require a stage. It requires obedience.
May we be a people who do not shrink back but shine brightly. May our influence point beyond ourselves to the King we serve. And may the Kingdom of God be seen clearly through the way we live.
With Kingdom conviction,
Pastor Chris Tullis
Grace Church
“Empowered by Grace, Living in Faith, Growing in Christ”
