Listen to the sermon now, "Finding Jesus Outside" - Fr. Christopher Caudle

Summary: “Finding Jesus Outside”

In this sermon, Fr. Christopher Caudle invites us to rethink where we expect to find Jesus—and where Jesus expects to find us.

Drawing on Jesus’ words in Matthew 5, the sermon centers on three images he uses to describe his disciples: salt of the earth, light of the world, and a city on a hill. Importantly, Jesus doesn’t say these are things we should try to become; he says this is what we already are.

A major theme is that salt, light, and cities only fulfill their purpose when they are out in the open. Salt has to be scattered into the world to preserve and season it. Light has to be placed where darkness exists. A city on a hill is meant to be seen and to help people find their way home. In the same way, Jesus calls his followers not to hide together in safe, familiar spaces, but to live openly and faithfully in the world as it really is.

The sermon gently challenges the instinct many Christians have to stay “inside”—inside church walls, inside comfortable communities, inside places that already feel holy. Instead, Jesus intentionally places his people in exposed, uncomfortable, sometimes dark places, not as punishment, but as purpose. That’s where light matters most.

Fr. Caudle connects this to the Old Testament vision of Israel as a “kingdom of priests” for the nations and to Isaiah’s teaching that true faith is lived out in the world, through acts of mercy, justice, and generosity. God’s desire has always been to reach the world through his people as they are scattered, not just when they are gathered.

One especially memorable illustration uses a crumpled $100 bill to show that value doesn’t disappear just because something has been damaged or dirtied. In the same way, no matter how broken or worn people may be, they still bear God’s image and are worth everything to him. Jesus went into the darkness of the world because humanity was worth it—and now he sends his followers to do the same.

The sermon closes with a simple, personal invitation: instead of thinking about changing the whole world, ask God to bring to mind one person—someone precious to God—who you can love, serve, and bear witness to. Jesus has already gone ahead of us, and when we follow him, even into difficult places, light breaks out, and people find their way home.

The final encouragement is hopeful and reassuring: it’s easy to get lost, but it’s not hard to be found. Jesus is already outside, waiting—and calling us to join him there.

Prayer

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