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Question 7
Jesus says, “Let your light shine…that they may see your good works and glorify your Father,” and Bercot notes early Christians spoke freely about the necessity of works; what specific habits or ministries in your life would count as “works that cry aloud,” and how do you keep them from becoming religious performance aimed at human praise?
Another way to ask: What “good works” in your life are visible enough that they could point people to God? How do you do them without turning them into a show to impress others?

Direct Answer The transcript doesn’t list specific modern “habits or ministries” to copy, but it frames “good works” as visible obedience that points people to God, not self. Bercot says we guard against performance by doing works so others “glorify your Father,” not so they praise us.

Support from Transcript:

  • Jesus’ command is quoted: “Let your light so shine before men that they can see your good works and glorify your Father.”
  • Bercot notes early Christian writers had “no compunction” about emphasizing “good works” and their “importance and necessity.”
  • Clement of Alexandria: “We ought to have works that cry aloud…Let your works shine.”
  • Second Clement: we “confess Him by doing what He says, not transgressing His commandments,” honoring Him with “all our heart and all our mind,” not just lips.
  • Bercot clarifies motive: if we act “to be seen by men to receive praise,” it becomes “blame-worthy rather than praiseworthy.”
  • He insists works are to please “our Master, Jesus Christ,” and be “zealous for good works.”
Discussion Follow-ups What works in your life are clearly obedience to Jesus, and what would change if you measured success by whether God is glorified rather than whether people notice?

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