Meeting on Zoom isn’t the best way, but it IS the next best thing. So glad we can see each other face-to-face and have fellowship together.
How are you keeping in contact during this time, other than at our weekly life group meetings? What should we be doing as a group to keep really connected?
Sunday was our third online-only service. How do you think it went?
On Sunday, we talked about our response to the gospel. I talked about the “shame” response, vs the “power” response. The power response is to lean in, to love those around us… Especially in difficult times like this one.
“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.
-Jesus, Matthew 25:31-40 NLT
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
We are really used to talking about how we are saved by faith, and not by works… So why do you think Jesus focuses in on the “works” of the sheep here? Why are the ones with the right “works” the only ones that “inherit the Kingdom?” (hint: think power vs shame)
“Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. 42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
-Jesus, Matthew 25:41-46 NLT
44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’
45 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’
46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”
So, what is the deciding difference between the sheep and the goats?
How does this inform us about the importance of serving those around us?
How can we continue to serve each other during this time?
How can we serve our neighbors?