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Section 1: Opening Prayer
Holy God, sometimes we have to wait for promises you have given us and we don’t want to. Sometimes we have to trust the promises of others for the world and life you have for us to come to fruition. Help us to wait on you. Open our hearts to hear and learn about your love. Amen
Section 2: Story
Here is an interesting telling of the story of the sheep and the goats:
And here is another telling of the story:
And another telling of the story:
Section 3: Message
Read the story of the sheep and the goats here.
How do we know which we will be?
Will you be a sheep or a goat?
Have you ever passed by someone who was hungry and didn’t help? Have you ever saw someone who was thirsty and needed a drink and didn’t give them a drink?
The other things to know about this passage are that when someone was in prison in Jesus’ day they didn’t get clothing or food, unless someone brought it to them. And families would sometimes neglect imprisoned members because it was a dishonor to the family to be seen going to jail to visit.
Jesus is asking us to go out of our way to meet the needs of those around us. Yet how many of us do?
This passage on the final judgement is one that should scare us, but that is not good motivators. What should make us want to help the least of these? (answer this question below)
Section 4: Learn and Engage
– What are 3 things you learned?
– What is 1 question you still have?
– What part of the lesson did you most identify with?
– What part of the lesson was hardest for you?
– Where have you seen God this week?
Section 5: Closing Prayer
Gracious and most holy God, help us to see you in everyone we meet and to treat them as you treated us. Help us to show your love through everything we do. Amen.
Here is a great song about this passage: