Youth Sermon: Separating Sheep from Goats: Living in the Kingdom of God

Introduction

Hey guys, have you ever played the game "Would You Rather?" You know, where you have to choose between two options, like would you rather have super strength or super speed? Well, today we're going to talk about a different kind of "Would You Rather" game that Jesus talked about in the Bible. It's called the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats.

It's called the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats.

The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats

Let's read it together from Matthew 25:31-46. In this story, Jesus is talking about how He will separate people, like a shepherd separates sheep from goats. But it's not about what they look like or how fast they can run. It's about how they treat others, especially those who are poor, sick, or in trouble.

You know, Jesus often called himself the "Son of Man." That's a phrase from the book of Daniel in the Old Testament. Daniel had a vision of a "human one" who was different from the powerful and scary beasts he saw. This "human one" was kind, just, and peaceful. Jesus saw himself as this "human one," showing us how to live in a way that's different from the world's way.

Object Lesson

Now, let's do a little object lesson. I have here a bag of M&Ms. Some are plain, and some are peanut. If I shake the bag, the peanut M&Ms will rise to the top because they're bigger. But does that make them better? No, it's just a difference. In the same way, Jesus doesn't judge us by our size, our looks, or our popularity. He judges us by how we treat others.

In the parable, both the sheep and the goats are surprised by Jesus' judgment. The sheep, who were kind and caring, didn't realize that when they were helping others, they were actually serving Jesus. And the goats, who ignored the needs of others, didn't realize they were ignoring Jesus.

Application

So, what does this mean for us? It means that our faith should make a difference in how we treat others. It's not just about believing in Jesus; it's about living like Him. It's about seeing everyone as valuable, no matter who they are or where they come from. It's about standing up for those who are mistreated or ignored. It's about being a light in a dark world.

So, here's your challenge for this week: Look for ways to serve others. Maybe it's helping a classmate with homework, or standing up for someone who's being bullied, or volunteering at a local food bank. Remember, when you serve others, you're serving Jesus.

Prayer

Let's pray: "God, help us to see others as you see them. Help us to be kind and caring, like the sheep in the parable. Help us to live out our faith in practical ways. And help us to remember that when we serve others, we're serving you. Amen."

Small Group Breakout Questions

1. How can we live as 'sheep' in our daily lives?

2. What are some ways we can help the marginalized in our community?

3. How does our treatment of others reflect our understanding of the Kingdom of God?

4. How can we make our community more like the Kingdom of God?

Get the Full Youth Group Plan

• Icebreaker: Sheep and Goats Icebreaker
• Group Activity: Acting Out the Parable
• Youth Challenge: Living as Sheep Challenge