Plan for: Thanksgiving | Advent | Christmas
Plan for: Thanksgiving | Advent | Christmas
Explores Matthew 25:31-46, emphasizing the importance of serving others as a reflection of our faith and a path to eternal life.
Good morning, dear brothers and sisters in Christ. It is a blessing to be gathered together in the house of the Lord, to lean into His word and be nourished by His truth.
We find ourselves today at the foot of a majestic and humbling passage of Scripture. We stand on the precipice of a profound revelation about the nature of our faith, the essence of our salvation, and the call to service in the Kingdom of God.
Our Scripture passage today is found in the book of Matthew, chapter 25, verses 31-46. It reads:
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In this passage, we are confronted with a vivid illustration of the final judgement, a stark separation of the righteous and the unrighteous, a clear delineation between those who serve in the Kingdom and those who do not.
In the world of the shepherd, there is a clear understanding of the role he plays. The shepherd is not just a guide or a protector, but a caretaker, a provider, and a constant presence. The shepherd knows his sheep, he knows their needs, their behaviors, their tendencies. He is always there, watching over them, ensuring their safety and their well-being. This is the picture that Jesus paints for us in this passage. He presents Himself as the shepherd, the one who knows us, who cares for us, who is always there for us.
The sheep on the right: They are the ones who have responded to the shepherd's call. They have followed his voice, they have trusted in his guidance, they have relied on his provision. They are the ones who have seen the needs of others and have responded in kind. They have fed the hungry, given drink to the thirsty, invited in the stranger, clothed the naked, cared for the sick, and visited the imprisoned. They have done these things not out of obligation or duty, but out of love and compassion, out of a desire to serve and to help.
This is the essence of the Kingdom of God: It is not about rules and regulations, it is not about rituals and traditions. It is about love and compassion, it is about service and sacrifice. It is about seeing the needs of others and responding in kind. It is about being the hands and feet of Jesus in a world that is in desperate need of His love and His grace.
As we continue to immerse ourselves in the rich tapestry of this passage, we are drawn to the imagery of the shepherd separating the sheep from the goats ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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