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gathering question:
How did participating more intentionally in worship this past week help you experience the relationship between worship and justice?
TRUTH
In Scripture
In Matthew 25, Jesus is bringing his teaching ministry to a close with a fitting finale. Our relationship to the King determines our place in the kingdom. Our relationship with the King is shown through our care for those the King cares about.
Take 5 minutes to read Matt 25:31-46 twice; once to yourself and once aloud together.
Take 10 minutes to answer these questions:
1. According to vv. 40 and 45 , what does Jesus use as his criterion for judgment? Are you surprised? Notice the surprise of both those who had cared for the needy (vv. 37-39), and those who rejected them (v. 44). Would their surprise make sense if they were doing justice to earn their place in the Kingdom?
2. Notice the language of blessing (v. 34) and cursing (v. 41) in Matthew 25. Then read the call of Abram in Genesis 12:1-3. When read together, what do you think these passages have to say about which people among the nations (cf. Matt 25:32; Gen 12:3) are truly blessed and cursed?
In Summary
The heart of Christianity is relationship with Jesus himself. This shows itself in sharing Jesus' loving, sacrificial care for others, especially the poor and needy. When we serve the brothers and sisters of Jesus, however insignificant, Jesus himself is served (see Acts 9:4 for another example of this principle). That service is the criterion of judgment because it indicates how one responds to Jesus himself. Yet we must not confuse the fruit—doing justice to the least of these—with the root—being acquitted as just in Jesus.
EQUIPPING
These equipping questions are meant to help you work the truth out of the text and into your lives. Take 25 minutes to discuss these questions.
1. In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus is the glorious Son of Man, the King, the Judge, but also our Shepherd and Brother who identifies himself with the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and prisoners. How do Jesus’ supremacy (“he will sit on his glorious throne”) and solidarity (“you did it to me”) with poor Christians both encourage and challenge you in your pursuit of justice?
2. In v. 40, “the least of these my brothers” refers to those who are most needy among Jesus’ disciples, not all people. How should the principle—eliminate poverty in the church, alleviate poverty in the world—shape our priorities in pursuing justice? Who has modeled to you how to feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, or visit the sick and the prisoner?
3. Jesus said all people will be divided into two destinations. How does this provide critique of our tolerant and pluralistic age that believes we’re all going to the same place by different roads? How does Jesus’ final judgement give us strength and hope in the face of injustice?
ACCOUNTABILITY
These questions can be helpful for you to examine your life and ministry in light of the truths you explored this week. Take 15 minutes to discuss these questions:
1. Where do you feel the most offense from this passage? Where do you feel its challenge the most? Where do you hesitate to follow?
2. There is a clear test of the extent of our love for Jesus: How have we treated the poor? If a non-Christian were to judge the validity of Jesus’ claims by your care for the poor, how would you fair?
You may feel the weight of Jesus’ impending judgement for yourself and others. Rather than pulling back in fear, turn to Jesus in repentance and faith that He is a good King who blesses the poor in spirit. Rather than simply trying harder, ask the Holy Spirit to enable you to see opportunities to steward your life for your poor brothers and sisters.
MISSION
The goal of the Mission section is so that Truth, Equipping, Accountability, and Supplication are transformed into a missional life, that is, following Jesus moment-by-moment in all of life. Take 5 minutes to plan for this:
1. Pray for the Spirit to bring someone to mind within your church community—a brother or sister in Christ.
2. How might you intentionally bless them (with words, presence, gifts, money, care, etc.) this week?
3. Pray for the Spirit to bring someone to mind without gospel community—maybe a stranger to Christ.
4. How might you intentionally bless them (with words, presence, gifts, money, care, etc.) this week?
SUPPLICATION
Remember the Spirit helps us in our weakness (Romans 8:26). Close by spending 10 minutes praying God’s words back to Him from the Psalms.
1. Read Psalm 10.
2. Pay close attention to the connection between judgement (“call to account”) and justice.
3. Have each person read three verses then pause to pray.
4. Turn the words of the psalm into your prayer for justice and God’s coming kingdom.