“Radiant Faith: Building Blocks for Spiritual Growth” - Week 4

“Radiant Faith: Building Blocks for Spiritual Growth” Week 4: **"Acts of Service and Compassion: Living Out Love"** - Big Concept: Walking in obedience to God through the ministry of compassion for others.  - Main Passage: Matthew 25:31-46 (The parable of the sheep and the goats) ”Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.“ Proverbs 31:8-9 ESV ”The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;“ Isaiah 61:1-2 ESV   Exposition - Matthew 25:31-46 A. Verses 31-33: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.” 1. Explanation: Jesus’ depiction of the final judgment, with Himself as the righteous Judge 2. Teaching Point: The certainty and impartiality of the judgment day 3. Application: Live with the awareness that our actions will be evaluated by God Himself B. Verses 34-40: “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 foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” 1. Explanation: Jesus commends the righteous for their compassionate actions towards others 2. Teaching Point: Genuine faith in Christ is evidenced by love and compassion for those in need 3. Application: Actively seek opportunities to serve others with love and compassion, recognizing Christ in them C. Verses 41-46: “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” 1. Explanation: Jesus condemns the unrighteous for their neglect of the needy and marginalized 2. Teaching Point: Neglecting the needs of others is akin to neglecting Christ Himself 3. Application: Be vigilant in showing love and kindness to others, knowing that our treatment of them reflects our relationship with Christ