Serve One Another

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Disciple is someone becoming more like Jesus

Knowing, Doing, Growing, Going

Worship the Father; Committed Christian Community; Spiritual Disciplines create space for the Holy Spirit

Not only does carry with it the normal weight of Jesus’ teaching, but as if you could heighten the intensity or severity of what He was sharing, the entire chapter has an ultimate finality of end times teaching to it.

Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

Imagine Paul preaching this message back in his day.

“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters.”

We have been set free from the bondage of thinking we have to earn God’s unmerited favor - grace.

v.6 - “What is important is faith expressing itself in love.”

V.1 Parable of the 10 bridesmaids

In order to be a disciple who serves, we must have one thing in mind - others!

5 wise who were prepared with enough lamp oil / 5 foolish who were not prepared. At midnight, the bridegroom showed up - completely unexpected.

In order to have serving others in mind, we must be people of humility. Humility isn’t thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.

In order to be people of humility,

V.14 Parable of 3 Servants

Master called together his servants & entrusted them while he was gone with his money - 5 bags of silver (invested & earned 5 more); 2 bags of silver (went to work & earned 2 more); 1 bag of silver (dug a hole & hid masters money) according to their abilities. Master returned and called them in to give an account for how they used his money. Master was full of praise - “Well done, good and faithful servant. You’ve been faithful handling this small amount, so now I’ll give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate!” Same with the 2nd servant.

Then the servant with one bag came and said, “Master, I knew you were a harsh man. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it. Look, here’s your money back. “You wicked and lazy servant! Why didn’t you at least put my money in the bank to draw some interest? Take from him what was given to him & throw this useless servant into outer darkness where there will be weeping & gnashing of teeth.

31 But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.

34 “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 creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. 42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’

44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’

45 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’

46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”

Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

Hungry / Thirsty

Matthew 25:31–46 NLT

“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. “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 creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’ “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’ “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’ “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”

Matthew 25:31-

Matthew 25:31–46 NLT

“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. “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 creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’ “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’ “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’ “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”

Hungry - Feed you

Thirsty - Something to drink

When we think of basic necessities like food and water, so many of us today have an over-abundance of food & water in our cabinets & refrigerators. We want for very little. We seldom go hungry; we rarely have nothing; in fact - it’s usually more of a decision of what to choose from - the VanCamp’s pork&beans or the Busch’s baked beans? The Apple Jacks, Cheerios, Rice Krispies, or the Cinnamon Life?

It was a real issue. Today we struggle with wondering if people holding up signs are just trying to scam you or if they really have need.

Stranger - Show hospitality

Didn’t have a Holiday in Express’ back in the day. Where would a stranger find shelter when traveling and needing to stay over night? Those staying the evening in the open air would be very susceptible to thieves or people looking to take advantage of another.

Naked - Give clothing

Sign of poverty in Jesus’ day. Not even having the ability to buy clothes to cover themselves. Remember the poverty of the people on the island of La Gonave in Haiti.

Sick - Visit

Jesus doesn’t specify here what type of sickness, but medicine wasn’t the same as it is today. Understanding of sicknesses, cures for illnesses, the spread of diseases. It’s incredible the things that can be done for people today. The facilities, doctors, nurses, equipment, medicine.

Prison - Visit

First century prisons were meant as places of punishment. People occupied in these them were treated sub-human. They were not places that you would want to spend much time at. In fact, most people during this time avoided prisons at great length.

It was a big deal to visit people in prison back then. Some would probably say that it’s still a pretty big deal today.

Here’s what I find so incredibly interesting about this group of acts of kindness - they are simple; I don’t know if there’s anyone who couldn’t do any of these; This doesn’t exclude anyone; everyone can participate; It doesn’t take a rocket scientist or a degree in church anything to do these things. They’re simple.

But if we dig a little deeper into what we can learn about being a disciple or becoming more like Jesus… I believe it begins with a focus on others.

Important to note that it wasn’t that doing these things earned a person’s way in.

Focus on others

I believe this is where it begins. It begins with a focus on other people. Not on our own interests. Not on our own preferences. Not on what we want.

Humility - not that we think less of ourselves, but we think of ourselves less.

Self-sacrificing - willing to set aside getting my way for the sake of putting others first. “The first will be last; the last will be first.”

Focus on others; as God divinely appoints

I’m not one that believes that God orchestrates every last second of our lives

Focus on others; as God divinely appoints; who have nothing

It says a lot about a person who serves others who have nothing

Quite often we are skeptical; question motives; we say to ourselves that we’ve worked hard for it

Focus on others; as God divinely appoints; who have nothing; and can do nothing for you

But if we take that thought one step further, many of us live by the motto “You scratch my back & I’ll scratch your back.”

Many are part of clubs, organizations, groups in order to network & be “in the know” - to be connected

Who you know is far better than what you know

It says a lot about a person’s motive when they do something for someone who can’t return the favor

Focus on others; as God divinely appoints; who have nothing; and can do nothing for you; so we do for Jesus

Question: Is it really for Jesus, is it on behalf of Jesus, is it in the name of Jesus, is it in the attitude of Jesus?

So when V.40 says, “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!”

“When we learn the generosity which without calculation helps others in the simplest things, we too will know the joy of helping Jesus Christ himself.” Barclay, W. (2001). The Gospel of Matthew (Third Ed., p. 381). Edinburgh: Saint Andrew Press.

“When we learn the generosity which without calculation helps others in the simplest things, we too will know the joy of helping Jesus Christ himself.” Barclay, W. (2001). The Gospel of Matthew (Third Ed., p. 381). Edinburgh: Saint Andrew Press.

Is servant of others a phrase that people would use to describe you?

Barclay, W. (2001). The Gospel of Matthew (Third Ed., p. 381). Edinburgh: Saint Andrew Press.

If it’s our desire to be a disciple, & continue growing in our discipleship journey, serving others should be a defining character trait in us.

Shouldn’t the church be the last place short on volunteers? It’s a great opportunity to get involved, to get connected, & to give back a portion of what has been given to you.

As you serve others, you’re actually serving Jesus.

The Gospel of Matthew, Volume 2 God’s Standard of Judgment (Matthew 25:31–46)

When we learn the generosity which without calculation helps others in the simplest things, we too will know the joy of helping Jesus Christ himself.