This week’s “for me”:
I tell you the truth, whatever you did
for one of the least of these brothers
of mine, you did FOR ME.
-Matt 25:40 (NIV)
Love is an action:
This is how we know what love is: Jesus
Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought
to lay down our lives for our brothers. If
anyone has material possessions and sees
his brother in need but has no pity on him,
how can the love of God be in him? Dear
children, let us not love with words or
tongue but with actions and in truth.
-1 John 3:16-18 (NIV)
No love = no God!
Dear friends, let us love one another,
for love comes from God. Everyone
who loves has been born of God and
knows God. Whoever does not love
does not know God, because God is
love.
- I John 4:7-8
Emmanuel = Love!
This is how God showed his love among
us: He sent his one and only Son into
the world that we might live through
him. This is love: not that we loved
God, but that he loved us and sent his
Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
-I John 4:9-10
Loving one another
= Completion
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we
also ought to love one another. No one
has ever seen God; but if we love one
another, God lives in us and his love is
made complete in us.
-I John 4: 11-12
True righteousness cares:
The righteous care about justice for the
poor, but the wicked have no such
concern.
- Proverbs 29:7
Ouch!
“…You're interested in religion, I'm
interested in people.”
- Zechariah 7:6 (MSG)
Praying is not enough…
be the answer!
What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to
have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save
him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes
and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I
wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does
nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not
accompanied by action, is dead.
-James 2:14-17 (NIV)
Take the opportunity
to love:
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let
us do good to all people, especially to
those who belong to the family of
believers.
-Galatians 6:10
The gap between my
profession and my practice:
If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates
his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who
does not love his brother, whom he has
seen, cannot love God, whom he has
not seen. And he has given us this
command: Whoever loves God must
also love his brother.
-1 John 4:20-21 (NIV)
God remembers what we
do for His people:
God is not unjust; he will not forget
your work and the love you have shown
him as you have helped his people and
continue to help them.
-Hebrews 6:10
God is good for it!
If you help the poor, you are lending to
the LORD — and he will repay you!
- Proverbs 19:17 NLT
No matter where you go…
“… if anyone gives even a cup of cold
water to one of these little ones
because he is my disciple, I tell you the
truth, he will certainly not lose his
reward."
-Matthew 10:42 (NIV)
The two basic
people groups:
When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all
the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in
heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered
before him, and he will separate the people one
from another as a shepherd separates the sheep
from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right
and the goats on his left.
-Matthew 25:31-33 (NIV)
A hard word to the goats:
“I was hungry and you gave me nothing to
eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to
drink, I was a stranger and you did not
invite me in, I needed clothes and you did
not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and
you did not look after me.” They also will
answer, “Lord, when did we see you hungry
or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or
sick or in prison, and did not help you?”
A hard word to the goats:
He will reply, “I tell you the truth,
whatever you did not do for one of the
least of these, you did not do for me.”
-Matthew 25:42-45 (NIV)
You recognize a good tree by
what it does/produces:
A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a
bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree
that does not bear good fruit is cut down
and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit
you will recognize them. Not everyone who
says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the
kingdom of heaven, but only he who does
the will of my Father who is in heaven.
-Matthew 7:18-21 (NIV)
Which are you more like?
The bad news:
We’re all born goats!
The good news:
Jesus is in the “goat
transformation” business!
A couple of important points:
1. Understand that God made and loves goats
A couple of important points:
1. Understand that God made and loves goats
2. Know that God is not surprised or disappointed by your
goat-like behavior
A couple of important points:
1. Understand that God made and loves goats
2. Know that God is not surprised or disappointed by your
goat-like behavior
3. Accept that as much as God loves goats…God doesn’t
want us to stay goats
A couple of important points:
1. Understand that God made and loves goats
2. Know that God is not surprised or disappointed by your
goat-like behavior
3. Accept that as much as God loves goats…God doesn’t
want us to stay goats
4. Recognize that no amount of goat-like effort can
transform you into sheep
A couple of important points:
1. Understand that God made and loves goats
2. Know that God is not surprised or disappointed by your
goat-like behavior
3. Accept that as much as God loves goats…God doesn’t
want us to stay goats
4. Recognize that no amount of goat-like effort can
transform you into sheep
A couple of important points:
5. Acknowledge that some goats act a lot like sheep &
some sheep act a lot like goats
A couple of important points:
5. Acknowledge that some goats act a lot like sheep &
some sheep act a lot like goats
6. Strive more and more to imitate the Lamb
A couple of important points:
5. Acknowledge that some goats act a lot like sheep &
some sheep act a lot like goats
6. Strive more and more to imitate the Lamb
7. Understand that there are eternal implications for both
goats and sheep
Heaven or Hell?
Then they will go away to eternal
punishment, but the righteous to
eternal life.
-Matthew 25:46 (NIV)
What’s a sheep supposed to do?
Do…something!
What’s a sheep supposed to do?
Do…something!
Do…anything!
What’s a sheep supposed to do?
Do…something!
Do…anything!
Do it…now!
What are a bunch of sheep
supposed to do?
• GIVE – The Christmas Eve “Mercy Fund” offering
What are a bunch of sheep
supposed to do?
• GIVE – The Christmas Eve “Mercy Fund” offering
• INVEST – The Food Bank @ the Lutheran Church
What are a bunch of sheep
supposed to do?
• GIVE – The Christmas Eve “Mercy Fund” offering
• INVEST – The Food Bank @ the Lutheran Church
• SERVE – The Atlantic City Rescue Mission & our
Partners in ACY
What are a bunch of sheep
supposed to do?
• GIVE – The Christmas Eve “Mercy Fund” offering
• INVEST – The Food Bank @ the Lutheran Church
• SERVE – The Atlantic City Rescue Mission & our
Partners in ACY
• GO – wherever, whenever, with whomever, for
whatever!
Do something…do anything…do it now!