The Order of Worship

Music Ministry Team:  Kristin Petty, Dwight Huntley, Matthew Leone, Rene Vazquez

Worship Team:  Sarah Haas, Marc Hayden

Technology Team:  Michael Kendall, Mark Raker, Jerry Weissinger

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Key Notes from the reading & sermon:

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that 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 something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?’

This teaching section, the last one prior to Jesus’ death, began with a question about when the kingdom of heaven on earth would be fulfilled? Jesus’ reply was clear, only God knows. Jesus goes on to offer three parables to clarify what disciples are to do while we wait. We are to remain alert and ready. We are to invest our God-given gifts. And we are to serve Christ by caring for the least. This is good news! We may not know when God’s plan for Shalom will be fulfilled but we do not have to wait for Jesus’ coming, he is already with us!

Questions for Reflection:

The setting of this parable is the gathering of “all the nations”. The Light of the Nations and the Savior of the World is surrounded by all the people. This seems like a picture of Shalom, of the transformative grace of God that “gathers up all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth (Ephesians 1:10), or Jesus’ own promise that “I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold; I must bring them also and they will listen to my voice and there will be one flock and one shepherd” (John 10:16). Is it possible that Matthew’s context of persecution of disciples by Rome and his need to encourage faithfulness among disciples has adjusted the scene to one of judgment instead of Shalom? Do we tend toward Shalom or judgment in the way we view all the nations?

Why do we fail to see Christ in the faces of the needy?

How are you waiting for the fulfillment of Shalom?

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