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!