http://bible.com/events/25086825

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 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. 

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ 

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For 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?’ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.””

Matthew 25:31-46 NIV

-The difference between those who are blessed and those who are cursed at the judgement day will be the acts of love that were shown to those in need.

-It’s important to note two things 

                -these were simple acts….a meal to eat, a cup of cold water to drink, welcoming a stranger, looking after the sick or those in prison 

                -these are things that anyone can do…those with much, those with little, those who seem qualified, those who seem unqualified 

What you see…..

-Initially it does not appear that either group could see Jesus.  Their response is “Lord, when did we see you….?” (Verse 37, 44) 

-But the righteous did what they did, not because they could see Jesus, but because they could see a need.   

-The righteous did not do what they did for the applause of man, but because they were compelled by love to meet a need. 

-It begins with what you see, because when your lens becomes loving others first, it’s not about religious duty or obligation

What is in your heart….

-The Bible is clear that our salvation is by grace through faith, but the Bible also says faith without works is dead 

-Our God does not desire your actions apart from your heart

-The difference between the sheep and the goats in Jesus’ story was never about the actions in and of themselves, but the heart behind their actions  

Bottom line:

Your true test is what you do about what you see 

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God

Matthew 5:8

As God changes our hearts, He continues to open our eyes to see Him present in the every day needs all around us. 

http://bible.com/events/23711324

Luke 10:25-37 NIV

25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[e] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

-One of the most famous stories in history and it begs the question: Why did Jesus choose this story?

-The Greek word for “took pity” is splagchnizomai, meaning to be moved deeply with compassion

-In telling this story, Jesus selected someone from a hated group to demonstrate the expression of love

-The religious leaders wanted to identify with the priest because they were impressive religious people. But they couldn’t because the priest wasn’t the one who acted.

-They wanted to identify with the Levite – the historical carriers of the Covenant. But they couldn’t because the Levite wasn’t the one who acted.

-They HAD to identify with the Samaritan, the hated outsider.

-Would you have the courage to ask God show you who your Samaritans are?

Compassion from a distance isn’t compassion

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:5-8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/events/22341692

1. Intro
   1. Last week Pastor Adrian reminded us that we are “one in Christ”
      1. We are called to be bridge builders. 
         1. To those who don’t necessarily look like us, or act like us.
      2. The call is to Go!
      3. “We are transformed by God to bring hope to others through Christ”
   2. Matthew 28:19
      1. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…”
   3. The reality of most of us is that most of us won’t go anywhere, we will remain right here, or in our normal day-to-day lives.
2. “And love your neighbor as yourself”
   1. Old Testament
      1. Deuteronomy 6:4-5 
      2. Leviticus 19:18
   2. New Testament 
      1. Matthew 22:37-40
      2. James 2:8
   3. Romans 13:8-10
      1. “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.
3. If it’s that easy, why is it so hard?
   1. It begs the question, why doesn’t the world look any different?
      1. The truth is, our resolve alone cannot bear the burden of the world’s brokenness.  But Christ can.
4. Love God with All…
   1. The good news for us today is that the command to love our neighbor as yourself is the second greatest commandment.  It’s not the first.
   2. Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus speaking 
      1. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
5. What Difference does it make?
   1. A world of difference
   2. God’s love in and through us
      1. Affirms value in others
      2. Causes us to identify with brokenness
      3. Holy Heartbreak
      4. Love moves

http://bible.com/events/21464171

Galatians 3:26-29

26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

–The church in Galatia was experiencing Jews and Gentiles worshipping on equal footing, which previously represented a significant cultural divide.

-There was opposition, not just coming from outside of the church, but within the church.

-We are all children of God, meaning there should be no barrier. Specifically:

-No cultural barrier (Jew or Gentile)

-No socioeconomic barriers (slave or free)

-No gender barrier (male or female)

-Paul is saying that I am to see Christ in you first. If I see Christ in you first, then how I treat you is a reflection of how I see God.

-We are all one IN CHRIST, meaning we find our identity and calling in Him first.

Jesus deliberately and intentionality sought out the unacceptable and the marginalized in society.

-Matthew 9 – calls a tax collector

-Mark 2 – eats with sinners

-Luke 5 – ministers to lepers

-John 5 – engages the Samaritan woman

2 Corinthians 5:17-21

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

-The ultimate barrier between us and God that ever existed was sin, and God sent Jesus to eliminate that barrier

-And He has now called us to His ministry of reconciliation

-There’s something all ambassadors do: THEY GO. They leave their home to go to a foreign land.

-Likewise, the implication of your ministry of reconciliation is not that we all huddle within these four walls and wait for folks to come.

-Our ministry of reconciliation is active, not passive. In fact, you cannot reconcile passively.

The bottom line:

We are called to BUILD BRIDGES not BARRIERS.

Building bridges – When you reach across boundaries as Jesus did to build loving relationships

Our response must be personal. Jesus built bridges one person at a time. We must do the same.

http://bible.com/events/19328552

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego – some background:

-King Nebuchadnezzar built a statue of gold that was 96 feet tall and 9 feet wide.

-The story doesn’t tell us who the statue represented. Some think it was one of Nebuchadnezzar’s gods or maybe it was a statue of him.

-He demanded that all ranking officials pledge their loyalty to him by worshiping the statue, thus boosting his ego. 

-Nebuchadnezzar had appointed the three Hebrew men over the administration of the province of Babylon as a favor to Daniel. (see Daniel 2)

-Their promotion irritated certain Chaldeans who began looking for a way to get them in trouble.

-The decree was that anyone who didn’t fall down and worship the statue would immediately be thrown into a fiery furnace.

-The Chaldeans were only too happy to point out to Nebuchadnezzar that the three Hebrew men were not bowing down.

Daniel 3:13-30NIV

13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king,  14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up?  15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”  16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.  17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.  18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”  19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual  20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.  21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace.  22 The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,  23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.  24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.”  25 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”  26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire,  27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.  28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.  29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.”  30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon. 

Bottom line: 

NOT SAVED FROM THE FIRE BUT SAVED IN THE FIRE

-It’s not if you experience the fire, but when

-It’s not if you face trials, but when 

-It’s not if you are faced with a moment of decision, a moment of temptation, but when 

-It’s not if you are asked to fall in line with the kingdom of this world, but when

1. The power of God gives you the ability to obey 

-We live in a world where there is a pull towards self, towards living for only what’s in front of me, towards claiming to to be in Christ, but not living a transformed life. 

-Our obedience starts in the small moments right in front of you. 

-If you can’t obey in the moment in front of you, how will you ever be able to stand in the moment of crisis? 

2. The power of God gives you courage as you obey

-No one ever said that a life of faith in Christ wouldn’t require courage – in fact, “be strong and courageous” is one of the most frequent exhortations in Scripture. 

-For many of us, obedience is limited by opposition.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

1 Peter 4:12-13NIV

12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.  13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 

“Peter is saying that the fiery furnace does not automatically make us better. We must recognize, depend on, speak with, and believe in God while in the fire. God himself says in Isaiah 43 that he will be with us, walking beside us in the fire. Knowing him personally while in our affliction is the key to becoming stronger rather than weaker in it.”

-Timothy Keller

Other Scriptures for further study/reflection:

2 Corinthians 12:9NIV

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 

John 16:33NIV

33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” 

Matthew 28:20NIV

20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 

Romans 4:20-21NIV

20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,  21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 

Isaiah 43:1-2NIV

1 But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob,he who formed you, Israel:“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;I have summoned you by name; you are mine.  2 When you pass through the waters,I will be with you;and when you pass through the rivers,they will not sweep over you.When you walk through the fire,you will not be burned;the flames will not set you ablaze.