Confession

Matthew 25:28-29 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

Almighty and everlasting Father, we confess our sins to You. We have not used our talents to the full. We have not fully trusted Your gracious character in Jesus Christ. Forgive us, Lord. Cause us to work as those trusting in Your Holy Spirit and expecting You to mightily bless our efforts. Amen.

Praise

Matthew 28:5-6 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for He is risen, as He said.

Our Father in Heaven, we glorify Your name for raising our Lord Jesus from the dead and raising us in Him. We praise You for granting us life in Jesus Christ, joy in the Holy Spirit, peace of conscience and the hope of eternal life. We receive all this because our Lord was faithful, even to death on a cross. And He looked for the Resurrection joy that was set on the other side, the joy we gladly partake of in this glorious Easter Season, for He is risen, just as He said. We praise You Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Matthew 25:31-46 Sermon

Matthew 25:31-46

Sermon Notes

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Serving the Least

May 14, 2017

Lynchburg, Virginia

EXHORDIUM

         We are coming to the end of Jesus’s words about the destruction coming upon Jerusalem. These are the final words that Jesus spoke to His disciples. We should really pay attention to what He is saying.

This last section applies to the same crowd that Jesus is talking to but it also has a clearer application to us. His words here include all men.

Already- The Lord has entered His glory and the sorting has begun. But until the end of the ages, it will not be complete. Furthermore, until someone’s life is complete, the sorting is not final.

Not Yet- Acts 17:31

EXEGESIS

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

         When has the Son of man come in His glory?

Little Blessings

We find ourselves seated with the least of these, our brothers. We are seated with little children, even infants in arms, who know nothing but someone else taking care of them. We do so. We feed and clothe them, give them food and drink. Our service to them is received by Jesus as service to Him.  And He blesses us for it. Our little blessings become large blessings to Jesus and then He takes our little works and magnifies them and grants us rewards in Heaven.

         Furthermore, whenever we serve the least of these, the Lord’s brothers, whether children, aging parents, the physically or mentally handicapped, the poor, the uneducated, the ill among us, or the emotionally or spiritually needy, the Lord takes note. This is the life of the Church. Actually, we are all needy. It is the humility to realize this truth (that we need the Lord’s grace), that causes us to love, forgive and heal others just as we have been loved, forgiven and healed.

         The Lord serves us all here. He gives us more than a cup of water. He gives us His own body and blood and so we should serve one another, even the least of our brothers and sisters.