Session 12

Active Faith

Matthew 25:31-46

Memory Verse: Matthew 25:40

"The way we treat Jesus’s followers reveals the nature of our relationship with Him.

Jesus prophesied a coming judgment of “sheep” and “goats.”
The sheep, called righteous and blessed, will be invited into God’s kingdom.
On the other hand, the goats will be cursed and
sent into an eternal punishment

In both cases, individuals will be judged by what they did or didn’t do
for Jesus’s followers.
Deeds of kindness and charity for God’s people
is the same as doing them for Jesus Himself.
Goats who reject His people are rejecting Him at the same time.
The primary point is that everyone will be judged by how they respond to Christ.

FIRST THOUGHTS

Annual performance reviews can create both anticipation and anxiety.
Many employees experience this year after year.
In most cases, managers have a metric or checklist by which they evaluate your work performance.
It is helpful to know the benchmarks we are striving for
as we carry out our daily responsibilities. (PSG, p. 106)

Ask:

• What are the advantages of knowing the criteria by which you will be evaluated?
• What are the disadvantages of not knowing? (PSG, p. 106)

ENGAGE

Discuss:

Share feelings about performance reviews at work.
Briefly discuss measurements and standards used in various professions for such reviews.

Context:

Review this content from Understand the Context (PSG, p. 107)
to explain Jesus’s message in the earlier parables:

Beginning in Matthew 24:45, Jesus told three parables about preparedness.

The first contrasted the actions of a wise, sensible servant
with the actions of a wicked servant while the master was away (24:45-51).

The second parable (25:1-13)
concerned ten virgins who were part of a wedding celebration. .

The prepared virgins accompanied the bridegroom to the feast.
The unprepared ones failed to be ready and lacked enough oil
to light the bridegroom’s way to the marriage feast. .

The third parable tells of a master and servants (vv. 14-30). .

The bottom line is that we are to be prepared
and faithfully carrying out the work given to us by our Master.

Share:

Note that while Jesus used parables in Matthew 24-25
to explain an eternal “performance review,”
this passage should be interpreted as a direct prophecy from Him
regarding judgment in the last days.

Say:

As we dig deeper into this eternal “performance review,”
reflect on what your life says about Christ each day.