“Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for Me,” Jesus said. We meet Jesus when we love the least—Keep your eyes open for opportunities to love Jesus—It’s the way to JOY!

December 9-10, 2017

Introduction and offering:

ILL: Martin was a Roman soldier in the mid-fourth century and a Christian. One cold winter day, as he was entering a city, a beggar stopped him and asked for alms. Martin had no money; but the beggar was blue and shivering with cold, so Martin gave what he had. He took off his soldier’s coat, worn and frayed, and he cut it in two and gave half of it to the beggar. That night he had a dream. In it he saw Jesus in heaven wearing half of a Roman soldier’s cloak. One of the angels said to him, “Master, why are you wearing that battered old cloak? Who gave it to you?” And Jesus answered softly, “My servant Martin gave it to me.” Martin went on to become a bishop and is revered as St. Martin of Tours.

“My servant Martin gave it to me.” What we do for the least of these, we do for Jesus.

We are continuing our series, JOY: The Outward Focused Life. The way to joy is to live Jesus, Others, You. Put Jesus first, and others before yourself. Jesus wants to help you get over yourself, get beyond your selfishness, and find the joy in focusing on others instead of yourself.

Today we are going to read one of the most famous of Jesus’ stories—although it’s not really a story, but more a prediction of what’s coming and why. Buckle up!

Matthew 25:31–46

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 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. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34 “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. 35 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, 36 I