As Unto Christ / Matthew 25:31-46

How we love Jesus is directly tied to how we love the least among us—and to our salvation!

1. Righteous #FAIL. The righteous insiders expect to receive their reward but fail miserably
when salvation is truly on the line.
• The problem: we have it all figured out.
• The next problem: we probably have it wrong!
• If we do not serve Jesus by serving the least of his brothers and sisters, we fail to
serve him and may be surprised by how we are judged.

2. The Family of Faith. We need to see others as Jesus sees them—as members of his family
—and serve them as though they were him.
• “Lauren's” story: Pride and materialism and "princess-ness" exposed through the hug
of a little girl who stepped on her shoes!
• Our true devotion to Jesus is seen in our willingness to go out of our way AND out of
our comfort zone to serve another.
• Do we overlook the needs of others because it requires us to go out of our way?
• Do we overlook the needs of others because it requires us to get out of our comfort
zone?
• Jesus shares solidarity with the least among us--they are his brothers and sisters. He
claims them twice: first as brothers and sisters; second as his ("mine"; 25:40).
• May we infer that Jesus didn't think judgmentalism was cool? And would we say this
to his face? We need to see others as members of his family; see them as he sees
them.

3. Least, Not Lost.

• Do we claim our mission is only to the "lost"? Are we even looking for the least among
us? Are we aware of them? And what do we do when we find them?
• Do not focus on your religious “points”: how many meetings you attend; how much
you study your bible; how you dress for worship; where you sit. Instead, focus on
who you can serve by actively looking for them.
• Those who served Jesus did not realize they were serving him—they simply served
those in need and by doing so served him.
• Those who didn't serve Jesus were focused on looking right, looking for him, and they
overlooked those in need.
• We change the world one person at a time. Who can you influence? Who can you
serve? Will you do it?

4. Do or Die. The righteous were righteous because they "did"; the cursed were cursed
because they did not "do." The cursed would rather justify themselves and feel comfortable
about their religion. The righteous knew more was at stake.
• Jesus teaches that those who served "the least of his brothers and sisters" (40)
actually served him. On the other hand, those who avoided "the least of his brothers
and sisters" avoided serving Jesus.

© 2010 Jeremy Hoover / www.jeremyhoover.com / jeremy@jeremyhoover.com

 • Who are "the least"? Those who have nothing. Those who are outcasts in society.
Those who needs clothes, food, water, and hospitality.
• Who do we most often neglect? Those who need clothes, food, water, and hospitality.
• These attitudes and behaviors completely miss Jesus even while appearing to be
spiritual.
• Screening benevolence calls because "there are a lot of scam artists out
there."
• Closing a clothing bank because "people would take our clothes and sell them
at their own yard sale."
• Dispatching with poor people by accusing them of being lazy.
• These attitudes are seen by Jesus because they are done to Jesus.
• Going to a shelter to visit with people.
• Calling or visiting a shut-in.
• Helping a widow with yard work.
• Clothing children and buying toys for Christmas gifts for needy children.
• Feeding poor and homeless people.

5. What to Do When Your Salvation is On the Line (As Unto Christ).

• Look for Jesus' brothers and sisters and serve them (and him) out of genuine, sincere
love (not self-justification).
• Cultivate love.
• Pray for love.
• Then do it. For the least.

© 2010 Jeremy Hoover / www.jeremyhoover.com / jeremy@jeremyhoover.com