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Sheep and Goats Deep Prep Matthew 25:31-46 The Big Idea: God expects believers to care for others, and will judge them accordingly. Learning Goal: Learners will appreciate Jesus' powerful identification with those who are needy, and practice seeing Jesus in the people around them. Biblical In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus speaks five major discourses (chapters 5-7, 10, 13, 17, and 24- 25). The last is about the end of the present age and God's coming reign, including the final judgment, which is the focus of 25:31-46. Matthew understands Jesus as the fulfillment both of scripture and of the promise of one who would come to accomplish God's will. This text doubly exemplifies the fulfillment of scripture. Jesus speaking in parables is a fulfillment of scripture (Matthew 13:35, referring to Psalm 78:2). Jesus does exactly that, fulfilling his own words in the parable of the sheep and the goats. The king reveals "what has been hidden from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 13:35), namely, that the righteous are the true inheritors of the reign of God. Righteousness is made not of religious status or piety, but of seeking and serving God's reign. Theological In Matthew, Jesus makes it clear that the coming day of judgment will be intolerable. On the day of judgment, there will be an accounting. Some will be condemned. At the same time, Jesus makes it clear that we are not to judge; in judging others we risk being subject to the judgments we make of them. At the end of the age, angels and Jesus himself will separate the evil from the righteous. We, like Jesus' first disciples, may wonder "when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" (Matthew 24:3). The time is uncertain but Jesus promises, "I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). Jesus' presence with us means that we have the opportunity to meet and serve Jesus—giving food, drink, welcome, clothing, care, and presence to all who need. The promise of Jesus' presence is an invitation and a promise that we can participate in God's reign. Historical Dorothy Day was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1897. In 1933, with the encouragement of former priest and friend Peter Maurin, Day founded The Catholic Worker, then an eight-page monthly newspaper dedicated to changing society. In less than a year, the circulation was 100,000. Readers came to Day and Maurin interested in helping put the newspaper's ideas into practice. Homeless people in New York took seriously the paper's emphasis on the Christian hospitality that Jesus teaches in the story of the sheep and the goats. Day, Maurin, and others Sheep and Goats page 1
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Page 1: Sheep and Goats - St. John's Church · parable of the sheep and the goats. ... Sheep and Goats page 2. ... The good things that we are supposed to do but fail to do are called...

Sheep and Goats

Deep Prep Matthew 25:31-46 The Big Idea: God expects believers to care for others, and will judge them accordingly. Learning Goal: Learners will appreciate Jesus' powerful identification with those who are needy, and practice seeing Jesus in the people around them. Biblical In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus speaks five major discourses (chapters 5-7, 10, 13, 17, and 24-25). The last is about the end of the present age and God's coming reign, including the final judgment, which is the focus of 25:31-46. Matthew understands Jesus as the fulfillment both of scripture and of the promise of one who would come to accomplish God's will. This text doubly exemplifies the fulfillment of scripture. Jesus speaking in parables is a fulfillment of scripture (Matthew 13:35, referring to Psalm 78:2). Jesus does exactly that, fulfilling his own words in the parable of the sheep and the goats. The king reveals "what has been hidden from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 13:35), namely, that the righteous are the true inheritors of the reign of God. Righteousness is made not of religious status or piety, but of seeking and serving God's reign. Theological In Matthew, Jesus makes it clear that the coming day of judgment will be intolerable. On the day of judgment, there will be an accounting. Some will be condemned. At the same time, Jesus makes it clear that we are not to judge; in judging others we risk being subject to the judgments we make of them. At the end of the age, angels and Jesus himself will separate the evil from the righteous. We, like Jesus' first disciples, may wonder "when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" (Matthew 24:3). The time is uncertain but Jesus promises, "I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). Jesus' presence with us means that we have the opportunity to meet and serve Jesus—giving food, drink, welcome, clothing, care, and presence to all who need. The promise of Jesus' presence is an invitation and a promise that we can participate in God's reign. Historical Dorothy Day was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1897. In 1933, with the encouragement of former priest and friend Peter Maurin, Day founded The Catholic Worker, then an eight-page monthly newspaper dedicated to changing society. In less than a year, the circulation was 100,000. Readers came to Day and Maurin interested in helping put the newspaper's ideas into practice. Homeless people in New York took seriously the paper's emphasis on the Christian hospitality that Jesus teaches in the story of the sheep and the goats. Day, Maurin, and others

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publishing The Catholic Worker began by renting an apartment, which housed 10 women. So began the Catholic Worker Movement. Three years later, there were 33 Catholic Worker houses across the nation in both urban and rural locations. Alive to this day, the Catholic Worker Movement has suffered persecution for following Jesus, particularly for its nonjudgmental, inclusive hospitality to those in need and for its pacifism. Dorothy Day wrote, "We are on the side of the poor. And who would not want to be?" Contemporary/Cultural "Accompaniment" is a practice North American churches first learned in partnership with churches in Central and South America. Contrary to models of mission that see wealthy churches and their members as giving aid to poorer churches and fellow members of the body of Christ, accompaniment recognizes and respects the contributions of all. Relationship is the primary emphasis. "We understand accompaniment as walking together in a solidarity that practices interdependence and mutuality. The basis for this accompaniment, or what the New Testament calls koinonia, is found in the God-human relationship in which God accompanies us in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit" (Global Mission in the Twenty-first Century: A Vision of Evangelical Faithfulness in God's Mission, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Division for Global Mission). Accompaniment takes seriously Jesus' teaching in Matthew 25 as a basis for missional relationship. One form accompaniment takes for members of the ELCA is the companion synod program. Synods and their member congregations pair with a synod, diocese, or congregation in Africa, Latin America, Asian, Eastern Europe, or the Middle East to strengthen one another in faith and mission through mutual prayer, exchange visits, and sharing of gifts.

Quick Prep Matthew 25:31-46 The Big Idea: God expects believers to care for others, and will judge them accordingly. Learning Goal: Learners will appreciate Jesus' powerful identification with those who are needy, and practice seeing Jesus in the people around them. • Jesus tells about the final judgment.

• In this passage, Jesus fulfills scripture by speaking in parables and by proclaiming that "what [had] been hidden from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 13:35).

• Righteousness is made not of religious status or piety but of seeking and serving God's reign.

• Jesus says that the day of judgment will come but that we are not to judge.

• Jesus' promise, "I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20) means that we have the opportunity to meet and serve Jesus—giving food, drink, welcome, clothing, care, and presence to all who need.

• Accompaniment is "walking together in a solidarity that practices interdependence and mutuality."

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Adolescent Connection Youth are caring by nature. Ask any youth who has been on a mission trip, helped a family in crisis, or did yard work for a neighbor, and she or he will tell you it was a life changing experience. Helping others is a sure way to grow in faith, and youth want to make a difference in the world. They are hungering to help. Providing youth with opportunities to do for others is the best teaching method available, because it is in the doing that real learning happens. Simply preaching to care for others may get yawns and eye rolling, but getting in there—down and dirty—makes this scripture come to life. Lasting relationships are built as youth take these important steps on their faith journey together.

Baptismal Connection In the Rite of Affirmation of Baptism, a five-part question addresses each confirmand's intent to continue in the covenant God made with them in Holy Baptism. Here We Stand resources help adolescents—with support from parents, leaders, and the entire congregation—prepare to answer this question as they continue in their lifelong faith journey. Today's lesson focuses on the clause "to live among God's faithful people" (Lutheran Book of Worship, page 201; Evangelical Lutheran Worship, page 236).

Welcoming Prepare your large group space by playing upbeat music in the background and by welcoming learners as they arrive. Make a special effort to welcome and thank adult small group leaders for their presence and for being willing to help pass on the faith to the next generation. • Begin by thanking learners for coming! Remind the group what a privilege you feel it is to serve God by leading confirmation, and what a gift from God you consider all of them to be.

• Ask learners to recall last week's Big Idea if they can. Reward the first person to get it right with a handful of candy or some other small treat to share with their small group. (Be aware of any food allergies in the group.) Ask for a volunteer to capture last week's lesson in their own words; affirm all genuine responses; keep going until you're satisfied everyone has been oriented.

• Project this week's Big Idea on the screen or write it in HUGE block letters on your presentation board or overhead slide. Invite learners to recite it with you aloud. Repeat it two or three times.

Skit: I'm a Little Helper Ask or assign a small group to perform the skit. In a pinch, grab enough volunteers from the audience to form an impromptu "readers' theater" troupe. CHARACTERS: Garrett (earnest and intense), Timmy (a toddler), Granny (very old woman), Wendy (Timmy's mom), Jonesy (a reasonable person). Note: all characters should be played by youth.

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PROPS: walker, camouflage clothing, binoculars, cardboard flames, cup of water (Timmy enters. He is crying and sucking his thumb. Garrett is already onstage looking through binoculars.) TIMMY: Waaaaa! I want my mommy! (Throws a tantrum.) I can't find my mommy! (Garrett looks around. He's getting annoyed.) GARRETT: Hey, kid! Get out of the way! I'm looking for Jesus! (Timmy continues crying and flops down on the floor. Granny enters. Using her walker, she begins a painfully slow journey across the stage.) GRANNY: Oh, dear. I'll never get my medication at this rate. (Granny stands right in front of Garrett. He's furious.) GARRETT: What, are you kidding me?? Get out of the way, Speedy! (Jonesy walks up behind Garrett.) JONESY: Hey, Garrett. What's going on? What's all the racket? GARRETT: Huh? Oh, hey, Jonesy. I don't know. That kid is whining about something, and this old lady is fossilizing right in front of me. I'm trying to see Jesus, here, people! JONESY: You're trying to see Jesus? With binoculars? GARRETT: Yeah. I'm going to do something nice for him when I see him. JONESY: Because of what we learned about helping Jesus in confirmation? GARRETT: Uh-huh. JONESY: You didn't listen at all, did you? We do kind things for Jesus by helping those around us. GARRETT: I guess I missed that part. I don't think that's how it works. (Wendy runs onstage. She has cardboard flames taped all over her body. She is running in a circle and screaming.) JONESY: Holy cow! That woman's on fire! (Timmy gasps and holds his arms out to Wendy.) TIMMY: Mommy! Mommy!

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(Timmy starts chasing Wendy in a circle. He bumps into Granny and she topples over. Wendy trips over her and falls on top of her. Timmy runs into the pile. It's chaos.) JONESY: Garrett, we've got to help those people! GARRETT: (Looking through binoculars.) Little busy right now, Jonesy. (Jonesy sighs, grabs a cup of water, and throws it on Wendy. Jonesy helps Granny get to her feet, gets her walker, and helps her offstage. Then Jonesy picks up Timmy, putting him into the arms of Wendy, and escorts them both offstage.) JONESY: Let me know how that turns out for you, Garrett. GARRETT: Will do. See ya later.

Quiz Show Have learners sit on opposite sides of the room in two teams. The teams take turns answering questions. Each team can choose to answer a multiple choice question or a true or false question. If the team answers the multiple choice question incorrectly, the other team has a chance to answer. Each answer is worth one point. Bring treats for all the players. Multiple Choice 1. In Jesus' time, sheep and goats were separated for...

a. shearing.

b. milking.

c. nighttime, when the goats needed warm shelter.

d. all of the above. (Correct.)

2. Jesus' major talks with his disciples are known as...

a. discourses. (Correct.)

b. family meetings.

c. musicals.

d. pep talks.

3. God's kingdom...

a. is pretty much like the Magic Kingdom.

b. is very different from any earthly realm. (Correct.)

c. exists somewhere over the rainbow.

d. is already full...sorry.

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4. The good things that we are supposed to do but fail to do are called...

a. tough luck.

b. our brother's/sister's fault.

c. sins of omission. (Correct.)

d. we don't fail at anything.

5. Jesus promised us:

a. "I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Correct.)

b. "I will send you a text message sometime soon."

c. "My people will call your people."

d. "I would love to help you, if you weren't so numerous."

True or False 1. Jesus speaks in parables to "proclaim what has been hidden from the foundation of the world." (True.)

2. Jesus makes clear in Matthew that the day of judgment is nothing to worry about. (False. He depicts a tense situation where some inherit eternal life and others are sent to eternal punishment.)

3. Jesus is busy, so he really wants us to help him judge others. (False. Only the king sits on the throne to judge.)

4. Dorothy Day founded the Lutheran Worker Movement in 1933. (False. She founded the Catholic Worker Movement.)

5. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Companion Synods share prayer, visits, and gifts with their global partners. (True.)

Presenter's Interruptions Keep this menu of short theme-related bits at the ready for those moments when you feel you're losing your audience. • Clap your hands or blow a whistle. Bring daily newspapers to class and create a bulletin board using pictures of "Jesus" gleaned from the newspapers. Do learners find photos of prisoners? Strangers? Refugees? Jesus identified himself in all of these ways. Be sure to include the title "When Did We See You?" and the reference Matthew 25:31-46.

• Practice separating the sheep from the goats. One learner serves as judge, while the rest of the learners each decide whether to be a goat (saying, "maaaaaa") or a sheep (saying, "baaaaaa"). The goats and the sheep should stand in a group. See if the judge can separate them out by the sounds they make. then explain to learners that in the Old Testament the term goats was used for oppressive leaders who harmed the sheep, God's people.

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Opening Prayer All of us, of course, want to be sheep when Jesus judges us. But we know that we can't be sheep without a shepherd to guide us. Our opening prayer for this lesson reminds us of the one who guides us into the paths of kindness by loving us. Pray together Psalm 23 from your Bibles.

My Faith Story "I was a stranger and you welcomed me" (Matthew 25:35). Dare to be a stranger. Attend a different church and share the experience with your confirmation class. Pay attention to your feelings as you figure out where to go, how to get there, where to sit, and how you will be perceived. Share your reflections on these questions with learners: What did you learn about hospitality by stepping out of your comfort zone and into another house of God? What did you learn about the bigger picture of God's kingdom? Do you think you will treat strangers any differently in your church now that you have had this experience? Invite learners to try this experiential learning with their families or friends. How does it feel to worship God among strangers? Did they reach out as fellow Christians? Were they welcomed?

Guest Speaker Invite a prison chaplain to speak to the class about his or her work. Prepare for the visit by learning about prison issues in your country. Ask the speaker to share some of the faith stories of the prisoners and their families. Why does this chaplain feel called to this particular ministry? Is it intimidating? OR Invite a recent immigrant to speak to the class about her or his entry into your country. Arrange for this visit through an agency such as Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. Include a translator, if necessary. Ask the speaker to give learners specific suggestions about how they could be welcoming to people new to the country.

Cartoon Connection: It's 10:00 p.m. Do You Know Where Your Kids Are? The Funny Shape of Faith, page 250 The New Testament refers to Jesus as the Good Shepherd. And a shepherd wouldn't be very good if he didn't know what was going on with his flock. Fortunately, Jesus knows us. Maybe he knows us too well. He knows that, as humans, we tend towards laziness, selfishness and greed. And he left us with very clear instructions. Salvation is not for those who build themselves up through status or wealth or position. Salvation is for those who care for one another. It's for those

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who tend to the poor. Who feed the hungry and welcome the outcast. It's not always easy, but living a life of service helps to bring God's kingdom here as it is in heaven! Encourage your young people to read Matthew 25:35-36. Jesus asks us to do six specific things to help care for one another. Are there any that are surprising? These were all problems that existed in Jesus' time—how many are still problems two thousand years later? Brainstorm ways that, as a group, you can work toward all six goals.

Handbook Connection Open The Lutheran Handbook to "How to Reform the Church When It Strays from the Gospel" on pages 131-133. Read the introductory paragraphs. This section reminds learners of their tradition. Martin Luther dared to challenge an institution with the Gospel. With openness to being shown our failures and faithfulness, we can continue to be reformed and reformers. Jesus boldly informed the sheep and goats when they did or did not get their mission right. The job description couldn't be clearer: Feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, visit the sick and imprisoned. Invite some leaders from your church to come to confirmation class and talk about how your congregation is doing with this job description. Make it sort of a "performance review" for the church. Prepare for this meeting by reviewing together the programs of your church. Remind learners that this activity is about opening eyes, not pointing fingers. We all make up the church, and it's up to all the members to follow Jesus' command. Turn to "How to Care for the Sick" on pages 110-111 of The Lutheran Handbook. Open a discussion with learners about their own experiences of illness for themselves or family members. How do they want to be treated when they are ill? Invite them to show others their "illness style" through pantomime. Do they prefer the "I'm a sick puppy" style or the "Don't come near me!" method of dealing with sickness? Do learners know someone who is seriously ill? How do they feel about knowing what to say to someone who is very ill or dying? Practice shaking another class member's hand, looking at him or her, and saying, "God bless you and keep you." Jesus knew that the things he asked of disciples were simple acts of kindness that could often be very difficult.

Bible Connection: Who IS My Neighbor? • Read Matthew 25:31-46. How does Jesus describe what the final judgment will be like? Reread verse 40. What is Jesus telling you to do? Depictions of the final judgment have been popular with artists, especially during medieval and Renaissance times. Perhaps Michelangelo's The Last Judgment in the Sistine Chapel in Rome is one of the most famous. Bring in some renditions of the last judgment that you have found in books or on the Internet. Have the students talk about what they see in the pictures or learn from them.

• Read Matthew 22:34-40. God bestows the gifts of love and compassion on Jesus' disciples. That means us! We are to live according to the double commandment written in Matthew 22: Love the Lord your God with all your heart; love your neighbor as yourself. God's love and grace are infinite. Pass out paper and give learners a few minutes to draw a map of their neighborhood. Learners get a chance to share the picture of their map and answer this question: If I were to care

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about my neighbor, who would that be? Take a quick survey. How many learners know at least two of their neighbors? Work together to make a map of the church's neighborhood. Describe examples of the church "loving its neighbors."

• Ask a volunteer to read Isaiah 58:6-11. What sounds familiar about it? In the Matthew passage the learners have been studying, Jesus tells the righteous, "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me" (Matthew 25:40). The specific actions that Jesus requires (feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger, providing housing for the homeless) hearken back to Isaiah 58:6-11. In Isaiah's time (and every time). people complained of not being heard by God. God responded by saying that if they wanted to see God up close and personal, all they had to do was just one thing: serve the poor. "Here I am!" said God to anyone who bothered to discover God in their service to others. Write on the board or chart paper the Dorothy Day quote mentioned in "Deep Prep": "We are on the side of the poor. And who would not want to be?" Invite learners to write for five minutes about an imaginary Christian who saw a need and tried to respond or about how God responds to their spiritual hunger.

More Bible Connections • Turn to the end of the Gospel of Matthew. Read 28:20. How do you feel after reading it? The time of Jesus' return is uncertain but Jesus promises, "I am with you always, to the end of the age." Jesus' presence with us means that we continue to have the opportunity to meet Jesus and serve Jesus—giving food, drink, welcome, clothing, care, and presence to whoever needs. The promise of Jesus' presence is an invitation and a promise that we can participate in God's reign.

Object Lesson: The Clothes on Your Back Bring a small tote bag or suitcase to class, stocked with a few simple items such as a toothbrush, T-shirt, pair of socks, and pack of gum. Invite learners to imagine that they were forced to immediately evacuate their home after a hurricane and now they possess only the items in this bag. Divide up into pairs. Ask each pair to create a list of items they must now depend on others for. Remind the students that Jesus expects us to care for others in situations like this.

Science Connection: Make a 3-D Venn Diagram In advance of this lesson, assemble the following item and read through this experiment. Rope or ball of string that can be laid on the floor to create large circles Lay out two large circles on the floor using the rope or string. Have students sort themselves into one of the large circles according to criteria you state. (For example, those wearing blue and those not wearing blue.) Try this exercise with several different sets of criteria, perhaps even using males and females or eye color.

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Now we have sorted ourselves into these two different circles. But wait! Even though we can determine our differences, are there any similarities in the people in these two circles? Take the rope or string and overlap the two circles to make a Venn diagram, which is a helpful tool to visualize differences and similarities. Now have the two groups sort themselves again. Do some students fit into both groups? Those students would be in the center of the diagram, where the two circles overlap. In the Bible story about the sheep and the goats, it was easy to separate them by physical characteristics. But if you stop to think about it, they have a lot of similarities too! For example, both sheep and goats have four legs. Both have ears. What else is similar? What is different?

Video/DVD: Sheep or Goats...Who Decides? Option 1: Walk the Line Provide the movie Walk the Line (2005, PG-13). Start cue: (Chapter 31, 00:49:33) Johnny wakes up. He looks out of his window to see the sunny day. June says, "Hey. Mama and I picked these up down the road." She hands him a bowl of berries. End cue: (Chapter 32, 00:54:10) Johnny gets dressed in his signature black suit. This movie is based on the true story of singer Johnny Cash's life. Johnny's father has always blamed Johnny for his brother Jack's accidental death at a sawmill. That guilt haunts Johnny into adulthood, and he becomes a drug and alcohol addict. Now, as he sobers up, he begins to understand how June's devotion has saved him. The scene ends with Johnny reading fan mail from prisoners whose lives his music has touched. • What does this scene show about the value of participating in each other's lives together, rather than watching from a distance?

• June tells Johnny that he's "not nothin'," even though he's made a wreck out of his life. How does this assurance reflect God's estimation of our value?

• How did Jesus "accompany" the needy? How can we do the same today?

Please preview this content to determine its appropriateness for your setting. Option 2: Flight of the Phoenix Provide the movie Flight of the Phoenix (2004, PG-13). Start cue: (Chapter 11, 0:33) Talking with Frank in the plane, Kelly shakes her head, sighs, and says, "All right…. Listen, since Davis disappeared, they're pretty freaked out." End cue: "We hitched a ride with the trash. Not the other way around."

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Frank's plane, full of spare parts and spare oil-rig employees, crashes in the desert. Stranded with little food or water, the survivors debate their "value" to the company as they discuss the likelihood of rescue. • What's the difference between God's and society's standards of value regarding humanity?

• Who determines society's standards?

• How might you influence others in their regard for those who are poor and lowly?

Please preview this content to determine its appropriateness for your setting. Option 3: The Terminal Provide the movie The Terminal (2004, PG-13). Start cue: (Chapter 26, 1:52) A fast-food worker says, "Viktor's leaving." End cue: Officer Judge says, "Good luck." For months, Viktor has been stranded in the airport, unable to return home and prohibited by tyrannical security chief Dixon from entering the United States. Today, however, Viktor decides that it's time to go, and the airport community equips him to do so. • When have you had the opportunity to serve Jesus by serving someone else?

• How does seeing the person in front of you as "Jesus in disguise" affect your attitude toward serving?

Please preview this content to determine its appropriateness for your setting. NOTE: Consult Christian Video Licensing International at Motion Picture Licensing Corporation (1.800.462.8855 or www.mplc.com) for its umbrella licensing program covering the use of videos/DVDs or video/DVD clips in any public gathering.

Music: Needing to Connect Option 1: "Your Life Is Now" Provide the song "Your Life Is Now" by John Mellencamp (from John Mellencamp, John Mellencamp, 1998). This week's reading is an interesting story of how God will judge us at the end of life. The message is clear that while we are alive, we are to care for other people and treat them as though they were Jesus himself. John Mellencamp's song urges us to realize that we have choices to make in our life, and now is the time to make good decisions about how we live and treat people. • How does the story of the sheep and goats make you feel?

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• Think about the end of your life, which is a difficult thing to do. What might God say to you about how you lived your life?

Please preview this content to determine its appropriateness for your setting. Option 2: "100 Years" Provide the song "100 Years" by Five for Fighting (from The Battle for Everything, Aware Records LLC, 2004). This week's Bible reading is all about living our lives in love, care, and kindness toward other people. We should treat everyone as we would treat Jesus if he were to appear on our doorstep. In this classic Five for Fighting song, the lyrics speak of the constant choices we make throughout our lives, from age 15 to 100. We can live in love and make time for caring for others so that we can look back on life when we get old and have no regrets. • How do you feel about the choices you make right now in terms of how you treat other people? Why?

• What kinds of choices can you make today and in the future to treat people like you would treat Jesus if he walked up to you?

Please preview this content to determine its appropriateness for your setting. Option 3: "Raggedy Ann" Provide the song "Raggedy Ann" by Mindy Smith (from One Moment More, Vanguard Records, 2004). Mindy Smith's song "Raggedy Ann" is a young girl's perception of her own poverty. She talks about holes in her clothes, but the real pain seems to be in her loneliness and inability to connect with others. God created us for this kind of connection. Caring for others doesn't always mean giving to those who are poorer than us. It means caring for people in general. We all have needs and God often uses God's people to meet the needs of others. • What are some ways you can care about the needs of people in your family? In your church body? In your community?

• How do you think this song relates to today's Bible story?

Please preview this content to determine its appropriateness for your setting.

Learning in Motion On any given Sunday, Jesus shows up at our churches as a stranger looking for welcome. Perhaps he smells; perhaps his hunger is a hunger for someone to notice his loneliness; perhaps his thirst is for the sacramental wine of Communion. What will your sanctuary look like when Jesus visits? Have learners gather in the church sanctuary. Give a signal, such as a bell, and ask learners choose a place to sit alone and contemplate how Jesus comes to our communities. After a few

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minutes, give the signal again and ask the learners to move to another location. Encourage silence for this activity. Have learners move two or three times.

Closing Questions Consider starting the Closing Time with a "Stump the Presenter!" moment in which learners may ask you questions that have come up during their small group discussions, but for which they want further explanation. This gives the small group leaders an "honorable out" when they get into sticky theological territory, and it's a great way to start out your final minutes together. If there are no "Stump the Presenter!" questions, tickle learners with one or more of the following questions to connect Small Group Time with the larger conversation: • Why is it so hard to do what Jesus commanded?

• Whom do we judge?

• How do we remember that Jesus is always with us?

Closing Ritual Have the group stand in a circle and hold hands. Ask someone to offer this prayer aloud: Use some simple props to reinforce the lesson in prayer. Invite learners to read a petition of the litany and place their object in the center of the prayer circle. Project the litany or provide a handout for the learners. Leader: Jesus invited us to inherit the kingdom by seeing Christ in this world and the next. Learner 1: For I was hungry, and you gave me food. (Place an item of food in the center.) Learner 2: For I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. (Place a glass of water in the center.) Learner 3: For I was a stranger, and you welcomed me. (Shake hands with each person in the circle.) Learner 4: For I was naked, and you gave me clothing. (Place a piece of clothing in the center.) Learner 5: For I was sick, and you took care of me. (Place a thermometer in the center.)

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Learner 6: For I was in prison, and you visited me. (Place a Bible in the center.) Leader: Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me. Amen

Closing Blessing Before anyone leaves to go home, make sure each learner receives the following blessing from the small group leader, or from you! (Or, if you like, consider writing your own blessing, based on your teaching time.) Have leaders trace the cross on each learner's forehead as they say the blessing. As an alternative, have students find a partner, place their hands on that person's shoulders, look them in the eyes, and take turns saying the blessing. May the God who was hungry, thirsty, unknown, cold, ill, and imprisoned lead us to open our eyes and see Jesus. In the name of the Father +, and of the Son +, and of the Holy Spirit +. Amen

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Small Group Leader Sheet: Sheep and Goats Instructions Make sure each learner has a Learner Sheet for use during your discussion. At the end of the lesson they can take the Learner Take-Home Sheet to use with their household at dinner or bedtime. Be sure to start on a positive note. Welcome each learner by name. Let them know you're glad they're here! If anyone is absent, mention you'll be praying for that person together. Small Group Time is for give-and-take discussion. Your main job is to draw learners out and get them talking about the theme. Ask open-ended questions that will provoke responses. Once the conversation begins, intervene only to bring it back on track or to stimulate more talk. Quick Prep Matthew 25:31-46 The Big Idea: God expects believers to care for others, and will judge them accordingly. Learning Goal: Learners will appreciate Jesus' powerful identification with those who are needy, and practice seeing Jesus in the people around them. • Jesus tells about the final judgment.

• In this passage, Jesus fulfills scripture by speaking in parables and by proclaiming that "what [had] been hidden from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 13:35).

• Righteousness is made not of religious status or piety but of seeking and serving God's reign.

• Jesus says that the day of judgment will come but that we are not to judge.

• Jesus' promise, "I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20) means that we have the opportunity to meet and serve Jesus—giving food, drink, welcome, clothing, care, and presence to all who need.

• Accompaniment is "walking together in a solidarity that practices interdependence and mutuality."

Prayer Time Go around the group and have each learner share the best and worst thing from his or her week. Remind learners to pay special attention to (for example) the person on their right, as they will be praying for that person in a moment (alternate prayer partners from week to week). When the group has finished, prayer partners can pray for each other. Key Words ACCOMPANIMENT is to be in association or companionship.

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JUDGMENT is a divine decision. RIGHTEOUSNESS is being morally right, acting in accordance with divine law. Discussion Time Use the following questions to kick off a conversation about the theme: • What is a Companion Synod? Call your ELCA synod office or check the ELCA Web site to find out with what international Lutheran church body your synod is partnered. Dig deeper and find out how the relationship is developing. Is your congregation involved? The Division for Global Mission offers country packets through its section of the ELCA Web site. Discover how global mission is evolving.

• Bring several different types of calendars (such as wall, desk, electronic) to class. Talk about how the students keep their schoolwork organized. The unrighteous asked Jesus, "When did we see you in need?" Do you need to schedule service to others on your calendar? Do you participate regularly in volunteer work? Get out your calendars and schedule a date for your class to serve meals to hungry people or visit residents in a care center.

• Jesus tells us in Matthew 25:40 that as surely as we saw one of "his family," we saw him. When you picture Jesus, how does he look? Invite learners to sketch their vision of Jesus. Post these sketches.

• Do you think you really know how your classmates look? What if you could only see their eyes? Take digital photos of learners' faces and create a poster with pictures of the learners' eyes. Can they identify one another by their eyes alone?

• Have you ever been to a service of healing? What was it like? Refer to "How to Care for the Sick" on pages 110-111 in The Lutheran Handbook. The illustration on page 111 shows people laying hands on someone who is sick. Ask the pastor for his or her copy of Occasional Services. Look at "Laying on of Hands and Anointing the Sick" on pages 99-102. Consider using or adapting this brief service. Have the participants pray and lay hands on those needing healing.

Big Fun Idea Get together and rent the movie The Maldonado Miracle (2003, PG), which tells the tale of a small, dying town whose residents are radically changed when Jesus "comes to life" in their midst. In case you get hungry and thirsty, bring some snacks. Big Serving Idea Do members of your church living in a nursing home? Pay them a visit, and play games, sing songs, and have good conversation together.

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Funny Shape of Faith Small Group Devotions: Sheep and Goats Have a volunteer read the devotion that corresponds with this cartoon: "It's 10:00 P.M. Do You Know Where Your Kids Are?," The Funny Shape of Faith: Devotions for the Rest of Us (Augsburg Fortress, 2007), p. 251. Then use the following questions to spark group discussion. Why would it matter to Jesus whether we care for each other or not? Why do people have a problem with Jesus being too "down-to-earth"? How can we see Christ in others?

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Learner Sheet: Sheep and Goats Matthew 25:31-46 The Big Idea: God expects believers to care for others, and will judge them accordingly. Big Fun Idea Get together and rent the movie The Maldonado Miracle (2003, PG), which tells the tale of a small, dying town whose residents are radically changed when Jesus "comes to life" in their midst. In case you get hungry and thirsty, bring some snacks. Big Serving Idea Do members of your church living in a nursing home? Pay them a visit, and play games, sing songs, and have good conversation together. Prayer Time Remember your partner's prayer needs—record them here. Discussion Time • What is a Companion Synod? Call your ELCA synod office or check the ELCA Web site to find out with what international Lutheran church body your synod is partnered. Dig deeper and find out how the relationship is developing. Is your congregation involved?

• The unrighteous asked Jesus, "When did we see you in need?" Do you need to schedule service to others on your calendar? Do you participate regularly in volunteer work?

• Jesus tells us in Matthew 25:40 that as surely as we saw one of "his family," we saw him. When you picture Jesus, how does he look?

• Do you think you really know how your classmates look? What if you could only see their eyes? Could you identify them?

• Have you ever been to a service of healing? What was it like?

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Learner Take-Home Sheet: Sheep and Goats Matthew 25:31-46 Take this sheet home and keep it someplace near the dinner table, like on the fridge. At least three times next week at dinner, use Prayer Time and one other family activity to make your confirmation learning come alive! Prayer Time Read Isaiah 58:6-11 as a prayer for your family to do God's will. Close with the Lord's Prayer. Key Words Keep a family white board someplace near the dinner table, and write these words on it. Try writing a family definition for each one during the week. ACCOMPANIMENT JUDGMENT RIGHTESOUSNESS Talk Time • Review Isaiah 58:6-11 and honestly ask each other these questions: Does our family cry to the Lord for help? Do we know much about homeless people in our community? Are we longing to connect with other families through meaningful work? Could we use our vacation to go on a mission trip? Could we volunteer at church for something we've never offered to do? Follow up this conversation by researching some mission/service opportunities.

• Ride the bus—if one is available and you don't normally do so. Watch for "Jesus" to board. Share your observations and thoughts.

• Invite a neighbor to dinner at your home. Pick someone that you would like to know better or a family with children. Cook a simple meal and talk with your neighbors.

Web Time Gather around the family computer and use the Internet to search for the key words listed on this page. Write down the most interesting site you find that pops up for each term. When you get to judgment explore three sites that mention the term. What are the sites trying to say? What kind of organizations do you think build the sites? Ritual Time The next time your family visits a crowded environment, such as an airport, a shopping mall, or a concert, remind each other before you go to "watch for Jesus." Help each other recognize that all

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these people around us are also God's children. Everyone needs a purpose and a connection. Discuss your observations and feelings when you return home.

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Video (High Resolution): Hands of Christ Media file: SheepandGoats.mov To understand this story, it helps to have a shepherd's perspective. Rounding up the herd and separating individual animals (and then keeping them separated!) is a difficult job. Plus, sheep and goats can look very similar, making the identification process even more challenging to an amateur. Overall, it is best to leave the herding to an expert. As we Christians do our shepherd's bidding, our job is not to figure out, much less judge, what is in each person's heart. We are to care for all our neighbors, love them as God does, and serve them as Jesus did. The video clip shows a jar filled with beans and rocks. What do the elements in the video represent? How are beans and rocks different? Is it easy or difficult to tell the difference? How easy or difficult is it to serve your friends? Family? Strangers? People who are mean to you? Who in your world needs to be fed, clothed, visited, and loved this week?

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Video (Low Resolution): Hands of Christ Media file: SheepandGoats.mp4 To understand this story, it helps to have a shepherd's perspective. Rounding up the herd and separating individual animals (and then keeping them separated!) is a difficult job. Plus, sheep and goats can look very similar, making the identification process even more challenging to an amateur. Overall, it is best to leave the herding to an expert. As we Christians do our shepherd's bidding, our job is not to figure out, much less judge, what is in each person's heart. We are to care for all our neighbors, love them as God does, and serve them as Jesus did. The video clip shows a jar filled with beans and rocks. What do the elements in the video represent? How are beans and rocks different? Is it easy or difficult to tell the difference? How easy or difficult is it to serve your friends? Family? Strangers? People who are mean to you? Who in your world needs to be fed, clothed, visited, and loved this week?

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Music Clip: Gonna Help Media file: SheepandGoats.mp3 Song: "Bones" CD: Speedwood III (www.speedwood.com) Artist: Lost And Found © 1999 Lost And Found and Limb Records Gonna be the food when the world needs bread. Gonna be the life where the world would be dead Gonna be the water in a world that would thirst. The first shall be last and the last shall be first. One of the most basic ways we can care for others is to make sure that their basic needs (food, clothing, shelter) are met. If you care enough about someone to make sure that she or he has all these things, most likely she or he will wonder why. This makes for a perfect ministry opportunity. Lost And Found's song "Bones" refers precisely to being willing to meet people's needs. • Why is it important to God that we help meet the needs of others?

• What are some basic ways to do this?

• Have you helped a person who was hungry? Who was homeless? How did he or she respond?

Note: You can purchase the CD featuring this song from the Augsburg Fortress online store (www.augsburgfortress.org).

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PPT® Presentation (versions 2002 and later) This presentation includes a video file and an audio file. All three (the presentation, the video, and the audio) will download at once as a ZIP archive. Unzipping the archive will produce a single folder containing all three files. For the presentation to work properly, the files must all be in the same folder; therefore, we recommend you not remove them from the folder produced when you unzip the archive, but rather move the entire folder as a single unit. Media file: SheepandGoats.zip

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PPT® Presentation (versions 1997-2000) Media file: SheepandGoats.ppt

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Cartoon Media file: SheepandGoats.tif From HERE WE STAND Confirmation Series. Copyright 2009 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Here We Stand Annual License.

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