Eternity Isn't Forever
Sunday, November 24, 2024
Scriptures: Matthew 25:31-46
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In this last sermon of the Jesus on Judgement series, Jeremy unpacked the parable of the sheep and the goats and how it reframes our traditional understanding of judgement into an invitation to recognize Jesus’ presence in acts of care and compassion for "the least of these.” The parable is not about doctrinal belief or labeling others but about engaging in tangible, restorative actions that reflect God’s kingdom.
Jeremy worked with two terms that the have in the story: the Greek term aionios (age) and kolassin (pruning). He suggested that ”eternal" is used here more in a sense of the transformative "age to come" rather than unending time. And in light of that judgment, depicted as kolassin—a pruning or discipline — is meant for restoration, not punishment. Jeremy wrapped up the sermon by reflecting that it is easy to miss what Jesus is about if we’re waiting for the thrones and angels, because eternity, the age of transformation is taking root in the here and now, inviting us to see Jesus in those who we might overlook.
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Community is shaped by the conversations we share. These questions and reflections are a tool to help you meaningfully engage with the themes of this week's teaching.
Connect: What images or thoughts come to mind when you hear the parable of the sheep and the goats? How familiar are you with it and what’s been the most common interpretation that you’ve heard?
Share: Share your initial reaction to the idea that divine judgment may be restorative (like pruning) rather than purely punitive. How does this resonate with your understanding of God? Have you had an experience of “pruning” and as a result a level of healing and restoration?
Reflect: In the sermon Jeremy said that this parable "breaks Christian rules" by prioritizing action over belief. What does this say about the balance of belief (or “orthodoxy” as right belief) and action (or “orthopraxy” as right action) in your experience and practice of faith?
Jeremy said: “And I'm just gonna say, I love this story, because it breaks almost all of our Christian rules. And I think sometimes those rules need to be broken just a little bit. I mean notice here— there is absolutely nothing about believing anything in this story AND there is the strong implication that you can make it to heaven without even knowing how you got there...
How's that for a paradigm shift…"It is interesting that both sheep and goats in the story fail to recognize Jesus in their actions. How might this story challenge some of our assumptions about faith and daily life?
Engage: Engage with the idea of the collective versus individual interpretation of judgment.
In the first half of the sermon Jeremy mentioned that our translation give more of an individualistic spin than the text might contain.He said:
“But our modern translations are imposing something interesting to the text here. More literally, what the text of Matthew says is that the nations will be gathered and he will separate— THEM —one from another.
So it doesn't say people anywhere in this passage.
It's a third plural masculine pronoun ‘them’....And it could be referring to people being separated one from another,
But that's an individualized interpretation that's being imposed on a text.
That could also be read as the nations being separated one from another, he will separate them...In other words, perhaps God is interested in judging our individual efforts in the world. Or perhaps, just as acutely, God cares about how we engage collectively together.”
What are the implications of either interpretation for how we live out our faith in community, be it our religious community or even our city or country ?
Take away: Jeremy wrapped up the sermon by suggesting that the life of the age to come can begin now. What are some of the ways you can or you already are cultivating this sense of eternity in your life in the present?
Prayer from the sermon:
Almighty and merciful God
who creates and sustains and judges the cosmos,
would you help us to see your judgement today
not through fear tainted by the vindictive use of power
we see in the world around us,
but instead informed by the loving guidance of a parent
who wants us to grow into everything we could ever become,
would we come to understand that your words are not one size fits all
but instead an invitation to enter into dialogue and conversation
and ultimately transformation.
Where our imagination of you has been corrupted
by broken images of cruel or spiteful judgements,
would you speak healing images of the God
who would go to absurd lengths to draw near to us,
images of the God who cares so deeply for us
that you would be present to guide us back when we go off course.
And in that would we come to understand you
as the God who longs to be known,
a God who wants to see us become more complete
than when we were found,
And may we sense your spirit,
speaking and guiding and judging us with grace,
so that we might experience the life that flows naturally
from connection with you.
In the strong name of the risen Christ,
Amen.
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CALL TO WORSHIP Psalm 33
MUSIC Curated by Clint Siebert
Phil Wickham - This Is Our God
Hillsong Worship - Never Walk Alone
Chris Tomlin - Holy Forever
Brooke Ligertwood - A Thousand HallelujahsEUCHARIST INVITATION
Written by Bobbi Salkeld
Today is the last Sunday in the Christian year – the Sunday before our Advent journey begins – a Sunday traditionally called the Feast of Christ the King.The feast reminds us that no matter the chaos in the world – Christ reigns.
Take note, though: Christ’s reign does not come with force, violence, or deception. Christ’s reign is patient, compassionate, and suffers alongside before it raises up.
Christ reigns with the sorrowful.
Christ reigns with the battered.
Christ reigns with the lost and the lonely.So, as you approach the Eucharist table today, may you see that Jesus sits at the table’s head and stoops to wash the feet of all who sit around it.
May you sense Christ’s reign where you need it the most.
The story goes like this.
Among friends, Jesus took bread, broke it, and said, “This is my body, it is for you.”
Then he took the cup of wine and said, “This is the new life with God, made possible with my death. Eat and drink, all of you, to remember me.”
So here is Christ coming to you in the elements of this meal and in our friendships around this ritual.
Let’s pray together.
Loving God, you invite us to the table
A foretaste of things that go on and on forever.
For those in need of Christ’s mighty reign –
In places of confusion
In times of uncertainty
In relationships that are tumultuous
Spirit, as we gather around the table,
will you bring wisdom, power, and strength
For those in need of Christ’s servant way –
In places of grief
In feelings of desperation
In a desire for something trustworthy
Spirit, as we gather around the table,
will you bring companionship, presence, and comfort
We pray, AMEN.
SERIES BUMPER
Jesus on Judgement
