Sheep and Goats

In the final parable of  Matthew 25, Jesus uses the picture of a shepherd, separating sheep and goats, as a metaphor for his actions, his judgement, at his return. 

Sheep and goats have many things in common, size, diet, etc. In this parable, they also share a sense of surprise. Neither  recognized that ministering to the downtrodden around them was, in fact, ministering to Jesus himself. 

Patheos.com

Our attitude toward those around us says a lot about our relationship with Jesus. The sheep were following their shepherd (that's what sheep do) while the goats were less affected by the shepherd's leading, and, in their reply, seem to say they would have benefited from a bit more direction (typical of goats).

This Sunday we will spend some time reflecting on this passage in light of our own interaction with the world around us.

Bags of Gold

Another parable this week, another illustration of the time of Jesus's return and how his followers should be acting during the wait.

This time, it's a rich man going away, leaving three of his servants in charge of his wealth returning to find that two out of three have been excellent investors and have given him a big return on his investment, while the third digs the money out of the ground where he had hidden it and returns what he had been given with no return.

Two are rewarded, one is punished.

This is a troubling parable (as are the other two in Matthew 25) because it seems to imply that there is something more required for our salvation than the five solas (grace, faith, scripture, Christ, to God's glory) that so many are celebrating this year, the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Reformation. The parable doesn't seem to refer to any of these foundation statements but does seem to put a lot of emphasis on work and being rewarded for  hard and smart labour.

Is this really the teaching here?

Join us Sunday morning as we unpack this parable and its application to our lives and for our community.

Ladies and Lamps

Being prepared is important. The Boy Scouts know this. Their motto, since 1907, has been "Be Prepared". Robert Baden-Powel,  wrote the handbook "Scouting for Boys" in 1916. There he explains that being prepared means "you are always in a state of readiness in mind and body to do your DUTY."

Jesus tells the parable of the ten bridesmaids, found near the end of Matthew's record of Jesus' ministry. Its a story of being prepared, being in a state of readiness. Five of the bridesmaids had come to the meeting place prepared with extra oil for their lamps and five had not. Five were prepared for a long wait, and five were not. All ten fell asleep, but only five woke up ready to go to the wedding party. 

We might wonder though, what we are to be ready for? Is this a parable about end times, about Jesus return, or is it a teaching about how we are to live our lives every day. 

This Sunday we'll spend some time in this parable wondering what it really looks like to "Be Prepared"