STARTER
(In pairs for 5 minutes) Describe a time when someone was really kind to you when you were in need.

WORSHIP

READ PASSAGE ALOUD
(How would it feel to be one of the righteous people?)

RE-READ PASSAGE AND COMMENTARY
(Personal reflection)

PERSONAL FOCUS
(Personal reflection on the passage / commentary & questions in silence 10 minutes)

COMMENTARY
We all want the world to be a better place and there are individuals who over the years have made a difference to the way things are; people like Mother Theresa, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King. The story about the Last Judgement is not primarily about individuals; it is a story about the response of the nations to the most vulnerable in the world. When the Son of man comes…all the nations will be assembled before him. [vv.31-32]. This is another story where we may need to discard some baggage. We need to remember this story is told while Jesus is in Jerusalem facing his accusers who will shortly have him arrested and executed. An act of the nation state. This story is not really a parable. It is rather a pointer to the unfamiliar that would not have occurred to us unaided. The sheep are the ones seen as good because they have insured that the needy are cared for. The goats are bad because they failed to do so. Suddenly we discover what really matters to God-serving God's people in need. Loving the neighbour is the same as loving God. [Price Reflections on Matthew's gospel]

PERSONAL FOCUS QUESTIONS
(Initially just reflect on the question that chooses you. It may help to clarify your thinking to make notes in the spaces provided. This will also give you material to reflect on in the future)

2. Describe a time when helping others was your way of living
    this Gospel.

3. In what ways have you discovered Christ whilst you were
    helping another person?

PERSONAL FOCUS QUESTIONS
(Discuss in triplets / pray for each other – 25 minutes)

LIFE FOCUS
(Discuss in whole group-15 minutes)

4. Where might you have to challenge the authorities to act more
    like sheep than goats?
    Remember the change in government thinking that the Jubilee 2000
    campaign has achieved.
    What next?

5. What practical outcome is there from our reflection?
    Do we need to make any plans to make things happen?

GROUP MEMORY TIME
(Review the actions you agreed to carry out at previous meetings)

REVIEW TIME
Do Gospel passages like this really challenge your way of life? If not, why is that?

PRAYER TIME
You may wish to confess your part in ignoring those in need and then pray for them. You may wish to pray for those in authority that they might seek justice and fairness in all their dealings.