1. Front Line Ministry Matthew 25:31-46 The Pulpit is one of the primary faces of ministry, but it is not the only face of ministry. -The purpose of the pulpit is to pull people out of the -The purpose of the pulpit is to pull people out of the pit. pit. -WE PULL PEOPLE OUT OF THE PIT BY DOING -WE PULL PEOPLE OUT OF THE PIT BY DOING MINISTRY (MEETING THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE)! MINISTRY (MEETING THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE)!

2. Front Line Ministry Matthew 25:31-46 (1.)Matthew 25:31-33 On the final day of judgment, God’s going to separate people (the sheep from the goats). -sheep: true believers of Jesus Christ -sheep: true believers of Jesus Christ -goats: pretenders and unbelievers -goats: pretenders and unbelievers As a Christian, it is always tempting to try and separate and distinguish true followers of Christ from unbelievers in the church. -We must leave God’s job to him and allow him to do -We must leave God’s job to him and allow him to do the separating because he knows the heart of man. the separating because he knows the heart of man.

3. Front Line Ministry Matthew 25:31-46 Sheep Characteristics: (2.)Matthew 25:34-40 The sheep do the following: -Feed the hungry -Feed the hungry -Give water to the thirsty -Give water to the thirsty -Take in strangers -Take in strangers -Clothe the naked -Clothe the naked -Visit the sick -Visit the sick -Visit the imprisoned -Visit the imprisoned *Sheep don’t just have a private, individual spirituality. *The spirituality of the sheep motivates them to meet the needs of hurting people. needs of hurting people.

4. Front Line Ministry Matthew 25:31-46 Sheep Characteristics: (3.)Matthew 25:40 “…….In as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” -God’s sheep treats everybody the same way they -God’s sheep treats everybody the same way they would treat Jesus in physical presence. would treat Jesus in physical presence. Goat Characteristics: (4.)Matthew 25:41-44 -Goats look over the following: -Goats look over the following: -hungry, thirsty, strangers, naked, sick, and imprisoned -hungry, thirsty, strangers, naked, sick, and imprisoned

5. Front Line Ministry Matthew 25:31-46 Goat Characteristics: (5.)Matthew 25:41-44 -Goats are bias and show partiality. -Goats are bias and show partiality. -Goats don’t treat everyone as they would treat Jesus -Goats don’t treat everyone as they would treat Jesus in physical presence. in physical presence. (6.)Matthew 25:31-46 fulfills the ministry portion of the NRS vision (P154). -Our vertical relationship with God ought to drive us to -Our vertical relationship with God ought to drive us to meat the horizontal needs of mankind. meat the horizontal needs of mankind. -THIS IS THE REASON FOR “OPERATION EAST!” -THIS IS THE REASON FOR “OPERATION EAST!”