Christians don’t just believe things that happened in the past. We also believe in things that are yet to come. And these things give us hope and strength for living today.

What are some things that you hope for in the future?

The fact that Christians believe in a judgement (and even look forward to it in some sense) makes us a pretty odd lot.

“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ 37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ 41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. 42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’ 44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’ 45 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’ 46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.” —Matthew 25:31–46 (NLT)

What do you think the point of this story is?

In verse 31, it says “when the Son of Man comes in his glory.” What does this mean?

It is “then” that people will be separated to his right and left. Why is it important to understand that the separation will happen then?

To the ones on his right Jesus says “come”, but to those on the left he says “go”. What does this tell us about judgement?

In verses 37 and 44 the people were surprised at the judgement.
Why do you think the people would be surprised (either pleasantly or severely) about they did (or didn’t) do?

What does this surprise (even for the righteous) mean for us?

Why is it a good thing that Jesus will come back to judge?