My name is Aaron Graft. My wife, Kimberly, and I have three kids, ages 7, 4, and almost 2. Things I like: mountains, oceans, snow in the winter, sub-100 degree days in the summer, and wide open spaces. I am sure I will find one of those things in Dallas eventually.

THE WORST SURPRISE IN HISTORY . . . THE SADDEST OUTCOME FOR ETERNITY

KEY VERSE

"Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.'" (Matthew 25:34)

CENTRAL TRUTH

Jesus Christ demands to be preeminent in our lives. He will not accept being prominent.

REFLECTIONS

Does Matthew 25 scare you? It terrifies me -- in a good way, but it is still terrifying.

In his book, Not a Fan, Kyle Idleman writes: "The biggest threat to the church today is fans who call themselves Christians, but aren't actually interested in following Christ. They want to be close enough to Jesus to get all of the benefits, but not so close that it requires anything from them."

Before nodding in agreement, internalize that concept. How are you doing? Do you love Jesus, or do you just love the idea of grace? Are you devoted to Him, or do you just admire what He did? These are the sobering self-analysis questions that Jesus taught us to ask ourselves in Matthew 25. Whether He comes in the clouds or we meet Him in death first, there will be a reckoning. Are you waiting with anticipation for your Master to return, or have you fallen asleep like the five foolish virgins? Only those who are ready when He comes get to go to the feast.

Have you invested your talents into becoming a fully devoted follower of yourself, or are you investing for your Master? Only those who have invested for the kingdom will hear "well done" (verse 21).

No one wants judgment. People either think they are a sheep, have more time to become a sheep, or haven't thought about what it means to not be a sheep. The goats are in for a terrible surprise. Matthew 7:22-23 illustrates this: Those who are condemned are taken by surprise. They thought that their admiration and verbal affirmation of Jesus were enough. Unfortunately for them, there is no biblical support for believing in Jesus without a commitment to follow Him. A one-time, genuinely emotional response to the gospel is wonderful, but that alone falls short of the biblical standard for discipleship.

The Pharisees knew plenty about God, but they didn't really know Him. Knowledge and intimacy are not the same. Admiration and devotion are not the same. A "moral" life is not equal to discipleship, although it does accompany it. How are we doing?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What has following Jesus cost you?

2. What is the difference between following Christ and following religion?

3. Read John 3:16 and Luke 9:23. What is the link between believing and following?

WEEKLY FAMILY ACTIVITY

MATTHEW 21-25 (JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 3)

Read Matthew 25:14-30.

* What did the master give to each of the servants?

* What did each of them do with the money they were given?

* How did the master respond to each of the servants and how they handled the money?

* What gifts and talents have you been entrusted with? (If someone in your family doesn't mention something that you think is a gift or talent they have, encourage them by telling them what you see.)

* How are you using these gifts and talents to bring glory to your master (God)?

Activity: Have each person cut out five coins from a piece of yellow or white paper. On each coin, write one talent or gift that you have. Each morning during the week, draw out a coin, and use that gift or talent during the day to glorify God. At dinner each night, take time for everyone to share how they used their gift/talent that day.