Thanks for joining us today! Follow this link to a simple online "Connection Card" where you can let us know you were here and share any prayer concerns.

Bob Utley, "Matthew 25" from the series The First Christian Primer: Matthew

The last Sunday before Advent is celebrated in many churches as the Festival of Christ the King (thus this message). Christ the King is a title of Jesus Christ. It refers to the concept of the Kingdom of God where the Christ is seated at the Right Hand of God (as opposed to the secular title of King of the Jews mockingly given at the crucifixion). 1Timothy 6.14-15 explicitly applies the phrase of "king of kings and lord of lords" taken from the Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 10.17) to Jesus. Wikipedia article.

M. Clanger, "Matthew 25:31-46 – Sorting" The Reflectionary, posted on November 13, 2017.

"It is not our job to separate the sheep from the goats. The kingdom of heaven is not a club with us handing out entry tickets. We are more like promoters, not bouncers; we help send the invitations but who gets admitted isn’t up to us. Our job is not to be the gatekeepers but to care for everyone as long as we’re out here in the field. What happens after that is up to God, and until then we are called to love without reserve or distinction." —The Rev. TJ Tetzlaff, "Reign of Christ (A): It’s Not Up to Us" Matthew 25:31-46" Metanoia: Encountering the Gospel with Renewed Minds.

Bob Dylan, "When He Returns" performed April 18, 1980. Lyrics: The iron hand it ain't no match for the iron rod/ The strongest wall will crumble and fall to a mighty God/ For all those who have eyes and all those who have ears/ It is only He who can reduce me to tears/ Don't you cry and don't you die and don't you burn/ Like a thief in the night, he'll replace wrong with right/ When he returns.Truth is an arrow and the gate is narrow that is passes through/ He unreleased His power at an unknown hour that no one knew/ How long can I listen to the lies of prejudice? /How long can I stay drunk on fear out in the wilderness? /Can I cast it aside, all this loyalty and this pride? Will I ever learn/ that there'll be no peace, that the war won't cease/ Until He returns?Surrender your crown on this blood-stained ground, take off your mask/ He sees your deeds, He knows your needs even before you ask/ How long can you falsely and deny what is real? /How long can you hate yourself for the weakness you conceal? Of every earthly plan that be known to man, He is unconcerned/ He's got plans of his own to set up His throne/ When He return.When He Returns lyrics © Bob Dylan Music Co.

The Bob Dylan Gospel Tour was unique in two respects. While Dylan had always included religious themes and allusions in his songs, this tour marked the first time that he overtly embraced Christianity as a personal faith, and discussed that faith from the stage with his audience. Also, Dylan restricted the concert setlists to include only his new Christian songs. Official recordings from the Gospel Tour have recently been released as Trouble No More.

Visit and like the StoneBridge Facebook page.

Thanks for partnering with us in our mission to reach people with the good news of God's love, to make disciples, and to send them out. Secure online giving via PayPal.

Subscribe to the StoneBridge Community Church podcast on iTunes and you'll never miss a message. Updates automatically.

Miss a message? You can always catch us on YouTube. We invite you to subscribe to our channel.