The Matthew 25 Project at William Jewell College
2008 Theme: kNOw Greater Love
There is no greater
love than Jesus Christ’s love for us.
People will never know greater
love unless we go serve in His name.
Jesus’ stories help us see how the
cycle of God’s love becomes real. Experiencing ‘no greater love’ leads to
kNOwing and sharing greater love. When others are touched by Christ’s love,
they are transformed by kNOwing the one who provides this greater love. Then
they too, will carry on the lifestyle of one who knows… no greater love.
Built in to the Matthew 25 Project is a pattern that will engage participants
and deepen their understanding of God’s love for us. Through the intentional
pattern of worship, service and reflection, students will internalize what it
means to love and serve as Jesus modeled for us.
Worship…
In The
Parable of the Lost Son, the father in this story demonstrates his great love
for his son by giving him gifts, throwing a party and inviting friends and neighbors
to the celebration. When the son was at his lowest point he knew of a greater
love, that of his father’s. And he experienced it as he humbly returned to his
family.
At the Matthew 25 Project, each evening we will gather for a powerful,
relevant, worship celebration. And at the end of the week we will throw a block
party in the neighborhood where we have worked all week, so that all of those
within earshot will have the opportunity to share and… kNOw Greater Love!
Service…
In the Parable
of the Good Samaritan, the Samaritan is the one that helps the victim “kNOw
greater love” through his care and service. Jesus shares this story as an
example of how to fulfill the greatest Commandments, Love the Lord Your God,
and Love your neighbor as yourself. He essentially tells his questioner, There
is no greater love than when one person cares and helps another. In another teaching Jesus
explains that there is no greater love than turning the other cheek or going
the extra mile. Doing the unexpected helps others know greater love. One of the
elements of the Matthew 25 Project is how students from across the country,
will come together at the college, and offer absolutely free labor to residents
in the city. Servants will work long days in Missouri’s heat, transforming resident’s
homes, and lives by showing them the love of Christ.
Reflection...
When Jesus described some of the
qualities that make this love greater, he said things like… wash one another’s
feet, love your enemies, pray for those who would persecute you. When we do
these things we will flesh out the highest form of love, God’s love, a love
above which there is none greater. These characteristics of love are fleshed
out in relationships with others. It is only through relationships that people
will ever know this greater love.
That is why at the Matthew 25 Project we are all about building relationships.
Church youth groups will grow closer through reflection times, designed to
process the day’s experiences. Servant Crews will grow together as they, rise
to the challenge of painting and repairing resident’s homes. Churches that have
partnered together to come to the project, will go home at the end of the week
as an extended family.
In John 15 Jesus said, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” We invite you to be a part of the very first Matthew 25 Project at William Jewell. We want to be more than servants, we want to serve with you as friends. Through the diverse cross section of students and adults serving in June, our prayer is that Kansas Citywill truly kNOw greater love!