Witnessing to The Least of These

We cannot truly follow Jesus Christ and ignore "the least of these." Although this may seem obvious, it is important to state it. Who are the least in your context? How do they fit in the story of God's love?

Together, develop criteria for identifying the "least" of these in your community. Useful Scriptural resources to help with this are:
	Matthew 25: 31-40 Luke 7:36-50 Luke 19:1-10
Use a commentary or other resource to find out more about the background of these passages, as well as any others you may select, and how the characters in the passages were seen in Jesus' time.
	Which categories of people would be like these characters today? What criteria could you use to determine who is considered "the least" in our society?
Once you have agreement on the criteria,
Identify one month in which each person in the group will identify "the least of these" in your community and/or her or his school.
Each person should write down their observations and/or conclusions about the "least" in the community and/or school throughout the month. Do this individually.
At the end of the month, look at these together. Can you come to a consensus on who "the least" are in your community?

	Among whom within the "least" is God calling you to journey in the story of God's love?
	How is God calling you to journey with them?
	How is your congregation already sharing this story with them, or not?
	How can you join your congregation in sharing the story with the people to whom God is leading you or vice versa?
	If your church is already involved in sharing God's love with another group, what would God have you do?

Now that you have identified how God is calling you, make a commitment to obey God in this journey with those whom you have identified as the least among you. This could be done through a simple prayer, repetition of a covenant created by the group, or other ritual act.

Identify someone to keep a journal around this and review it from time to time. What changes do you see in how you share in God's story? What are you learning? How can you share your evolving story?

Remember, in mission we witness in response to and out of God's love. This means that there is no room for pity; only genuine, mutual engagement.