NOTES:
1]  Jesus assures the apostles that those who respond to them are responding to him. 2] Try to look up the biblical back- ground to 'prophets / prophecy' & 'righteousness' in vv.41-42. 3] WilliamBarclay, ad. loc., says rabbis sometimes referred to their followers as 'little ones'. McNeile, ad. loc. says little ones are 'neither apostles, prophets, nor persons eminent for their righteousness, (but) obscure & simple believers'.

WARMING UP: Do we ever feel accepted not for who we are, but 'on the back of' someone / something else?

TREASURES OLD & NEW: Identify God at work in anything this week?

EXPLORING GOSPEL:

40         Are we accepted in our church circle on the basis of being a fellow-member of Jesus' band of disciples, or more on the basis of whether people like something about us, expect us to contribute something, or are desperate for bums on seats? What about the way we accept others in that same church circle? If we approached all our relationships conscious that in accepting another person we're accepting Jesus, would it make any difference to the life of our church?

41         How do we recognize a true prophet when we see one? Or aren't there any anymore? Are prophets today more likely to be outside the ranks of the church than within? Was it ever any other way? If we're largely out of practice at discerning true prophets, how practised are we at discerning false ones? What's the essence of discerning? Seeing Paul (1 COR 12) believes we ought to expect prophecy as a spiritual gift among us, has something gone amiss if that's no longer true? What is a 'prophet's reward'?

Is there a category of 'righteous person' in today's church? Or is it Jesus' expectation that we will all be righteous persons? What is a righteous person? What's at the heart of righteousness? Has our dislike of 'self-righteousness' maybe destroyed the value of true righteousness today? Does the church we know suffer as a result? What is a 'righteous person's reward'?

42         Are we as concerned for the 'little ones' Jesus refers to as we need to be? Given Note 3 (above) who are these people today? Can we think of other 'little people' Jesus might include in today's terms? Are we concerned enough for all of them; doing something about their situation? If we're failing them, & therefore failing Jesus, what, then, will be our reward?