“Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.” — Matthew 25:36
Lesson
What You Will Learn
- Explain from Scripture why God's people minister to those in prison
- Describe what it means to remember prisoners as bound with them (Hebrews 13:3)
- Connect correctional ministry to Jesus' mission in Luke 4:18
- Name healthy and unhealthy motives for prison ministry
Lesson Notes
Jesus Identifies With the Prisoner
In Matthew 25:31–46, Jesus describes the King separating the nations. To those on His right, He says, I was in prison, and ye came unto me (verse 36). They are surprised. When did they visit Him? He answers: Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me (verse 40).
This is one of the most remarkable statements in Scripture. Jesus does not only send us to the prisoner; He says He is found there. A visit to a woman in a housing unit or a letter to a woman who receives no mail is, in a real sense, ministry to Christ Himself.
Remember Them as Bound With Them
Hebrews 13:3 says, Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them. The word remember is more than recalling. It means keeping people in mind, praying for them, and acting on their behalf. The phrase as bound with them calls for solidarity: imagining what it is to be in their place and serving from alongside, not from above.
The New Testament is full of believers in chains. Joseph served God in prison (Genesis 39:20–23). Peter was kept in prison while prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him (Acts 12:5). Paul wrote letters from prison and led Onesimus to faith in my bonds (Philemon 10). He thanked God for Onesiphorus, who oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain (2 Timothy 1:16). Correctional ministry is not new; it is as old as the church.
Jesus' Mission and Ours
In the synagogue at Nazareth, Jesus read from Isaiah: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised (Luke 4:18).
Deliverance in Christ is first spiritual freedom from sin, shame, and fear. A woman can know that freedom inside a locked unit. Correctional ministry does not promise anyone an early release, a court outcome, or an easy road. It offers the presence of Christ, the hope of the gospel, the love of a church family, and practical help toward a new life.
Healthy and Unhealthy Motives
People are drawn to prison ministry for many reasons. Some motives need to be surrendered to God:
- Rescuing: I will fix her life. Only God changes hearts, and the woman is responsible for her own choices.
- Curiosity: wanting to see what prison is like or to hear stories of crimes.
- Self-importance: wanting to be needed, admired, or seen as special by residents.
- Unfinished business: wanting to reconnect with people or places from your own past.
Healthy motives sound like this: I want to obey Christ. I want to remember those in bonds. I want to serve under authority, follow every rule, and point women to Jesus and to a church family. Proverbs 16:2 reminds us that the LORD weigheth the spirits. Bring your motives to Him honestly.
Key Terms
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Correctional ministry | Christian service to people in jails, prisons, juvenile facilities, and community corrections, and to their families |
| Chaplain | The facility's religious services leader, who oversees all religious programs and volunteers |
| Volunteer | An approved, trained person who serves under the chaplain's direction |
| As bound with them | Serving from empathy and solidarity rather than from distance or superiority (Hebrews 13:3) |
In-Class Activities
Prisoners in the Bible
Look up each passage and write who was imprisoned and one thing God did there: Genesis 39:20–23; Jeremiah 38:6–13; Acts 12:5–7; Acts 16:25–34; Philippians 1:12–14; 2 Timothy 1:16–17.
Circle the passage that encourages you most and write one sentence about why.
Motive Check
Your instructor will read eight short statements from composite would-be volunteers. Mark each H (healthy motive) or C (needs to be surrendered or checked). For each C, write a healthier way to think about it.
Assignment: My Call Statement
Write a one-page statement about why you are preparing for correctional ministry:
- Two Scriptures from this module that speak to you and why.
- What remember them... as bound with them means to you in your own words.
- One unhealthy motive you will watch for in yourself and how you will guard against it.
- One way you can remember those in bonds right now, such as prayer, even before you are approved to serve.
You do not need to share any part of your own story.
Graded with the Module Assignment Rubric.
Reflection Journal
Jesus said, I was in prison, and ye came unto me. How does it change your view of correctional ministry to know that Christ is found among the people you will serve? If you have been incarcerated, who remembered you, and what did that mean? If you have not, what do you imagine it would mean?
Prayer focus: Ask God to give you His heart for those in bonds and to purify your motives for serving.
Weekly Reading & Devotions
Christ Behind the Door
Jesus told a story about a King who said, I was in prison, and ye came unto me. The people He praised were surprised. They did not remember visiting a King in prison. But Jesus said that whatever they did for one of the least of these my brethren, they did for Him.
That means a visit, a prayer, a letter, or a Bible study inside a facility is never small. Christ is there. Hebrews 13:3 asks us to remember those in bonds as bound with them, which means from beside, not from above.
When Lorraine first felt called to prison ministry, she pictured herself rescuing women. (Lorraine is a composite example.) A chaplain gently told her, You are not here to save anyone. Jesus does that. You are here to be faithful. That freed her. She stopped measuring success by results and started measuring it by obedience, humility, and love.
This week, bring your motives to God honestly. He is not looking for heroes. He is looking for faithful servants who will remember those in bonds.
Think About It
- What draws you to correctional ministry? ______________________
- Which unhealthy motive do you need to watch for? ______________________
- How can you remember those in bonds this week, even through prayer? ______________________
Daily Devotions for Week 1
Unto Me
Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.— Matthew 25:40 (KJV)
Jesus counts kindness to the overlooked as kindness to Himself.
Reflect: Who are the least of these around you?
Pray: Lord, help me see You in every person.
Do: Do one quiet kindness for someone who is often overlooked.
As Bound With Them
Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.— Hebrews 13:3 (KJV)
We remember prisoners with empathy, as if we stood in their place.
Reflect: What would you want someone to remember about you in a hard place?
Pray: Lord, give me a heart that remembers.
Do: Pray by name for someone who is incarcerated, or for women in a facility you know.
Deliverance to the Captives
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives,— Luke 4:18 (KJV)
Jesus' mission includes the captive and the brokenhearted. We share in His mission.
Reflect: Where have you experienced His deliverance?
Pray: Lord, let me share in Your mission.
Do: Write down one way Jesus has set you free.
Not Ashamed of My Chain
The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:— 2 Timothy 1:16 (KJV)
Onesiphorus sought out Paul and refreshed him. Faithful visitors are a gift.
Reflect: Who has refreshed you when you felt ashamed?
Pray: Lord, make me one who refreshes others.
Do: Thank someone who stood by you in a hard time, in prayer or in a note.
He Weighs the Spirit
All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.— Proverbs 16:2 (KJV)
God sees our motives more clearly than we do. Honesty with Him purifies our service.
Reflect: What motive do you need to bring to God?
Pray: Lord, search my heart and purify my motives.
Do: Write your call in one honest sentence.
Module Quiz
- 1.
In Matthew 25:36, Jesus says:
- 2.
Hebrews 13:3 calls believers to remember prisoners:
- 3.
Which is a healthy motive for correctional ministry?
- 4.
Correctional ministry promises women early release or better court outcomes.
- 5.
Name two people in Scripture who were imprisoned and one thing God did for or through them.