Our Problem with Kingdoms

Christ in Majesty, Rublev

Christ the King Sunday
November 25, 2012

* Hear this sermon HERE.

PRAYER OF THE DAY 
Almighty and ever-living God, you anointed your beloved Son to be priest and sovereign forever. Grant that all the people of the earth, now divided by the power of sin, may be united by the glorious and gentle rule of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

TODAY'S GOSPEL: John 18:33-37
Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?"

Jesus answered, "Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?"

Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?"

Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here."

Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?"

Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."

* * *

SERMON: "Our Problem with Kingdoms"

The Lord be with you.

Today is "Christ the King Sunday," the final Sunday of the Church Year, and today's Gospel lesson turns our attention to the subject of kings and kingdoms. In it we see Jesus and Pontius Pilate engaging in a conversation about rulers and thrones, power and dominion.

This immediately creates two problems for those of us hear this text.

Children's Sermon: Christ Our King

Christ Our King Sunday
November 25, 2012

Children's Message: "What Kind of a King?"

I would like for us to use our imagination for a few moments today. Don't answer out loud just yet, but I want you to think about these questions:

• What kind of a person do you picture in your imagination when I say the word, "KING" or "QUEEN"? 

• What kind of a place is a "KINGDOM"?

Before we talk about this together, I want you to try hard to think about kings and queens and kingdoms.

(pause for a few moments)

Now let me ask you what you thought about.

• What kind of a house does a king or queen live in?

• What kind of clothes does a king or queen wear?

• What kinds of things does a king or queen do?

• What should you do when a king or queen comes into the room? How should you act when you are with them?

(discuss with children)

I see we all have some ideas in our minds about what a king or queen is like. Now, what if I were to tell you about a king:

• Who didn't even have a house in which to live?

• Who didn't wear fancy clothes?

• Who didn't have servants to do things for him?

• Who spoke but people didn't listen or show him respect?

• Who didn't hang around with the rich and important people, but liked to spend time with ordinary folks like you and me?

• Who didn't act like a boss, telling other people what to do, but served them and even went so far as to lay down his life so they might know God's love?

The Bible tells us that is exactly the kind of king Jesus is! It's a very different kind of king than most people imagine, but that's who he is. He became that kind of king because he knows it is the only way we can become the kind of people God made us to be, and it's the only way that our world can become a place where people trust in God and love and help each other.

So let's give thanks for Jesus the king, who loves us and welcomes us into God's kingdom. 

Lord Jesus, thank you for being such a wonderful king who loves us and brings us into God's kingdom. Lead us each day so that others may see your kingdom love in us. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Story of the Bible, Story of Our Lives

Christus Ravenna Mosaic

Christ the King Sunday
November 25, 2012

PRAYER OF THE DAY 
Almighty and ever-living God, you anointed your beloved Son to be priest and sovereign forever. Grant that all the people of the earth, now divided by the power of sin, may be united by the glorious and gentle rule of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

TODAY'S GOSPEL: John 18:33-37
Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?"

Jesus answered, "Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?"

Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?"

Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here."

Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?"

Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."

* * *

SERMON: "Story of the Bible, Story of Our Lives"

The Lord be with you. 

We who live in the modern world, especially here in the United States, have a difficult time relating to the main concept in this morning's Gospel. Today God calls us to hear and respond to a text that is about kings and kingdoms, rulers and royalty, thrones and dominions. You and I don't generally think in those terms. We are citizens in a nation that rejected monarchy and embraced life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for every person equally. The myths that shape our imagination are not the stories of castles and kings and loyal subjects. We honor rags to riches stories of the self-made person, the rugged individualist. We love the Horatio Alger-style tales of poor but determined people who make their own way and rise to success through hard work, courage, and honesty. We don't like the idea of someone ruling over us, demanding our allegiance, requiring our obedience.

But then we come to the Bible. And the Bible is all about kings and kingdoms.