Christ the King Sunday | Nov. 22, 2020

Christ the King, Skip Ryan, November 22, 2020

Key Scripture | 1 Cor. 15:20-28; Dan. 7:13-14

Sermon Outline & Questions Resurrection Sunday— This Sunday (Nov. 22) is Christ the King Sunday (the last Sunday of liturgical year).

The origin of Christ the King Sunday is recent. In 1925, Pope Pious XI saw dark clouds taking shape over Europe: Mussolini leading Italy, Stalin leading Russia, and Hitler gaining influence in Austria and Germany. Pope Pious sought to reaffirm the kingship of Christ. No one but Jesus had ultimate authority over nations and peoples.

Do you have plans for celebrating Advent this year? Think about how you can reflect and study intentionally this year despite the difficulties associated with 2020.

Thoughts on the resurrection— In 1 Cor. 15, Paul gives the fullest expression of the resurrection. He shows us that the resurrection of Jesus makes plain the power and glory of his kingship. Paul makes the enormous announcement that Jesus is king, and he has defeated death.

Jesus is the first-fruits of an altogether new life brought about by the resurrection. We are the “second-fruits.” When our bodies are resurrected at Christ’s return, they will be reconstituted by God.

The first man, Adam, brought death by ignoring God. The second man, Jesus, brings life. The resurrection is the vindication of Jesus’ authority.

There is a Russian Orthodox icon that shows Jesus rising from the dead while taking Adam by the left hand and Eve by the right. Thus, he’s pulling the two people who began sin and death into life. We all need the power of Christ the King.

Read vv. 24-28: These verses show Jesus’ authority and rule and reign. But the same king who crushes the wicked and rules the universe also loves his sheep with perfect care. Do you entrust Jesus with your daily cares and concerns?

Strength in weakness— Remember TFCA’s purpose statement: That Christ be king in our lives and the lives of others.

What does it mean for Jesus to be king?

Remember WWJD bracelets (What Would Jesus Do)? The idea is that we are to imitate what Jesus has done. But there are some things we cannot do that Jesus does (e.g., miracles, the transfiguration, the resurrection, creating a new heaven and earth).

We are ensnared by death. At our core, we are not able to do the things Jesus intends for us to do by virtue of his power.

Rather than WWJD, it should be ‘What can we do with Jesus that we can’t do without him?’

Still, there is a deceptive draw to heroism in Christianity. But there is no such thing as a heroic Christian. It is a contradiction in terms and idolatry.

The Falls Church Anglican | Sermon Notes 1 Christ the King Sunday | Nov. 22, 2020

Furthermore, we are all weak, hurt, broken, and sinful, and we’re no match for the “rulers and authorities.” We often hide from our weaknesses and hide them from others. But we ought to brag about how Jesus saves us in our weakness.

In 2 Cor. 1:8, Paul says the he “despaired of life itself.” But he found his hope in Jesus, who renewed his spirit and ruled over his life for good. Like Paul, we need the gift of desperation.

What has it looked like in your own life to pursue heroism in faith, work, or life? What changes when, instead of heroism, you seek God in desperation?

A few examples of getting it wrong— Skip once received a card that read, “Now that you are older, you can begin to live out of your achievements rather than your weaknesses.” This is false. As Christians, we must always live out of our weaknesses.

In Luke 18:15-17, Jesus rebukes the elders for preventing the children from coming to him. He embraces the children and says, “for to such belongs the kingdom of God.”

Jesus was not praising the humility of the children (for children are rarely humble). Rather children had no status in the ancient world; they were helpless. Jesus was highlighting how their helplessness opened them up to Christ.

Years ago, Skip led a local Young Life chapter. He saw the numbers in his gathering dwindle throughout the year. His mentor eventually told him his problem: “You’ve been building the kingdom of Skip instead of building for the Christ’s kingdom.”

The children in Luke 18 were helpless and therefore accepted Jesus at his word. How do we, too, be helpless before God?

A few helpful quotations— “Sometimes we don’t real realize that Jesus is all we have until Jesus is all we got.” -Mother Theresa

“I have been driven to my knees many times by the conviction that I had nowhere else to go.” -Abraham Lincoln

“The church is not an organization of spiritual giants. It is broken men and women who can lead others to the cross because of their brokenness and because the king has died for their brokenness and raised them to altogether new life.” -Lesslie Newbigin

Is Jesus and his kingship all you have? Does this truth bear out practically in your life?

Concluding thoughts— In Heb. 12:1-3, we see that Jesus achieved his greatest victory at the point of death.

It is good practice to say The Lord’s Prayer and focus on the last words: “For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory…”

Read Dan. 7:13-14 and praise Jesus as king.

What is one thing that stood out to you in this sermon?

What might Christ be saying to you? What truth can you apply to your daily life?

The Falls Church Anglican | Sermon Notes 2