Christ The King
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series VI, Cycle B
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: 2 Samuel 23:1-7 (C)
What a timely word we have here in this song supposedly by David (perhaps actually from a later period). ñOne who rules over people justly ... is like the light of morning.'' Oh my, what sad times have come upon America. Our morning paper reports that the mayor of a fairly prominent small town in Indiana, a man of exemplary history, was caught on camera in a gambling casino stealing chips from another gambler. IÍll bet he forgot about the surveillance cameras. Or thereÍs the revelation of goings-on down in Miami, and „ well, any conscious person is aware of todayÍs moral dilemma. I donÍt wish to appear the cynic, and I do still believe there are statesmen among the politicians. The point to be made here is twofold: If one does achieve a position of administration over other people, those who exercise this role will be blessed; and second, Jesus Christ is the epitome of such Lordship.
If preaching on this passage, I would either emphasize the promise that God will prosper those who lead with godly integrity (verse 5), or the question as to whether God punishes those who fail in this.
Lesson 1: Daniel 7:13-14 (RC); Daniel 7:9-14 (E)
Lesson 2: Revelation 1:4b-8 (C); Revelation 1:5-8 (RC); Revelation 1:1-8 (E)
As we read this passage, the millennium lies just ahead. The year 2000. Not being much of a computer person, I donÍt know how much problem we are about to encounter with the Y2K situation (I think IÍll stay off airplanes for a few days). In a larger sense, as we contemplate the future we find much reason for ambivalence. On the one hand, advances in medical science, in technology in general, imply wonderful benefits ahead. On the other hand, the seeming moral disintegration of our society with rising crime rates, the widespread use of illicit drugs, and the apparent failure of societyÍs leaders to call us to account and to repentance is the basis for much pessimism.
I have to wonder about the church also. I see a growing schism within mainline Protestantism occasioned by the growing popularity of variant forms of worship. DonÍt misunderstand „ IÍm not finding fault. However, I read of one congregation which managed to have their pastor removed because he was featuring traditional (classic) worship at one service, and contemporary worship at another. Yet I see this growing trend and wonder what worship will be like a generation hence. I pray it will foster spiritual maturity and openness, and that it will accomplish a profound and persuasive call to repentance and renewed commitment to the ethical precepts of our faith, that we may find this faith to ñfill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise; things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable'' (Philippians 4:8).
The writer of this passage in Revelation offers hope for this in ñthe Lord God Almighty, who is, who was, and who is to come.'' So, we are assured that God will be with us and guide us through the times that lie ahead. We need not fear for the final outcome.
Gospel: John 18:33-37 (C, RC, E)
And when I think that God, his Son not sparing
Sent him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.
When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration,
And there proclaim ñMy God, how great thou art.''
He is the King of creation. How can we know other than hope once that truth becomes our own? Jesus was sentenced to death because Pilate (who probably hated what he was doing) did not understand that Jesus would preside over a kingdom which would include Pilate. What Pilate couldnÍt know, but what I know and you know, is that Jesus didnÍt die because Pilate and his kind ordained it. Jesus died because he loved „ get this „ Pontius Pilate. Make sense of that if you can. Oh, not just Pilate. But me. And you. IÍm not really much better than Pilate. At best, maybe brief flashes of such love pass through us as we look at people we love. But Jesus was pure love, sacrificial love. When we receive this love, as we are able to do, ñWeÍll join the everlasting song, and crown him Lord of all.''
SERMON SUGGESTIONS
Title: ñChristians In The Workplace''
Text: 2 Samuel 23:1-7
Theme: Many of our parishioners are people with responsible positions, people with authority over other people. Christian leadership must always be marked by loving oversight. This doesnÍt mean a leader must necessarily be a softie. I once heard an address at a Rotary Club meeting by a nationally renowned business leader. He said, addressing the business owners and leaders of the audience, ñIf you have someone in your employ who is not productive and you are sure that person will never fit into your organization, go back to your office and fire that person today.'' I was shocked by what seemed such a heartless attitude. But as I reflected on it, I decided the man might be right. Why let someone muddle along an extra year before leaving, thus losing a year of valuable time? Better that the person learn as soon as possible that this job is not for him. I can say this because I was once fired. It was done in a kindly way and I am grateful today that it happened. The key is in those words, ñin a kindly way.''
Few things are as depressing as having to work at a job which you like, yet under authority which is high-handed, or dishonest, or unfeeling. A Christian leader is sensitive to the feelings and welfare of everyone over whom he or she has authority. God will always bless that kind of leadership, according to the Bible.
1. Authority over people must always be exercised with love.
2. Authority over people must always be exercised with honesty, so people know exactly where they stand.
3. Authority over people must always be exercised with fairness. Both credit and criticism must be given exactly as deserved. One of AmericaÍs greatest business leaders said: ñAlways give praise in public and criticism in private.''
Title: ñWorship And The Millennium''
Text: Revelation 1:1-8
Theme: The changing nature of worship. A growing number of churches are experimenting with variant forms of worship. Many young people are contending that with the high-tech music equipment on which they were raised, and with the fast action television and movies to which they are accustomed, the slow and often plodding nature of worship in many churches no longer inspires. I have to say, after visiting many churches in recent times, I have to agree. IÍm not saying traditional worship canÍt be inspiring, but I am saying it often is not. More and more we are seeing video screens, large speaking equipment replacing the organ, the use of synthesizers and drums, and computerized instrumentation. I recently visited the much celebrated Willow Creek Community Church in Barrington, Illinois, where I understand total attendance is many, many thousands of people. There must have been some six thousand in the service I attended, and I saw no sign of an organ. The music was provided by a small musical group, dressed quite casually and bathed in psychedelic lights. They also did a brief skit which was excellent. All in all, the service was professional and splendidly done in every regard.
But I am hearing negative comments from many people. I am hearing that this is outrageous catering to a few people who fail to appreciate tradition. I donÍt agree with that indictment, but I hear it, often from those people most inclined to be monetarily generous with the church. A growing number of clergy are engaged in this experimentation, and a growing number of churches are experiencing division among the people based on these preferences. One church was recently mentioned in national media as having gotten rid of their pastor for no other reason than that he was having traditional worship at one Sunday service, and contemporary worship at the other morning service. This leads me to believe pastors who wish to move in this direction should quickly do two things. One, begin to discuss this trend in open meetings, allowing people to vent their feelings, and two, preach about worship.
Title: ñBring Forth The Royal Diadem''
Text: John 18:33-37
Theme: I, for one, am glad to proclaim that Jesus Christ is King of Creation, and I am fairly sure that nearly all of you are ready to do so as well. The problem is, after we have said that, what do we say about this? Congregations get bored pretty quickly. Every congregation has a few thoroughly devout souls who pass by after services and tell the pastor how marvelous her/his sermon was, especially if we reiterate the primacy of Jesus Christ. But how do we reach the other ninety percent of our people who may need something far more specific and relevant than what easily becomes a platitude? I well recall the Sunday I attended a worship service in northern Indiana and heard „ bless his sincere heart „ one of the worst sermons I have ever heard. (I would never say that if there were any possibility at all that he would ever know, or that you could possibly know who the preacher was.) But as I stood in line „ it was the only way out „ I frantically sought for something positive I could say. Sure enough, when the moment came and I shook the young manÍs hand, I heard my mouth say, ñGood sermon.'' I learned from that not to trust entirely such comments unless my own senses allowed me to believe such praise.
My point? How do we make a passage like this relevant to a union organizer, a bank president, a steelworker, and a doctor, all of whom are terribly busy and face a lot of problems and temptations? After mulling this over, I have decided that I would fasten on that last phrase: ñAnd what is the truth?''
1. Our universe has a moral foundation. C. S. Lewis described the dilemma this poses in these words: ñFirst, human beings all over the earth have this curious idea they ought to behave in a certain way, and cannot really get rid of it. Secondly, that they do not in fact behave in that way. They know the Law of Nature; they break it. These two facts are the foundation of all clear thinking about ourselves and the universe we live in.''
2. The universal sense of moral foundation implies a source of moral order from outside the universe. Granted, these days many people feel that they ought to be free to do what they want. But we see the terrible consequences of such thinking. Every action has a reaction. Every choice has a consequence. Every wrong choice has a bad consequence.
3. The dilemma faced by that ñsource'' outside the universe „ we call him by the word ñGod'' „ was how to communicate the nature of goodness and love without violating our right to freedom given earlier by that same source. How to show us that living by that moral foundation has the effect of producing peace of mind, harmonious relationships, and an orderly world?
4. To do that, God must make himself evident to us in such a way as to win our allegiance without robbing us of our freedom. He did this by revealing himself in such a way that we could accept or reject; by coming in a form which was humble, and vulnerable, and peaceful. Humanity reacted to this by destroying the embodiment of divine love. But then we discovered that you cannot destroy love. It lives forever in those who continue to love. So Christ, the embodiment of everything good, allowed himself to be abused and tortured, finally executed, then returned to show that his love was unchanged.
5. Hope for today lies nowhere else. That embodiment of divine love and order, that Jesus Christ is alive and cannot be put to death. He will pursue you and me until we bow our knees to his lordship. And then, when we have done that, the love, the peace, the order will enter into the depths of our own being and we will impulsively, requiring no intellectual argumentation at all, ñBring forth the royal diadem and crown him Lord of all.''
ADDITIONAL ILLUSTRATIONS
Years ago, Dr. Halford Luccock told of a recent visit to the state of Maine. He found there a small village which had recently been informed that a nearby river was to be dammed, which would turn the area of the town into a vast lake. People would be compensated for their property, but in a few years they would have to move. From that time on, the people allowed their homes to deteriorate. Paint was peeling, yards were overgrown, yet they must still remain there for some years. Luccock then pointed out that when people lose faith in the future, they lose faith in themselves and in the present.
____________
Several years ago, the CEO of a major corporation, one with offices all over the world, came to me and asked me to talk to one of his vice presidents. The man, it seemed, was an alcoholic, yet was still highly gifted at his work. But his problem was worsening and the CEO said to me: ñThe easy way would be to fire this man and promote someone else. But this man has been a faithful and effective officer of this company for several years. He deserves a chance and I want to help him if we can.''
____________
One author told of a business executive who felt that one of his employees was failing at his work. Also, he really didnÍt like the man, and he decided the man should be fired. However, the executive was a Christian, so he took the man to lunch. Quite frankly, he told the man that he didnÍt like him very much and he felt he wasnÍt doing his best work. But he offered the man a chance to speak to these criticisms. The other man swallowed hard, then told a story of severe hardship in his home life, of some other problems he was facing. He also said he realized he wasnÍt very well liked, and this undermined his self-confidence. The two of them agreed that for a few weeks, they would meet for lunch once a week and see if anything might change. Sure enough, with this encouragement, the man began to redouble his efforts, and he discovered that he really was pretty good at his job. A bonus was the fact that the two men began to develop a genuine friendship. The result was a saved employee, a pleased executive, and a benefit to the company for which both men worked.
____________
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 132:1-12 (C) „ ñO Lord, remember in DavidÍs favor.''
Psalm 92 (RC) „ ñIt is good to give thanks to the Lord.''
Psalm 93 (E) „ ñThe Lord is king, he is robed in majesty.''
Prayer Of The Day
Almighty God, thou source of love, thou giver of perfect peace, enter into our hearts and souls, we pray, and grant that Jesus Christ may reign in us, that we may declare his Lordship, not merely by our words but by the way we live. In His name we pray. Amen.
Lesson 1: 2 Samuel 23:1-7 (C)
What a timely word we have here in this song supposedly by David (perhaps actually from a later period). ñOne who rules over people justly ... is like the light of morning.'' Oh my, what sad times have come upon America. Our morning paper reports that the mayor of a fairly prominent small town in Indiana, a man of exemplary history, was caught on camera in a gambling casino stealing chips from another gambler. IÍll bet he forgot about the surveillance cameras. Or thereÍs the revelation of goings-on down in Miami, and „ well, any conscious person is aware of todayÍs moral dilemma. I donÍt wish to appear the cynic, and I do still believe there are statesmen among the politicians. The point to be made here is twofold: If one does achieve a position of administration over other people, those who exercise this role will be blessed; and second, Jesus Christ is the epitome of such Lordship.
If preaching on this passage, I would either emphasize the promise that God will prosper those who lead with godly integrity (verse 5), or the question as to whether God punishes those who fail in this.
Lesson 1: Daniel 7:13-14 (RC); Daniel 7:9-14 (E)
Lesson 2: Revelation 1:4b-8 (C); Revelation 1:5-8 (RC); Revelation 1:1-8 (E)
As we read this passage, the millennium lies just ahead. The year 2000. Not being much of a computer person, I donÍt know how much problem we are about to encounter with the Y2K situation (I think IÍll stay off airplanes for a few days). In a larger sense, as we contemplate the future we find much reason for ambivalence. On the one hand, advances in medical science, in technology in general, imply wonderful benefits ahead. On the other hand, the seeming moral disintegration of our society with rising crime rates, the widespread use of illicit drugs, and the apparent failure of societyÍs leaders to call us to account and to repentance is the basis for much pessimism.
I have to wonder about the church also. I see a growing schism within mainline Protestantism occasioned by the growing popularity of variant forms of worship. DonÍt misunderstand „ IÍm not finding fault. However, I read of one congregation which managed to have their pastor removed because he was featuring traditional (classic) worship at one service, and contemporary worship at another. Yet I see this growing trend and wonder what worship will be like a generation hence. I pray it will foster spiritual maturity and openness, and that it will accomplish a profound and persuasive call to repentance and renewed commitment to the ethical precepts of our faith, that we may find this faith to ñfill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise; things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable'' (Philippians 4:8).
The writer of this passage in Revelation offers hope for this in ñthe Lord God Almighty, who is, who was, and who is to come.'' So, we are assured that God will be with us and guide us through the times that lie ahead. We need not fear for the final outcome.
Gospel: John 18:33-37 (C, RC, E)
And when I think that God, his Son not sparing
Sent him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.
When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration,
And there proclaim ñMy God, how great thou art.''
He is the King of creation. How can we know other than hope once that truth becomes our own? Jesus was sentenced to death because Pilate (who probably hated what he was doing) did not understand that Jesus would preside over a kingdom which would include Pilate. What Pilate couldnÍt know, but what I know and you know, is that Jesus didnÍt die because Pilate and his kind ordained it. Jesus died because he loved „ get this „ Pontius Pilate. Make sense of that if you can. Oh, not just Pilate. But me. And you. IÍm not really much better than Pilate. At best, maybe brief flashes of such love pass through us as we look at people we love. But Jesus was pure love, sacrificial love. When we receive this love, as we are able to do, ñWeÍll join the everlasting song, and crown him Lord of all.''
SERMON SUGGESTIONS
Title: ñChristians In The Workplace''
Text: 2 Samuel 23:1-7
Theme: Many of our parishioners are people with responsible positions, people with authority over other people. Christian leadership must always be marked by loving oversight. This doesnÍt mean a leader must necessarily be a softie. I once heard an address at a Rotary Club meeting by a nationally renowned business leader. He said, addressing the business owners and leaders of the audience, ñIf you have someone in your employ who is not productive and you are sure that person will never fit into your organization, go back to your office and fire that person today.'' I was shocked by what seemed such a heartless attitude. But as I reflected on it, I decided the man might be right. Why let someone muddle along an extra year before leaving, thus losing a year of valuable time? Better that the person learn as soon as possible that this job is not for him. I can say this because I was once fired. It was done in a kindly way and I am grateful today that it happened. The key is in those words, ñin a kindly way.''
Few things are as depressing as having to work at a job which you like, yet under authority which is high-handed, or dishonest, or unfeeling. A Christian leader is sensitive to the feelings and welfare of everyone over whom he or she has authority. God will always bless that kind of leadership, according to the Bible.
1. Authority over people must always be exercised with love.
2. Authority over people must always be exercised with honesty, so people know exactly where they stand.
3. Authority over people must always be exercised with fairness. Both credit and criticism must be given exactly as deserved. One of AmericaÍs greatest business leaders said: ñAlways give praise in public and criticism in private.''
Title: ñWorship And The Millennium''
Text: Revelation 1:1-8
Theme: The changing nature of worship. A growing number of churches are experimenting with variant forms of worship. Many young people are contending that with the high-tech music equipment on which they were raised, and with the fast action television and movies to which they are accustomed, the slow and often plodding nature of worship in many churches no longer inspires. I have to say, after visiting many churches in recent times, I have to agree. IÍm not saying traditional worship canÍt be inspiring, but I am saying it often is not. More and more we are seeing video screens, large speaking equipment replacing the organ, the use of synthesizers and drums, and computerized instrumentation. I recently visited the much celebrated Willow Creek Community Church in Barrington, Illinois, where I understand total attendance is many, many thousands of people. There must have been some six thousand in the service I attended, and I saw no sign of an organ. The music was provided by a small musical group, dressed quite casually and bathed in psychedelic lights. They also did a brief skit which was excellent. All in all, the service was professional and splendidly done in every regard.
But I am hearing negative comments from many people. I am hearing that this is outrageous catering to a few people who fail to appreciate tradition. I donÍt agree with that indictment, but I hear it, often from those people most inclined to be monetarily generous with the church. A growing number of clergy are engaged in this experimentation, and a growing number of churches are experiencing division among the people based on these preferences. One church was recently mentioned in national media as having gotten rid of their pastor for no other reason than that he was having traditional worship at one Sunday service, and contemporary worship at the other morning service. This leads me to believe pastors who wish to move in this direction should quickly do two things. One, begin to discuss this trend in open meetings, allowing people to vent their feelings, and two, preach about worship.
Title: ñBring Forth The Royal Diadem''
Text: John 18:33-37
Theme: I, for one, am glad to proclaim that Jesus Christ is King of Creation, and I am fairly sure that nearly all of you are ready to do so as well. The problem is, after we have said that, what do we say about this? Congregations get bored pretty quickly. Every congregation has a few thoroughly devout souls who pass by after services and tell the pastor how marvelous her/his sermon was, especially if we reiterate the primacy of Jesus Christ. But how do we reach the other ninety percent of our people who may need something far more specific and relevant than what easily becomes a platitude? I well recall the Sunday I attended a worship service in northern Indiana and heard „ bless his sincere heart „ one of the worst sermons I have ever heard. (I would never say that if there were any possibility at all that he would ever know, or that you could possibly know who the preacher was.) But as I stood in line „ it was the only way out „ I frantically sought for something positive I could say. Sure enough, when the moment came and I shook the young manÍs hand, I heard my mouth say, ñGood sermon.'' I learned from that not to trust entirely such comments unless my own senses allowed me to believe such praise.
My point? How do we make a passage like this relevant to a union organizer, a bank president, a steelworker, and a doctor, all of whom are terribly busy and face a lot of problems and temptations? After mulling this over, I have decided that I would fasten on that last phrase: ñAnd what is the truth?''
1. Our universe has a moral foundation. C. S. Lewis described the dilemma this poses in these words: ñFirst, human beings all over the earth have this curious idea they ought to behave in a certain way, and cannot really get rid of it. Secondly, that they do not in fact behave in that way. They know the Law of Nature; they break it. These two facts are the foundation of all clear thinking about ourselves and the universe we live in.''
2. The universal sense of moral foundation implies a source of moral order from outside the universe. Granted, these days many people feel that they ought to be free to do what they want. But we see the terrible consequences of such thinking. Every action has a reaction. Every choice has a consequence. Every wrong choice has a bad consequence.
3. The dilemma faced by that ñsource'' outside the universe „ we call him by the word ñGod'' „ was how to communicate the nature of goodness and love without violating our right to freedom given earlier by that same source. How to show us that living by that moral foundation has the effect of producing peace of mind, harmonious relationships, and an orderly world?
4. To do that, God must make himself evident to us in such a way as to win our allegiance without robbing us of our freedom. He did this by revealing himself in such a way that we could accept or reject; by coming in a form which was humble, and vulnerable, and peaceful. Humanity reacted to this by destroying the embodiment of divine love. But then we discovered that you cannot destroy love. It lives forever in those who continue to love. So Christ, the embodiment of everything good, allowed himself to be abused and tortured, finally executed, then returned to show that his love was unchanged.
5. Hope for today lies nowhere else. That embodiment of divine love and order, that Jesus Christ is alive and cannot be put to death. He will pursue you and me until we bow our knees to his lordship. And then, when we have done that, the love, the peace, the order will enter into the depths of our own being and we will impulsively, requiring no intellectual argumentation at all, ñBring forth the royal diadem and crown him Lord of all.''
ADDITIONAL ILLUSTRATIONS
Years ago, Dr. Halford Luccock told of a recent visit to the state of Maine. He found there a small village which had recently been informed that a nearby river was to be dammed, which would turn the area of the town into a vast lake. People would be compensated for their property, but in a few years they would have to move. From that time on, the people allowed their homes to deteriorate. Paint was peeling, yards were overgrown, yet they must still remain there for some years. Luccock then pointed out that when people lose faith in the future, they lose faith in themselves and in the present.
____________
Several years ago, the CEO of a major corporation, one with offices all over the world, came to me and asked me to talk to one of his vice presidents. The man, it seemed, was an alcoholic, yet was still highly gifted at his work. But his problem was worsening and the CEO said to me: ñThe easy way would be to fire this man and promote someone else. But this man has been a faithful and effective officer of this company for several years. He deserves a chance and I want to help him if we can.''
____________
One author told of a business executive who felt that one of his employees was failing at his work. Also, he really didnÍt like the man, and he decided the man should be fired. However, the executive was a Christian, so he took the man to lunch. Quite frankly, he told the man that he didnÍt like him very much and he felt he wasnÍt doing his best work. But he offered the man a chance to speak to these criticisms. The other man swallowed hard, then told a story of severe hardship in his home life, of some other problems he was facing. He also said he realized he wasnÍt very well liked, and this undermined his self-confidence. The two of them agreed that for a few weeks, they would meet for lunch once a week and see if anything might change. Sure enough, with this encouragement, the man began to redouble his efforts, and he discovered that he really was pretty good at his job. A bonus was the fact that the two men began to develop a genuine friendship. The result was a saved employee, a pleased executive, and a benefit to the company for which both men worked.
____________
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 132:1-12 (C) „ ñO Lord, remember in DavidÍs favor.''
Psalm 92 (RC) „ ñIt is good to give thanks to the Lord.''
Psalm 93 (E) „ ñThe Lord is king, he is robed in majesty.''
Prayer Of The Day
Almighty God, thou source of love, thou giver of perfect peace, enter into our hearts and souls, we pray, and grant that Jesus Christ may reign in us, that we may declare his Lordship, not merely by our words but by the way we live. In His name we pray. Amen.
