The Sligo Presbyterian Church Celebration Service - Sunday, November 24, 2024

On Sunday, we considered how Christ the King can enhance our celebration of Thanksgiving. Below is a recording of the service, a recording of the sermon and a copy of the bulletin. On Sundays, you can stream the service by going to the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).  You can hear a podcast of the service at the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel or the Sligo Presbyterian Spotify Page. 

Sunday's Message - Our Reason for Thanks

On Sunday, we considered how Christ the King can enhance our celebration of Thanksgiving. Below is a audio recording and text of the sermon. On Sundays, you can stream the service by going to the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).  You can hear a podcast of the service at the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel or the Sligo Presbyterian Spotify Page. 

Of course, I don’t have to tell anyone here this morning that Thanksgiving is this Thursday, or make that Wednesday if your daughter is dating a guy from Weirton who’s laid claim to the actual day. But that’s alright, we get Christmas, on December 25th. 

But be that as it may, Thursday is Thanksgiving. And I’ve got to tell you, when I was growing up, I think it was probably my favorite holiday, because, at least in part, it was most family-oriented. I mean, even though we had relatives over on Christmas and Easter and maybe the Fourth of July, on Thanksgiving, man, everybody, on both sides, were there. And we were all dressed up, wearing our Sunday best. And we were all sitting around the same table, using the good china and sterling silver. And of course, we were all eating some stuff we only saw one day each year, you know, like turkey and oyster dressing and of course that roll of cranberry sauce right out of the can. For me, that was Thanksgiving. 

And I’ll tell you, that was one of the adjustments I had to make when I moved out to Montana in 1987. Of course, being a young minister, the folks in the church took good care of me. In fact, one family had me over about four times, and I really appreciated it. But you know, they had this one tradition that we never did back home, and it always made me a little nervous. You see, before the meal, as we were sitting around the table, the host would have us go around and offer one thing for which we were thankful. And I can tell you, when we did that, man, it brought me right back to my church youth group and how, at the end of each meeting, we’d sit in a circle and go around making a prayer request. Now, as I remember, unless you were one of the first to speak, there was a lot of pressure coming up with something that didn’t make you sound really shallow or, you know, like a copy-cat. You know, as I was sitting at the table, silently waiting my turn, all those memories came rushing back. Because, I can tell you, whether it’s making requests or offering thanks, there’s a lot of pressure if you’re at the wrong spot in the circle. I mean, the people at the beginning would get all the good stuff, you know, like being thankful for Jesus and family and friends, while those at the end, well, they were stuck with the neck and gizzards. And good night nurse, no one wants to thank God for a bunch of leftovers. At least, that’s what I felt.

But if any of y’all have ever felt this way too, I’ve got some outstanding news for you. We’re going to talk about one reason for us to be thankful that I’m pretty sure no one at the beginning of the circle will mention, that is, if they’re not here this morning or streaming online. And I’ll tell you, it’s also related to another special day, in fact, today to be exact. You see, this is the scripture assigned for this particular Sunday according to the common lectionary:

Pilate then went back inside. He called Jesus over and asked, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

Jesus answered, “Are you asking this on your own or did someone tell you about me?”

“You know I'm not a Jew!” Pilate said. “Your own people and the chief priests brought you to me. What have you done?”

Jesus answered, “My kingdom doesn't belong to this world. If it did, my followers would have fought to keep me from being handed over to our leaders. No, my kingdom doesn't belong to this world.”

“So you are a king,” Pilate replied.

“You are saying that I am a king,” Jesus told him. “I was born into this world to tell about the truth. And everyone who belongs to the truth knows my voice.” [John 18:33-37, CEV]

Now, that’s the passage for this morning, because today is Christ the King Sunday. Next week we start Advent, with everything pointing toward the birth of Jesus. And traditionally, on this last Sunday in the church year, we focus on the kingship of Jesus Christ. And although it's only a coincidence that these two days are always in the same week, Thanksgiving and Christ the King Sunday, I think one really has a lot to do with the other. I mean, I believe one of the things for which we can be thankful is that Christ is not only our king, but one that's so much more than anything else we could find on earth. You see, for this, we can be thankful. And that’s what we’re going to talk about this morning. 

You see, I believe that Jesus is without question not just a king, but a really good king. I mean, isn’t that the point of the passage we just read from John, and I’m talking about that conversation Pilate had with Jesus right before his crucifixion? My goodness, as you read these verses, it sure sounds like Pilate was moving to that same conclusion himself. I mean, think about it. He started by asking Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” [John 18:33b, CEV] But then a little later in our passage he said, “So you are a king,” [John 18:37a, CEV], to which Jesus replied, "You are saying that I am a king.” [John 18:37b, CEV] Now, to me, that sure sounds like Pilate was coming around. And remember, a little bit later in this story from John, not only does he try to release Jesus, but when he was crucified, Pilate hung a pretty profound sign right above Jesus on the cross. This was what the Evangelist John wrote:

Pilate ordered the charge against Jesus to be written on a board and put above the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” The words were written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. [John 19:19, CEV]

You see, the longer Pilate was with Jesus, the more convinced he became that Jesus really was a king.

And that’s just as true today as it was two thousand years ago. Jesus is still a king; he’s still our king. And I’ll tell you, he shows it in three very clear and definite ways. I mean, first, he certainly rules with power. My gosh, right in the opening verses of his gospel, just listen to what John wrote:

In the beginning was the one

    who is called the Word.

The Word was with God

    and was truly God.

From the very beginning

    the Word was with God.

And with this Word,

    God created all things.

Nothing was made

    without the Word.

Everything that was created

received its life from him,

and his life gave light

    to everyone. [John 1:1-4, CEV]

You see, since “the Word became a human being and lived here with us,” [John 1:14a, CEV] in other words, since this word entered into our space and time, Jesus Christ rules with the kind of control, the kind of authority, the kind of power that can make all those forces that scare us so much, you know, all those people and groups that cause us to doubt the future and to give up hope; man, he makes them look like a joke. First, Jesus is a king who has power. 

But that’s not all; second, he also rules with justice. I mean, even though we run into people all the time who are arbitrary and capricious, men and women who seem to base their decisions on their feelings and change their minds more often than their socks, there’s a consistency and a coherence to Christ. In other words, Jesus was and is and will continue to be, at the very least, fair. And since he’s fair, right here and now, we know the basis for his judgement, don’t we? For example, in his last lesson right before his arrest and crucifixion, he said this to his disciples:

When the Son of Man comes in his glory with all his angels, he will sit on his royal throne. The people of all nations will be brought before him, and he will separate them, as shepherds separate their sheep from their goats.

He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, “My father has blessed you! Come and receive the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world was created. When I was hungry, you gave me something to eat, and when I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. When I was a stranger, you welcomed me, and when I was naked, you gave me clothes to wear. When I was sick, you took care of me, and when I was in jail, you visited me.” [Matthew 25:31-36, CEV]

You see, second, ours is a just king, but even that’s not all. 

Because, third, Jesus also rules with compassion, which I think is something we always need to remember. You see, unlike us, Christ’s justice is neither blind nor impartial. Instead, he rules with mercy and grace, giving us far more than we deserve. And even though we may not always want this quality in the people we elect to office, for whatever reason, when you’re talking about the one holds our destiny and the destiny of the universe in his hands, and who can see what we’re doing and who knows what we’re thinking, I don’t know about y’all, but personally, I want my lord to look at me with as much mercy and grace as possible. In fact, when I feel at my lowest, I’d be thrilled to hear him say:

If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest. This yoke is easy to bear, and this burden is light. [Matthew 11:28-30, CEV]

You see, like a good king, Jesus rules with power and justice and compassion, and for that I think we can all be thankful.

And if that were all there is, for me that would be enough, but you know, when it comes to his kingdom and his reign, Christ is so much more than anything we can find on earth. And I’ll tell you, I think we can see this in the passage we read from John a few minutes ago, you know the one about the conversation between Jesus and Pilate. I mean, that sure seems to be what he was getting at when, in response to a question, 

Jesus answered, “My kingdom doesn't belong to this world. If it did, my followers would have fought to keep me from being handed over to our leaders. No, my kingdom doesn't belong to this world.” [John 18:36, CEV] 

Now that’s what Jesus said, and even though I think Pilate picked up on the earthly king stuff, I’m not sure he ever realized how much more Jesus was than that

But you know something, we can. I mean, we can recognize that Jesus’s kingdom is not from around here, because, praise the Lord, he does two things that would be impossible for any person, king or not, to do. 

I mean, for one, Jesus is the one who brings the presence of God himself to us. You see, he enables us to understand who God is and what he wants. In other words, in a real sense, Jesus Christ is where heaven and earth touch. As John wrote at the beginning of the gospel, 

The Word was in the world,

    but no one knew him,

though God had made the world

    with his Word.

He came into his own world,

but his own nation

    did not welcome him.

Yet some people accepted him

    and put their faith in him.

So he gave them the right

    to be the children of God.

They were not God's children

by nature or because

    of any human desires.

God himself was the one

    who made them his children. [John 1:10-13, CEV]

Now that’s what John wrote. You see, we don’t have to find God. Why? Because right here and right now, God has come to us in the person of Jesus Christ and he has found us. What does it say in that hymn, “I was lost but now am found.”

That’s one thing Jesus has done.

And two, he also gives us the ability to believe and to follow. You see, he bears witness to us. In other words, through his word and spirit, he tells us about the truth. It’s like Jesus said to Pilate, “I was born into this world to tell about the truth. And everyone who belongs to the truth knows my voice.” [John 18:37b] And you know, this is exactly what he’s done for us when he made this promise to the disciples: 

I have told you these things while I am still with you. But the Holy Spirit will come and help you, because the Father will send the Spirit to take my place. The Spirit will teach you everything and will remind you of what I said while I was with you. [John 14:25-26, CEV]

You see, not only does our king come to us, he enables us to understand who he is, which in turn gives us the ability to believe. And in my book, that’s absolutely amazing. And when we remember how he also brings the presence of God into our lives, these are two examples of how Jesus is so much more than just an earthly king. And for that, man, we can give him thanks. 

Now this Thursday, or maybe Wednesday, we’ll be celebrating Thanksgiving with family and friends. And even if you don’t have to face that high pressure stress of being to the left of the host as you wait your turn to share something for which you’re thankful without sounding like you’re either really shallow or just another copy-cat, even if that’s not part of your tradition, just remember that we do have an outstanding reason to be thankful. You see, we can all be thankful that Christ is king. I mean, he’s a good king who rules with power and justice and compassion. But he’s also better than any earthly leader, because not only does he bring us into the presence of God he also gives us the ability to believe and to follow. You see, as members of his kingdom, this can be our reason for thanks.

The Bulletin for the SPC Worship Service - Sunday, November 24, 2024

On Sunday, we'll consider how Christ the King can enhance our celebration of Thanksgiving. Below is the bulletin for the service. You can stream the service by going to the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).  You can hear a podcast of the service at the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel or the Sligo Presbyterian Spotify Page. 

The Sligo Presbyterian Church Celebration Service - Sunday, November 20, 2022

During this worship service, we used Colossians 1:11-20 to focus on what it means to say Christ is king. The bulletin, sermon recording and worship video are below.

Sunday's Message: Jesus Is King

In this message, we used Colossians 1:11-20 to focus on what it means to say Christ is king. The sermon text and recording are below.

*******

Now, y’all may not know this, but today is pretty important, at least around the church. And I say that for two reasons. I mean, first, this is the last Sunday in the church year. You see, according to the church calendar, today really marks the beginning of the end, because next Sunday, we’ll be kicking off a new year with the first Sunday in Advent. But let me be clear, just because Saturday will be the official end of the church year, that doesn’t mean you can tear down the decorations, take back the presents and put the turkey back in the freezer. No, we’ve still got forty-one days before the ball drops, which includes Thanksgiving and Christmas and of course, Black Friday. But according to the church calendar, we’re heading into the last week of the year, and that’s one reason today is important.

And second, again according to the calendar used in the Christian church, today is Christ the King Sunday. You see, before moving into Advent and all the stuff leading up to his birth, on the last Sunday of every year, traditionally Christians have focused on his kingship. In other words, we intentionally think about what it means to say that Jesus is king. And even though I’m not what most Presbyterians would call a traditional kind of guy, that’s going to be our focus this morning. 

And I’ll tell you, I think that’s a pretty good thing to do, regardless of the traditions, because I’ve got to tell you, I’m not sure that most Christians really understand either the nature of Jesus’s kingship or the significance of calling him a king. Now don’t get me wrong, most believers have no problem saying it, you know, saying that Jesus is king. The problem comes up when we start thinking about what it means. And since for most of us, our image of a king comes from history books, fairy tales and nursery rhymes, I think it’s really easy for us to get the wrong idea of Christ as king. I mean, instead of the indulged and arbitrary monarchs we’ve run across in the past, men that people either feared or tried to overthrow, the kingship of Jesus Christ is special, unlike anything we can find in our world. 

And for that reason, we’re going to spend some time this morning talking about what it means to say that Jesus is king. And to do that, we’re going to take a passage from Paul’s letter to the Colossians, one that dealt with how “God rescued us from the dark power of Satan and brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son...” [Colossians 1:13, CEV], something we’re going to read in just a little bit. And we’re going to use this scripture to consider the kingship of Christ. And I’ll tell you, when we do, I think we’re going to find that, as king, Jesus did and does three things that are crucially important for each and every person here this morning. Now that’s the plan.

And I’ll tell you, it starts with a passage that Paul wrote to the Christians who were in the Colossian church, men and women he’d already described when he said this:

Each time we pray for you, we thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have heard of your faith in Christ and of your love for all God's people, because what you hope for is kept safe for you in heaven. You first heard about this hope when you believed the true message, which is the good news. [Colossians 1:3-5, CEV] 

You see, it was to these faithful and hope-filled believers, Paul wrote,

His glorious power will make you patient and strong enough to endure anything, and you will be truly happy.

I pray that you will be grateful to God for letting you have part in what he has promised his people in the kingdom of light. God rescued us from the dark power of Satan and brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son, who forgives our sins and sets us free.

Christ is exactly like God,

    who cannot be seen.

He is the first-born Son,

    superior to all creation.

Everything was created by him,

everything in heaven

    and on earth,

everything seen and unseen,

including all forces

    and powers,

and all rulers

    and authorities.

All things were created

    by God's Son,

and everything was made

    for him.

God's Son was before all else,

and by him everything

    is held together.

He is the head of his body,

    which is the church.

He is the very beginning,

the first to be raised

    from death,

so that he would be

    above all others.

God himself was pleased

    to live fully in his Son.

And God was pleased

    for him to make peace

by sacrificing his blood

    on the cross,

so that all beings in heaven

    and on earth

would be brought back to God. [Colossians 1:11-20, CEV]

Now that’s what he wrote.

And I’ll tell you, based on what he said, I think we can say three things about the kingship of Christ, each of which can affect us in a different way. For example, first, according to Paul, as king, Jesus is the creator. In other words, he was the origin of all things, including some of the stuff that people often assume we’ve done for ourselves. And I think that’s exactly what Paul was getting at when he wrote,

Christ is exactly like God,

    who cannot be seen.

He is the first-born Son,

    superior to all creation.

Everything was created by him,

everything in heaven

    and on earth,

everything seen and unseen,

including all forces

    and powers,

and all rulers

    and authorities.

All things were created

    by God's Son,

and everything was made

    for him. [Colossians 1:15-16, CEV]

Now that’s what Paul said, which, when you think about it, isn’t all that different from what the Evangelist John wrote right at the beginning of his gospel:

In the beginning was the one

    who is called the Word.

The Word was with God

    and was truly God.

From the very beginning

    the Word was with God.

And with this Word,

    God created all things.

Nothing was made

    without the Word.

Everything that was created

received its life from him,

and his life gave light

    to everyone. [John 1:1-4, CEV]

You see, as king, Jesus is the creator.

And you know, I think that’s something important for us to remember, and I’ll tell you why. It’s sort of like we talked about last week; sometimes human beings can become a little too big for our britches. And the more important we think we are, the bigger we get. In other words, whether we’re talking about stuff that’s global or things far more personal, we seem to assume that it’s really about us, that we’re sort of the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end, and that, if we don’t do it, man, it won’t be done. And without suggesting that God wants us to sit around and do nothing, we are not the creator. We never were and we never will be. As a matter of fact, the best we can do is to manipulate what Christ has already made. That’s who we are. And I think we need to remember that whenever our egos kind of get the best of us and we start seeing ourselves as God’s gift to God or when we feel overwhelmed by responsibilities that are above and beyond our pay scales. You see, at those times, I think we need to remember that Jesus is the creator. And that’s the first way he’s a king.

And second, again according to Paul, he’s also the sustainer, and I’m talking about the one who upholds together everything that he’s made. In other words, as king, not only did he create all that is, he maintains his creation. And, in my opinion, that’s exactly what Paul had in mind when he wrote this:

God's Son was before all else,

and by him everything

    is held together.

He is the head of his body,

    which is the church.

He is the very beginning,

the first to be raised

    from death,

so that he would be

    above all others. [Colossians 1:17-18, CEV]

You see, for Paul, Jesus holds everything together, something we also see right at the begin of the letter to the Hebrews:

Long ago in many ways and at many times God's prophets spoke his message to our ancestors. But now at last, God sent his Son to bring his message to us. God created the universe by his Son, and everything will someday belong to the Son. God's Son has all the brightness of God's own glory and is like him in every way. By his own mighty word, he holds the universe together. [Hebrews 1:1-3a, CEV]

Jesus sustains his creation.

And I think that’s pretty good news for us, and I say that for two reasons. I mean, on one hand, when our lives have become chaotic and confused and it seems as though everything is coming apart at the seams, it’s really nice to know that someone far wiser and more capable has his hand on the throttle. You see, we might actually find some comfort knowing that the chaos will never win. On the other hand, though, I think it also offers us a challenge. You see, according to Paul, one of the ways Jesus maintains his creation is through the church, you know, through us. And even though that doesn’t mean that it’s all up to us to keep things together, I believe it does challenge us to come together as a body, a community and together, to do the stuff God has called and equipped us to do. And so, along with feeling comfort, we can also find a challenge, because Jesus is the sustainer, and for me, that’s the second way he functions as a king.

And third, along with creating and sustaining, as king, Jesus is also the redeemer. In other words, through him we have peace with God, but more than that, we also have the possibility of entering a genuine relationship with the one who loved us before the light first shone in the darkness and who will love us after time itself has lost its meaning. Jesus is our redeeming king. And I believe that was Paul’s point when he wrote,

God himself was pleased

    to live fully in his Son.

And God was pleased

    for him to make peace

by sacrificing his blood

    on the cross,

so that all beings in heaven

    and on earth

would be brought back to God. [Colossians 1:19-20, CEV]

Now that’s what Paul said, something that I believe Peter also understood when he wrote this in his first letter:

You were rescued from the useless way of life you learned from your ancestors. But you know you were not rescued by such things as silver or gold that don't last forever. You were rescued by the precious blood of Christ, that spotless and innocent lamb. [1 Peter 1:18-19, CEV]

You see, Jesus is most definitely the redeemer.

And I’ll tell you, because of that, man, we’ve been set free. You see, we’ve been set free from all those rules and laws that we’ve been told will make us right with God, and I’m talking about all those words we have to say and all those promises we have to make and all those works we have to do which will make us acceptable to God. From all that, we’ve been set free, because not only did the blood of Christ wash away our sins, it wiped out the whole idea that redemption was something we have to earn and deserve. But that’s only half of it, because we’ve also been set free simply to trust, to trust that Father’s love has always been present and to trust that, through Christ, this love was shown and to trust that, in spite of our weakness, the Holy Spirit opens our eyes so that we can see and our minds so that we can understand and our hearts so that we can feel the grace and mercy that God freely gives. You see, we are now free, because Christ is our redeemer, and that’s the third way he acts as our king.

And that’s something I think we need to remember as we move past this Sunday and enter a new year. I mean, as we’re cooking the turkey and buying the presents and putting out the decorations, let’s keep in mind that we’re doing it because Christ is the creator and the sustainer and the redeemer. In other words, as we enter the season of Advent and focus on the child whose birth we’ll be celebrating in thirty-five days, let’s remember that we’re looking at someone who’s far more than just an infant, because Jesus is king.

The Bulletin for the SPC Worship Service - Sunday, November 20, 2022

Below is a copy of Sunday's bulletin. During the service, we'll focus on what it means to say that Christ is king. The sermon will be based on Colossians 1:11-20.You can stream the service by going to the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel at 10:00 a.m., Sunday morning.