Reading’s for Sunday November 21, 2010

Come, follow this “failed” King


Our king was a failure. He pushed for a world that welcomed the weak, the powerless, and the outsider. So the powerful killed him. He gathered close followers who believed in him and his message. But most of them, including his best friend, abandoned him. He preached that nonviolence could defeat violence. And he suffered the most violent death imaginable.

Our King was a failure. What does that mean for us?


Let’s start by remembering our failures. Have your hopes ever been crushed? Have you ever been betrayed? Or ever suffered, for doing the right thing? Do you ever feel like a total screw up?
If so, then our King understands you. He’s been there, done that. You’ll never be alone in your pain. I’ll pledge loyalty to a King like that. Will you? Are you looking for a kingdom of forgiveness and hope, peace and justice; a kingdom where you need not be a success; a kingdom where you can always start over? If so, then call out to Jesus today. Ask for help to make the Kingdom of God real in your life. Forgive when others say get even. Reach out when others pull back. Dream about a better world. Let those dreams inspire you to a life of service even while others surrender to selfishness. The Kingdom is here now. You only need to enter. And our “failed” King will strengthen you when some mock and attack you. It can get tough building his Kingdom. But it’s worth the struggle. And never forget. Even though our King ‘failed” on Friday, He rose on Sunday.

Amen (from Gospel Connections for Teens)

Reading 1 2 Samuel 5:1-3

1 In those days, all the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron and said: "Here we are, your bone and your flesh. 2 In days past, when Saul was our king, it was you who led the Israelites out and brought them back. And the LORD said to you, 'You shall shepherd my people Israel and shall be commander of Israel.'" 3 When all the elders of Israel came to David in Hebron, King David made an agreement with them there before the LORD, and they anointed him king of Israel.

Reading 2 Colossians 1:12-20

12 Brothers and sisters: Let us give thanks to the Father, who has made you fit to share in the inheritance of the holy ones in light. 13 He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he himself might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell,
20 and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the blood of his cross through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.

Gospel Luke 23:35-43

35 The rulers sneered at Jesus and said, "He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God." 36 Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine 37 they called out, "If you are King of the Jews, save yourself." 38 Above him there was an inscription that read, "This is the King of the Jews." 39 Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying,
"Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us." 40 The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply,"Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? 41 And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal." 42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
43 He replied to him, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

Discussion Questions:

1. Jesus issued the Good Thief a promise that he would be with Jesus this day in Paradise. How do you think that made the Good Thief feel? How do you think it made the other thief feel?

2. Imagine if our country’s government changed tomorrow, and we were ruled by a king. How would people react to that? Why? What makes Christ’s Kingdom different than any earthly kingdom? Why?

3. By looking at the way you live your life, who (or what) is the king of your life? How can you better let Christ be the King of your life?

4. What kind of daily sacrifices does the King of Kings call us to make?