King Jesus

© Jane Hulme 2019 Short Talk (SHT178) King Jesus Aim of Short talk: Use of Short talk: Main themes: Biblical references: Lectionary: Props: Before the service: SHORT TALK: “King Jesus” To teach that Jesus is King and that we need to obey what He says. This is a short All Age talk picking out one issue from the Lectionary Gospel reading of the Sunday main service. The talk stands alone and assumes that the Gospel Bible reading may not yet have been read to the congregation. It could be used for example, for the whole congregation before the children go out to their age specific groups, leaving the adults with a full sermon later. Jesus, King, Obedience Luke 23.33-43, Daniel 3:1-23, Luke 19:38, Luke 6:37, John 15:12, 1John 3:16 Year C – Christ the King You will need: • a crown (which can be made from a band of cardboard and decorated), • a cloak (which could simply be a piece of purple, gold or red material) • a piece of paper on which are typed the “decrees” (see Appendix) for the volunteer you choose to be king/queen You need to choose a volunteer to be king/queen before the service and brief them. An older child would work best. They need to be ready to walk to the front of church, dressed in their crown and cloak at the appropriate moment. .................................................................................................................. Today we are going to be spending a few moments exploring what it is like to live under the rule of a king or a queen. In many countries that have had kings or queens, especially in the olden days, the people had to do exactly what the king or queen told them to do even if it didn’t make sense because the king or queen had total power. We are very honoured today to have a king/queen amongst us. • Here they are. (Enter the king/queen who waves to the people and either stands in the pulpit, if you have one, or on a chair if you don’t) Your majesty, do you have any decrees for us today? (The king/queen replies “yes”) © Jane Hulme 2019 2 The king/queen does have a couple of decrees for us, so remember that we need to obey them totally. • Your majesty, what is your first decree? (King/queen says:) “My first decree is that I want everybody to stand up, turn around and sit down again after I count to 3. I, 2, 3!” (Everybody in the congregation does what they are told. If they don’t, remind the congregation that they need to obey the king/queen and re-do this exercise) Well done everyone. • Your majesty, what is your second decree? (King/queen says:) “My second decree is that I want everybody to stand up, flap their wings and cluck like a chicken after I count to 3. Anyone who fails to obey will be fined one hundred pounds. I, 2, 3!” (Everybody in the congregation does what they are told.) Stop! Well done everyone. Do sit down. • We are now no longer under the rule of King/Queen N (name of volunteer), so no-one will be fined!! • But King/Queen N, please stay where you are. Now that was a bit of fun, but it gives you an idea what it would be have been like to have lived under a king or queen in a country where they were in total control. • Whatever they told you to do, you would have had to do, however mad or bad it seemed to you. • If you didn’t obey, you would have been punished. You may remember King Nebuchadnezzar who was king of Babylon around 562BC. • He had a big statue built of himself in gold. • He told the people that whenever they heard the sound of music playing, they had to bow down before it. • If they didn’t bow down, then they would be thrown into a blazing furnace, which is what happened to three God-fearing men. (Daniel 3:1-23) Now Jesus was also recognised as a king, God’s King, towards the end of His time on earth. • On Palm Sunday when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey people shouted: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Luke 19:38) After Pilate had questioned Jesus, he had the words: “This is the King of the Jews” (Luke 23:38) fixed to Jesus’ cross when Jesus was crucified. So, what sort of king is Jesus? • The 1st thing to say is that Jesus is the most loving and kind king that has ever lived. © Jane Hulme 2019 3 Jesus showed us His love in the most amazing way by laying down His life for us. (1John 3:16) Jesus invites each one of us to come into His kingdom where we are loved, forgiven, and blessed in many different ways, but you and I have a choice. • We can say “yes” or “no” to Jesus’ generous invitation. • No-one is forced to come into the kingdom of God, • but if we say “yes” we come under Jesus’ loving rule. When we live under Jesus’ rule, the things that He tells us to do are for our good and never for our harm. • He would never ask you to do something mad or bad. • He wouldn’t have asked you to stand up and cluck like a chicken today! Let’s hear a couple of things that King Jesus tells the people in His kingdom to do: (King/queen volunteer says:) “Forgive and you will be forgiven.” Luke chapter 6, verse 37. “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” John chapter 15, verse 12. Can you imagine what our church community here would be like if we all obeyed King Jesus all of the time? So today, let’s rejoice that King Jesus is reigning; • that He invites you and me into His Kingdom of love, • and let’s respond to His love by doing what He tells us to do. (Send away the volunteer) © Jane Hulme 2019 4 Appendix – Words for the “king/queen” My first decree is that I want everybody to stand up, turn around and sit down again after I count to 3. I, 2, 3! ............................................................ “My second decree is that I want everybody to stand up, flap their wings and cluck like a chicken after I count to 3. Anyone who fails to obey will be fined one hundred pounds. I, 2, 3!” ............................................................ “Forgive and you will be forgiven.” Luke chapter 6, verse 37. “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” John chapter 15, verse 12. ............................................................ © Jane Hulme 2019 5