Christ the King Sunday
November 25, 2007
S071125
Jeremiah 23:1-6
Psalm 46
Colossians 1:11-20
Luke 23:33-43
ONE Sabbath resources; Christian Century 11/13/07, p. 45
First Congregational, UCC, Waterville

Read Psalm 46

Today is Christ the King Sunday. or the Reign of Christ Sunday, when we celebrate the ultimate rule of Christ on earth. It's the last Sunday of the church year. Next Sunday is new years in the church. We begin the church year preparing for the coming of the Christ-child. In the time between Christmas and Pentecost we remember, in compressed time, major events in Jesus' life. In the second half of the church year, we learn about Christian discipleship, about what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Now, at the end of one church year and on the cusp of the beginning of another, we think about what the rule of Christ on earth would look like.

I'd like you to imagine what our world would be like if indeed it were ruled by Christ. I want to raise two points in particular this morning: First, I think a world ruled by Christ would not have extreme poverty, hunger, and starvation. I have