Lectionary resources Christ the King Year C

Lectionary -- Christ the King - Year C | RCL Resources Index | DBHome |

Jeremiah 23:1-6 Warning to bad shepherds
For the Psalm: Luke 1:68-79 The song of Zechariah: The Benedictus
Colossians 1:11-20 The cosmic Christ: the strength that comes from his glorious power
Luke 23:33-43 Jesus the Messiah on the cross

Suggested Hymns (From Denis Towner. TIS = Together in Song; AHB = Australian Hymn Book; SA = Sing Alleluia)

lesson Hymns for Christ the King, Yr.C TIS AHB SA

O/Ps* A mighty fortress is our God 103 [8]

O/G All hail the power of Jesus' name 224 159

G All praise to thee for thou, O King divine 180

G/s At the name of Jesus 231 170

E Christ is alive! let Christians sing 387 18

G Christ is made the sure foundation 432 343

Ca/E Christ is the world's light, he and none other 246 191

E Christ our King before creation 190

Ca/G Christ whose glory fills the skies 212 140

s Come let us join our cheerful songs 204 133

s Come to be our hope, Lord Jesus 688

G/s Crown him with many crowns 228 163

Ps* God is our strength and refuge 28

G Hail our once-despised Jesus 373 295

s Hail Redeemer, King divine 237 188

G/s Hail to the Lord's anointed 275 203

O Hallelujah! Sing to Jesus 517 439

G Hark the glad sound! The Saviour comes 269 197

E Here we adore you, hidden Saviour Lord 500 [421]

Ca/E I want to walk as a child of the light 643

E Immortal, invisible, God only wise 143 80

G Jesus remember me 730 85

O Jesus shall reign where'er the sun 207 136

O King of glory, King of peace 201 129

s Lift up your heads, you mighty gates 267

G Lord Christ when first you came to earth 208

E Lord enthroned in heavenly splendour 520 441

E/s Lord the light of your love is shining 675

G My song is love unknown 341 257

G Now thank we all our God 106 14

Ca O bless the God of Israel 284

O/G O come O come, Emmanuel 265 193

G O crucified Redeemer 544

G O for a thousand tongues to sing 210 141

s O Jesus, King most wonderful 125

G O sacred head sore wounded 339 255

s O worship the King, all-glorious above 133 67

E/G Of the Father's love begotten 290 215

G Praise to the living God 102 7

E Praise to the Lord, the Almighty 111 28

G Put all your trust in God 555 [464]

E/G Rejoice the Lord is king 216 147

G/s Seek ye first the kingdom of God 745 75

E/G Sing my tongue the glorious battle 331 249

E Soldiers of Christ, arise 570 481

G The head that once was crowned with thorns 378 301

s The King of glory comes, the nation rejoices 279 212

s The Kingdom is upon you! 81

G The royal banners forward go 332 251

G There is a green hill far away 350 266

O There's a wideness in God's mercy 136 [72]

G Were you there when they crucified my Lord 345 261

E When morning gilds the skies 227 151

G You servants of God, your Master proclaim 215 144

Other Possible Hymns

(Numbers refer to The Australian Hymn Book and Sing Alleluia. TIS = Together in Song)
115 (TIS 52) Let us sing to the God of salvation
411 (TIS 486) We praise you, Lord, for Jesus Christ
458 Teach me, my God and King/ in all things thee to see [NB v.2] [tune 487]

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Sermon summary (Click here for complete sermon)

Jesus, remember me

A criminal crucified with Jesus said to him, Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. [Luke 23:42]. The leaders of the people, the soldiers and the other criminal had been taunting him about being a king. [Luke 23:35-39]. The idea of Jesus being a king amused the soldiers, who made fun of him with a purple robe and a crown made of thorns. [Luke 23:11; Mark 15:16-19]. Yet was there still a serious thought that he might have been a king with a kingdom those who were with him might enter? But what kind of king?

Was he really a king?
During the trial it was a real question. Pilate asked him directly, Are you the King of the Jews? [Mark 15:2-5]. "King" was Pilate's word; it was hard for him to understand a king whose kingdom was not of this world. [John 18:33-38]. The Jewish authorities knew a little about a special kind of king to they expected to come...one anointed, marked out as the holy one of God, called the Messiah (the Christ). See Colossians 1:15-17 for Paul's more advanced understanding. The idea that the Creator of the universe would reach out to his human creatures in human form was a much bigger idea of the Messiah than the Jewish rulers had.

Suffering Servant and Son of Man
Jesus was a humble man, but he spoke with authority. Looking back at what they remembered of him after they saw how he died the disciples were able to see the figure of the suffering servant of Isaiah chapter 53 in the way that Jesus was humiliated through mockery and flogging and in way he accepted his suffering [Acts 8:26-38]. Jesus called himself the Son of Man, a title meaning a human being, as in the prophecy in the book of Daniel [7:13-14] which links that very ordinary human character with a figure of great power. Matthew's understanding of it is seen his account of Jesus answering in those terms of coming with power when the Jewish leaders asked him if he was the Messiah. [Matthew 26:63-64; Luke 22:67-70]

The call for a personal response
If Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, the Word made flesh, then what God has to say to the world invites a personal response. The one dying with him knew that much: that it was a personal matter for him to be related to this king and his kingdom: Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.

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Order of Service - Christ the King - Year C

The Gathering of the People of God

CALL TO WORSHIP
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. -- Romans 1:7
In the name of Christ, Amen.

HYMN O worship the king all glorious above TIS 133 AHB 67

PRAYER OF ADORATION

Te Deum Part 2 [Front of Hymn Book - together]
You, Christ, are the king of glory ....
... and bring us with your saints to glory everlasting.

CONFESSION

Everlasting King with whose suffering we are healed, we have cause you to suffer. Lord have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
Christ in Glory, we have failed to love and obey you as our king. Christ have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
Glorious king you laid aside your glory. You came from God to dwell with us and still you live amongst us, yet we forget your presence. Lord have mercy.
Lord have mercy.

DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS

f anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.(1 John 2:1b-2)
Christ's word of grace: Your sins are forgiven.
Thanks be to God.

DOXOLOGY: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

WELCOME AND GREETING EACH OTHER

Service of the Word

INTRODUCTION
OLD TESTAMENT Jeremiah 23:1-6 Warning to bad shepherds

FOR THE PSALM: Luke 1:68-79 The song of Zechariah: The Benedictus [responsively]
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favourably on his people and redeemed them.
He has raised up a mighty saviour for us in the house of his servant David,
as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.
Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant,
the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us
that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear,
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins.
By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. (Luke 1:68-79)

EPISTLE Colossians 1:11-20 The cosmic Christ
GOSPEL Luke 23:33-43 Jesus the Messiah on the cross

MEDIATION "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." [SA 55 TIS 730]

SERMON

HYMN The head that once was crowned with thorns / is crowned with glory now TIS 378 AHB 301

OFFERING AND DEDICATION
SHARING TIME [Notices, celebrations, requests for intercessions]
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
COLLECT FOR THE DAY
Almighty and everlasting God,
whose will it is to restore all things
in you well-beloved Son, our Lord and King:
grant that the peoples of the earth,
now divided and enslaved by sin,
may be freed and brought together
under his gentle and loving rule;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirt
one God, now and for ever. [Uniting in Worship]

THE LORD'S PRAYER

The Sending Forth of the People of God

HYMN Crown him with many crowns TIS 228 AHB 163
WORD OF MISSION
BLESSING
DISMISSAL
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord:
In the name of Christ. Amen.

RCL Resources Index | Questions and Comments

lesson	Hymns for Christ the King, Yr.C	TIS	AHB	SA
O/Ps*	A mighty fortress is our God	103	[8]
O/G	All hail the power of Jesus' name	224	159
G	All praise to thee for thou, O King divine		180
G/s	At the name of Jesus	231	170
E	Christ is alive! let Christians sing	387		18
G	Christ is made the sure foundation	432	343
Ca/E	Christ is the world's light, he and none other	246	191
E	Christ our King before creation		190
Ca/G	Christ whose glory fills the skies	212	140
s	Come let us join our cheerful songs	204	133
s	Come to be our hope, Lord Jesus	688
G/s	Crown him with many crowns	228	163
Ps*	God is our strength and refuge	28
G	Hail our once-despised Jesus	373	295
s	Hail Redeemer, King divine	237	188
G/s	Hail to the Lord's anointed	275	203
O	Hallelujah! Sing to Jesus	517	439
G	Hark the glad sound! The Saviour comes	269	197
E	Here we adore you, hidden Saviour Lord	500	[421]
Ca/E	I want to walk as a child of the light	643
E	Immortal, invisible, God only wise	143	80
G	Jesus remember me	730		85
O	Jesus shall reign where'er the sun	207	136
O	King of glory, King of peace	201	129
s	Lift up your heads, you mighty gates	267
G	Lord Christ when first you came to earth		208
E	Lord enthroned in heavenly splendour	520	441
E/s	Lord the light of your love is shining	675
G	My song is love unknown	341	257
G	Now thank we all our God	106	14
Ca	O bless the God of Israel	284
O/G	O come O come, Emmanuel	265	193
G	O crucified Redeemer		544
G	O for a thousand tongues to sing	210	141
s	O Jesus, King most wonderful		125
G	O sacred head sore wounded	339	255
s	O worship the King, all-glorious above	133	67
E/G	Of the Father's love begotten	290	215
G	Praise to the living God	102	7
E	Praise to the Lord, the Almighty	111	28
G	Put all your trust in God	555	[464]
E/G	Rejoice the Lord is king	216	147
G/s	Seek ye first the kingdom of God	745		75
E/G	Sing my tongue the glorious battle	331	249
E	Soldiers of Christ, arise	570	481
G	The head that once was crowned with thorns	378	301
s	The King of glory comes, the nation rejoices	279	212
s	The Kingdom is upon you!			81
G	The royal banners forward go	332	251
G	There is a green hill far away	350	266
O	There's a wideness in God's mercy	136	[72]
G	Were you there when they crucified my Lord	345	261
E	When morning gilds the skies	227	151
G	You servants of God, your Master proclaim	215	144