Every year, right before Advent begins and we start talking about mangers and angels and silent nights, the Church pauses for one Sunday to ask a bold question:
Who is your King?
Not what do you say is your king.
Not what does your church claim is king.
But in the quiet corners of your life, your schedule, your finances, your priorities, your fears, who actually reigns?
Christ the King Sunday forces us to wrestle with that uncomfortable question because, if we’re honest, human beings have always been pretty creative at crowning the wrong things.
Money.
Politics.
Success.
Influence.
Busyness.
Approval.
Comfort.
Entertainment.
Ideology.
Ourselves.
We are surrounded by kings, and most of them look nothing like Christ.
And that is exactly why Christ the King Sunday matters, because Jesus is a King unlike any we’re used to.
The Problem Isn’t That We Don’t Want a King, It’s That We Want the Wrong Kind
In Scripture, people have always wanted strong rulers, powerful kings who can defeat enemies, protect borders, and make their nation “number one.” Ancient Israel begged God for a king “like the other nations” (1 Samuel 8). They wanted someone who could win battles, raise armies, and build an empire.
Today is no different.
Our culture still cheers for people who dominate, who “own” their opponents, who speak loudly enough to drown out everyone else. Leaders are rewarded for doubling down, never admitting fault, and keeping power at any cost. And many Christians, maybe without realizing, start looking for that same kind of king.
A king who protects their interests.
A king who fights the battles they care about.
A king who will “win” for them.
But Jesus stands before Pilate and refuses to play the game.
He refuses to fight for power.
He refuses to cling to control.
He refuses to rule through fear.
Instead He says:
“My kingdom is not from this world.” (John 18:36)
This is why Pilate didn’t understand Him.
It’s also why most of us still struggle.
Jesus’ kingdom isn’t built on domination but on compassion.
It expands not through force but through forgiveness.
It thrives not in palaces but among ordinary, overlooked people.
He rules with a crown, but it’s made of thorns, not gold.
Christ the King Versus the Kings We Make
Jesus leads with humility, rules with mercy, and uses His power to heal rather than control.
That’s a radical statement in our current cultural climate.
Because America is addicted to power.
To winning.
To being right.
To staying in control.
To shaping the world in our image.
So Christians, people who claim to follow a crucified King, sometimes end up following kings who look far more like Caesar than Christ.
We pledge allegiance to…
• our opinions,
• our politics,
• our tribe,
• our causes,
• our favorite influencers,
• our comfort,
• our fears.
Not because we’re bad people, but because the kings of this world promise things Christ refuses to promise: safety without sacrifice, influence without humility, victory without compassion.
But here’s the thing:
Whatever rules you shapes you.
Whatever you serve forms you.
Whatever you worship becomes your king.
So if anger rules you, you’ll become an angry person.
If fear rules you, you’ll shrink your world to protect yourself.
If political power rules you, you’ll justify anything to keep it.
If Jesus rules you, you’ll look more like Him.
And that’s the real test.
A King Who Actually Comes Close
In the ancient world, kings stayed far away from ordinary people. Kings sat on thrones, behind walls, surrounded by guards. Would be kings still do. But Jesus walks dusty roads, sits with beggars, touches lepers, eats with outcasts, and cries with grieving families.
He is a King who shows up in hospital rooms, not just sanctuaries.
A King who listens.
A King who carries burdens instead of placing them.
A King whose authority heals instead of harms.
If we’re going to claim Christ as our King, then our lives should resemble His kingdom:
More honesty.
More compassion.
More trust.
More surrender.
And that last word, surrender, is the one we avoid because it pushes against everything in American culture.
Surrender as a Form of Strength
Surrender to Christ brings joy, freedom, and peace—not weakness.
But in our culture, surrender is almost a dirty word.
We are told to be self-sufficient.
But Jesus says:
“Whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:25)
Following Christ is not about being passive.
It’s about letting go of the illusion that we are the rulers of our own world.
It means surrendering pride.
Surrendering resentment.
Surrendering the need to win.
Surrendering the thrones we build out of ego, fear, and insecurity.
When Christ becomes King, life doesn’t get easier, but it becomes more honest, more grounded, and more whole.
The Hard Question
The truth is:
Most of us want Christ as Savior.
Few of us want Him as King.
Because a Savior rescues us.
But a King leads us.
And following a leader, requires obedience.
The question Christ the King Sunday puts in front of us is this:
Who is your King…really?
When you’re stressed, what rules your decisions?
When you’re angry, what voice directs your reactions?
When you’re afraid, what power do you turn to for comfort?
When you look at your calendar or your bank statement, what kingdom are you investing in?
We all have a throne in our lives. Someone or something sits on it.
The challenge of faith is simple:
Only one King brings freedom, peace, hope, and healing, and He’s the one who chose a cross instead of a crown.
A Kingdom Breaking Through
As we enter Advent, we look toward the birth of a King who came not in royal robes but wrapped in cloth. The sermon says it well: the baby in the manger, the man on the cross, and the Lord who rose from the tomb, this is our King.
A King who rules not by force but by love.
A King whose kingdom grows every time someone chooses compassion over contempt.
Every time someone forgives.
Every time someone listens.
Every time someone cares.
Every time someone refuses to let fear or anger be their king.
The kingdom is already here.
The kingdom is still coming.
And every day, we get to choose which king we will follow.
Reflection Question
What is one “king” in your life, one fear, desire, habit, influence, or voice, that you need to dethrone so Christ can reign more fully in you?
Closing Prayer
Christ our King,
We come to You with open hands and honest hearts.
We confess how easily we crown other voices in our lives,
our fears, our desires, our politics, our pride.
Yet You are the only King who brings freedom instead of fear,
truth instead of noise, and healing instead of harm.
Teach us to recognize Your reign in the everyday moments.
Help us trust Your way when the world demands power,
help us choose compassion when anger feels easier,
and help us surrender the thrones we guard so tightly.
Draw near to us, Lord.
Shape our character.
Steady our steps.
Lead us into a kingdom that is breaking into this world,
one act of love, one moment of mercy,
one surrendered heart at a time.
Reign in us, reign through us,
and guide us into the way of Your peace.
Amen.
The Rest of the Sermon 