November 25, 2012 Reign of Christ Sunday Semicontinuous 2 Sam. 23:1 7 Ps. 132:1 12, (13 18) Complementary Dan. 7:9 10, 13 14 Ps. 93 Rev. 1:4b 8 John 18:33 37 Supreme Prime Minister Jesus Goal for the Session Adults will explore what it means to declare Christ as ruler of all rulers and pledge their loyalty to him. PREPARING FOR THE SESSION Focus on Revelation 1:4b 8 WHAT is important to know? From Exegetical Perspective, Thomas G. Long But if heaven and earth remain forever on parallel tracks, this text would be cold comfort. All hell is breaking loose on earth, but don t fret, it would coo. Things are just fine in heaven. But in John s apocalyptic vision, parallel lines eventually meet, and the triumph of heaven becomes an earthly victory. Therefore, after asking readers to look up into the heavenly realm, John next asks them to look forward into the future: Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him (1:7). What is now visible only to the eyes of faith that Christ is the Alpha and Omega of human history and the Lord of all will one day be known by the whole cosmos, saint and foe alike. It is this proclamation of Jesus Christ as the Lord of all time and space that firmly connects this passage to Christ the King Sunday. WHERE is God in these words? From Theological Perspective, Jane E. Fahey Revelation presents an urgent challenge. What does it mean to be a faithful witness to Christ s lordship in a time that some social critics have labeled a time of American imperialism? The Christian stance vis-à-vis the state may require fresh confessions of the lordship of Christ, as in the Theological Declaration of Barmen, the response of some German Christians to Nazism in 1934. What does it mean to be a faithful witness in a time of alarming evidence of the destructive impact of human behavior on God s creation? What does it mean to be a faithful witness in a time of growing disparities of wealth and income? SO WHAT does this mean for our lives? From Pastoral Perspective, Elizabeth B. Forney Today s passage from Revelation invites us to reflect more deeply on just what we expect of Christ s return. Often we hear it spoken of in great anticipation. In the final page of this book John himself prays, Come, Lord Jesus (Rev. 22:20). John gives voice to a longing to be in the real presence of Christ, having no longer to survive on faith alone even if that presence is one that causes us to wail as we are transformed into the likeness of Christ. NOW WHAT is God s word calling us to do? From Homiletical Perspective, Peter M. Wallace So, how do we live under the reign of Christ the King? How do we operate as priests who serve God? Consider this: We reflect within our everyday spheres John s threefold description of Christ: (1) we follow Christ s example as a faithful witness; (2) we seek ardently to understand his will for us, to deny ourselves, and take up our crosses and serve others sacrificially; and (3) we make it our life s goal to bring others into his reign of love and praise, which will last forever. 1
Supreme Prime Minister Jesus FOCUS SCRIPTURE Rev. 1:4b 8 Focus on Your Teaching Participants on their way to church are probably not worried that they are breaking the law by being associated with this religion called Christianity. Christianity has snuggled up nicely to governments in North America and generally causes no threat. In fact, national political candidates religious preferences are expected to be some brand of Christianity. People in the Bible and writers of the New Testament did not share the same lot. They threatened order by declaring Christ to be King over all earthly kings. This lesson provides an opportunity to consider what that declaration might mean today. Lord of all, be my guiding light as I lead this class. Amen. YOU WILL NEED Bibles pens paper board or newsprint markers copies of Resource Sheet 1 copies of Resource Sheet 2 copies of Resource Sheet 1 for December 2, 2012 For Responding option 1: pens and paper, Resource Sheet 1 option 2: copies of your church s hymnal or songbook The seven churches (4b) are named in 1:11 and addressed one by one in Revelation 2 3. The number seven (used more than fifty times in Revelation) is not accidental but represents divine wholeness. LEADING THE SESSION GATHERING Welcome participants as they arrive and introduce any visitors. Invite participants to think about a time when they participated in a religious act in public and were aware of people watching them from outside their group. Perhaps it was a prayer said in a restaurant, or a religious protest for human rights or peace. Ask: P How did you feel participating in a faithful act in public? P What do you think non-religious people thought of your act? Have several participants briefly describe that moment for them and answer the two questions. After a few have spoken, tell the group that today s text touches the reality that we belong to both the heavenly realm of God and also to earthly society. Pray this prayer or one of your choosing: Heavenly Creator, teach us how to do your will in our families, communities, nations, and world. Amen. EXPLORING Have participants find Revelation 1:4b 8 in their Bibles and invite a volunteer to read it aloud to the group. Write three headings across the board or list them vertically down a piece of newsprint: Description of Jesus, What Jesus does for followers, and What followers response should be. Ask people to look carefully at the text just read and to call out words or phrases from Revelation 1:4b 8 that fit in each category on the board or newsprint. 2
Supreme Prime Minister Jesus If someone asks about who the seven spirits are, they refer to prominent towns near Ephesus and are named later in the chapter. Form small groups of two to four persons. Distribute pens and Resource Sheet 1 (Focus on Revelation 1:4b 8) and Resource Sheet 2 (The Context of Revelation 1:4b 8). Explain to the class that while these visions may sound strange to modern-day listeners, the original hearers of the text would not have found them so strange. Have the groups read Resource Sheet 2 and the What? excerpt on Resource Sheet 1 in that order. Encourage them to read any Scriptures mentioned on Resource Sheet 2. Then have the groups summarize what they learned about the situation of the first hearers of Revelation 1:4b 8. After a few minutes have each group read its summary to the rest of the participants. Discuss as a large group how you think the earthly rulers would have responded to the phrase in Revelation 1:5 that Jesus is the ruler of the kings of the earth. Some questions to discuss include: P Which of Jesus commands in the Gospels might conflict with those of earthly rulers? P Why were followers of Jesus considered such a threat to earthly rulers? Have a volunteer read the So What? excerpt from Resource Sheet 1 aloud to the group. Facilitate a short discussion imagining what life will be like when Jesus is here again and followers do not have to base their actions solely on faith. Then ask: P How might obedience to Jesus today conflict with obedience to earthly kings? EASY PREP RESPONDING Choose one or more of these activities, depending on the length of your session: 1. Jesus Is My President Practicing articulating what we believe with others is a good way to confirm what we really believe. Two additional options are to invite a guest to present hymns and songs that use imagery and themes from Rev. 1:4b 8 or to listen to Handel s Hallelujah Chorus ( King of Kings... ) while reading the words. Distribute paper and pens to participants and draw attention to the Now What? excerpt on Resource Sheet 1. Ask them to imagine talking about today s text with a person who is not a Christian. The person wishes to know how the participant lives under the reign of Christ the King. Using the threefold description given in the excerpt, have participants take notes of what they would say and try to give an example of how they do each in their daily life. After a few minutes invite a few volunteers to use their notes and pretend to tell the person how they try to live under the reign of Christ the King. 2. Identifying Relevant Hymns and Spiritual Songs Many historical and contemporary hymns and songs pick up themes of Christ s rule over earthly powers. Reading or singing them together can help participants verbalize their own beliefs. 3
Supreme Prime Minister Jesus Distribute copies of hymnals or songbooks used by your church and have participants find songs that contain words or themes from Revelation 1:4b 8. Some examples include Jesus Christ Is Risen Today, Christ Is Alive, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, and Joy to the World. Most hymnals have scriptural and topical indexes, which are helpful. Since today is Christ the King Sunday, the songs chosen for worship will likely contain these themes. Have participants locate a hymn and identify verses or phrases that connect with today s text. If possible sing a few of the hymns as a group and encourage people to write down phrases they find inspiring or challenging to use in prayers and meditation during the week. 3. Different Responses Between Kings and the King Identifying difficult issues where allegiance to earthly rulers and Christ the King might collide reminds participants of the difficulty Christians often face when faithfully applying Jesus commands in today s world. As a large group, name several contemporary issues where Jesus might have a different response than your country s government leaders. Some examples might include immigration, torture, death penalty, and health-care access. Form groups of four persons and have each group choose one issue and then write a couple sentences about how government priorities differ from Jesus commands. Have them find Bible texts to back up Jesus position. The goal here is not to debate the issue but to identify competing values. For example, politicians may argue the issue of immigration based on national security while Jesus insists on welcoming the stranger. After ten minutes gather as a large group and have each group summarize their work. Challenge participants to continue thinking about issues like these and how the King, and they as followers, should respond. CLOSING Invite participants to find a comfortable position and close their eyes. Read Revelation 1:4b 8 again and have them remember a phrase or word that stands out to them based on today s discussion. After the text is read invite volunteers to say that phrase or word aloud. Say this prayer or one of your own: Alpha and Omega, Almighty God, King of kings and Lord of hosts, to you alone our allegiance belongs. Give us courage to follow your commands, especially when they differ from this world s standards. May we truly be your servants alone. Amen. Distribute copies of Resource Sheet 1 for December 2, 2012, or e-mail it to participants during the week. Encourage class members to read the focus scripture and resource sheet before the next session. 4
November 25, 2012 Adult Resource Sheet 1 Focus on Revelation 1:4b 8 Semicontinuous 2 Sam. 23:1 7 Ps. 132:1 12, (13 18) Complementary Dan. 7:9 10, 13 14 Ps. 93 Rev. 1:4b 8 John 18:33 37 WHAT is important to know? From Exegetical Perspective, Thomas G. Long But if heaven and earth remain forever on parallel tracks, this text would be cold comfort. All hell is breaking loose on earth, but don t fret, it would coo. Things are just fine in heaven. But in John s apocalyptic vision, parallel lines eventually meet, and the triumph of heaven becomes an earthly victory. Therefore, after asking readers to look up into the heavenly realm, John next asks them to look forward into the future: Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him (1:7). What is now visible only to the eyes of faith that Christ is the Alpha and Omega of human history and the Lord of all will one day be known by the whole cosmos, saint and foe alike. It is this proclamation of Jesus Christ as the Lord of all time and space that firmly connects this passage to Christ the King Sunday. WHERE is God in these words? From Theological Perspective, Jane E. Fahey Revelation presents an urgent challenge. What does it mean to be a faithful witness to Christ s lordship in a time that some social critics have labeled a time of American imperialism? The Christian stance vis-à-vis the state may require fresh confessions of the lordship of Christ, as in the Theological Declaration of Barmen, the response of some German Christians to Nazism in 1934. What does it mean to be a faithful witness in a time of alarming evidence of the destructive impact of human behavior on God s creation? What does it mean to be a faithful witness in a time of growing disparities of wealth and income? SO WHAT does this mean for our lives? From Pastoral Perspective, Elizabeth B. Forney Today s passage from Revelation invites us to reflect more deeply on just what we expect of Christ s return. Often we hear it spoken of in great anticipation. In the final page of this book John himself prays, Come, Lord Jesus (Rev. 22:20). John gives voice to a longing to be in the real presence of Christ, having no longer to survive on faith alone even if that presence is one that causes us to wail as we are transformed into the likeness of Christ. NOW WHAT is God s word calling us to do? From Homiletical Perspective, Peter M. Wallace So, how do we live under the reign of Christ the King? How do we operate as priests who serve God? Consider this: We reflect within our everyday spheres John s threefold description of Christ: (1) we follow Christ s example as a faithful witness; (2) we seek ardently to understand his will for us, to deny ourselves, and take up our crosses and serve others sacrificially; and (3) we make it our life s goal to bring others into his reign of love and praise, which will last forever.
November 25, 2012 Adult Resource Sheet 2 The Context of Revelation 1:4b 8 The text first invites the reader to look up. John, as will soon be made clear (1:9 20), has taken a visionary journey up into the heavenly realms, and he reports on all that he saw (1:2). The idea is that heaven is an unseen reality above the earth, with events taking place simultaneously with earthly history. On the earthly plain, John s community is troubled, experiencing faith-quenching distress of some kind, including violence and persecution (see, e.g., 11:7 10 and 20:4). The exact source of the persecution is unknown, but it is most likely a local conflict rather than a more generalized and widespread Roman campaign. In response to this crisis, John, in the spirit on the Lord s day (1:10), has traveled up to this heavenly realm, and now returns with a report on what he witnessed. What he sees is good news for the community below. Down below, their robes are drenched in the blood of violence, but in heaven the saints are gathered in praise around the throne of God, their robes washed white in the blood of the Lamb (7:14). While things look bleak on the earthly plain, the glimpse of the heavenly realm reveals a different truth. Even as the suffering goes on, the victory of the saints is already accomplished in the heavenly realm. Excerpted from Tom Long, Feasting on the Word, Year B, Volume 4 (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2009), 329 and 331.