That’s My King!

Main Point: Even though Jesus is the King of every king and the Lord of all lords, He wants to be personally known and loved by each of us.

Discussion Starter: That’s My King!

YouTube Clip:
This video clip has made the rounds in worship services since its creation a few years back. But it provides youth leaders with such a powerful way to address who Jesus is AND what He wants that we’re building a small group discussion starter from it. The video uses a sermon segment from Reverend S.M. Lockridge, a black pastor who preached during much of the 20th Century, before passing away in early 2000. It’s got a terrific soundtrack behind it, and is quite compelling.

Here is the HD version of the clip available for purchase from Sermon Spice:
http://sermonspice.com/product/114/thats-my-king

Here is the (totally free) YouTube version of the exact same video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upGCMl_b0n4

Here is another version of the video from YouTube (using different graphics and music):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzqTFNfeDnE

Transitional Statement:
I love that video clip so much! The voice you just heard was that of Reverend S.M. Lockridge, an African-American pastor who preached all over the world for much of the 20th Century. He’s now with Jesus, having died in early 2000, and so all those things you just heard him talk about, he’s experiencing right now as I speak. But what about you? Who is Jesus to you? Do you feel the same way about Jesus that Rev. Lockridge did? It’s true that Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, but who is He to you?

Divide into Small Groups:
Let’s go ahead and split up into our discussion groups, and then afterward we’ll come back together for a final word.

CLICK HERE for a quick training article on how to maximize your small groups using our small group format—a great resource to equip your small group leaders.

Discussion Questions:

1. AROUND THE CIRCLE: As we get started, let’s all take a second to share our names and a line from the pastor’s sermon in the video that stuck out to us.


2. ASK A FEW: The music was mixed in later, of course, but what did you think about that style of preaching?


3. ASK A FEW: Of all the titles that Rev. Lockridge gave Jesus, which one do you think was the most important?


4. ASK A FEW: What was the question that Rev. Lockridge kept asking? (Leaders – The question was, “Do you know Him?”)


5. ASK A FEW: How important is it to know Jesus?


6. ASK A FEW: What is the difference between saying “Jesus is THE King” and “Jesus is MY King”?

Read the following passage:

Colossians 1:13-23 (NLT)
For he has rescued us from the one who rules in the kingdom of darkness, and he has brought us into the Kingdom of his dear Son. 14 God has purchased our freedom with his blood and has forgiven all our sins. 15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before God made anything at all and is supreme over all creation. 16 Christ is the one through whom God created everything in heaven and earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see– kings, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities. Everything has been created through him and for him. 17 He existed before everything else began, and he holds all creation together. 18 Christ is the head of the church, which is his body. He is the first of all who will rise from the dead, so he is first in everything. 19 For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, 20 and by him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of his blood on the cross. 21 This includes you who were once so far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions, 22 yet now he has brought you back as his friends. He has done this through his death on the cross in his own human body. As a result, he has brought you into the very presence of God, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. 23 But you must continue to believe this truth and stand in it firmly. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News.


7. ASK A FEW: Looking back over this passage, can you give me some “facts” about Jesus? (Leaders – He is the visible image of the invisible God, He existed before anything else, He holds creation together, He created everything, He is the head of the church, etc.)


8. ASK A FEW: List a few of the things Jesus has done for us according to this passage. (Leaders – Jesus has rescued us, he has purchased our freedom, He made peace, He brought us into the presence of God, He made us friends with God, etc.)


9. ASK A FEW: Which of these actions by Jesus is the most significant to you? Why?


10. ASK A FEW: Looking at the Apostle Paul’s writing here, do you think that he considered Jesus “his” King? Why or why not?


11. ASK A FEW: What are some of Paul’s warnings in verse 23?


12. AROUND THE CIRCLE: What do YOU believe about Jesus Christ?


13. AROUND THE CIRCLE: Is Jesus YOUR King, and if so, how can others tell it by looking at your life?

If you don’t believe me, take a listen to what Jesus asked His disciples when they were alone on a road 2,000 years ago. Read Matthew 16:13-18…

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” Then he asked them, “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.

Jesus is King of all kings and Lord of every lord, but He wants to be personally known and loved by you. What do you say?

(At this point, extend an invitation for those who have never trusted in Christ to do so. You might also want to give the Christian students in the room a chance to recommit themselves to the King.)

Close in Prayer

Written by David R Smith