November 22 Sunday Sermon Passages — Christ the King: three ways in

Who are 'the least of these'

Some read this as everyone in need, which makes the passage a call to mercy ministry for all; others read it as specifically Christ's followers, which makes it a passage about how the world treats the church. Picking one changes who the sermon aims at, and costs you the other reading's reach.

Judgment by works, read inside grace

The passage gives no mention of faith or belief, only action, which raises the old works-and-grace question. You can preach it as evidence of a prior relationship with Christ rather than its cause, but you'll need to say so plainly or risk sounding like salvation is earned.

The surprise in the text

Both groups say 'when did we see you', which means the passage is less about scorekeeping and more about Christ hidden in need. Preaching that surprise costs you some of the drama of direct command, but gains a truer reading.

A prayer, not an argument

Paul is not proving anything here, he is asking God to open eyes. A sermon can follow that shape, asking rather than arguing, though it costs you some of the usual expository momentum.

Christ's headship over 'every ruler and authority'

This phrase has real political and spiritual weight, and preachers differ on whether 'rulers and authorities' means human power structures, spiritual forces, or both. Naming that fork honestly costs some tidiness but keeps the text's full reach.

The church as 'his body, the fullness of him'

This image raises real questions about how the church relates to Christ's own presence in the world. Leaning into it can inspire, but it risks making the church sound bigger than it is if not held next to Christ's own authority.

God as the shepherd who acts

The repeated 'I myself will' makes this a passage about divine initiative rather than human effort. Preaching it that way is comforting, but it costs you a direct call to leadership unless you pair it with the David promise.

Judgment inside the flock, not just against outside shepherds

Verses 20 to 22 turn the judgment onto strong sheep who push the weak out of the good pasture. This reads as a warning to the congregation itself, which costs some of the comfort of blaming only leaders.

The promised shepherd, David my servant

This points forward, and preachers differ on how directly to connect it to Christ versus letting it stand as God's promise of faithful leadership in its own right. Making the connection explicit costs some restraint with the Old Testament text on its own terms.