Good morning! I’m glad to welcome you to worship today at Hillcrest Baptist Church.

In Rodney Stark’s book, The Triumph of Christianity: How the Jesus Movement Became the World’s Largest Religion, the opening paragraph gives the direction of the book:

“He was a teacher and miracle worker who spent nearly all of his brief ministry in the tiny and obscure province of Galilee, often preaching to outdoor gatherings. A few listeners took up his invitation to follow him, and a dozen or so became his devoted followers, but when he was executed by the Romans his followers probably numbered no more than several hundred. How was it possible for this obscure Jewish sect to become the largest religion in the world?”

The rest of his book attempts to answer that question. Stark writes as a historian, not as a theologian or an evangelist. His question invites serious contemplation. How do you get from a dozen devoted followers (minus the one who betrayed him) to the world’s largest religion?

It doesn’t seem very likely, that is, unless Jesus’ disciples/followers truly believed He was the King.

Today we conclude Matthew’s story of “Jesus Our King,” but we find that the ending of the story is the beginning of a new chapter that is still being written, even now.

When Jesus gave “THE GREAT COMISSION” (Matthew 28:11-20) to the subjects, His disciples/followers of His Kingdom, we find that Jesus’ command to go and make disciples was intended to be the mission and continuous activity of every believer of every age, until He comes again.

When “JESUS OUR KING” returns, may we be found faithful to Him in all areas of our life.