Zion Lutheran Church - Prince George

09/02/2026

T
HE KINGDOM OF THE CROSS

What kind of King...

chooses a cross?

What kind of King...

wears a crown of thorns?

What kind of King...

wins by dying?

Jesus.

And His disciples didn’t understand it.

Jesus told them:

“I must go to Jerusalem.

I must suffer.

I must be killed.

And on the third day...

I must rise.”

Must.

Not might.

Not perhaps.

Must.

The cross was not a detour.

It was not a tragedy that interrupted His mission.

The cross was His mission.

Jesus is the King.

But His throne is a cross.

His crown is thorns.

His victory looks like defeat.

Why?

Because you are a sinner.

And so am I.

We don’t need merely an example.

We need a Saviour.

So Jesus goes to the cross...

for you.

In your place.

He wears your sin.

He wears your shame.

He receives your judgment.

He suffers your death.

He gives Himself...

for sinners.

And then...

He rises.

The crucified King...

is the risen King.

Sin is defeated.

Death is defeated.

And the Kingdom stands.

But Jesus says:

“If anyone would come after Me...

let him deny himself...

take up his cross...

and follow Me.”

The world says:

Save yourself.

Jesus says:

Lose your life in Me.

So don't trust your success.

Don't trust your strength.

Don't trust your righteousness.

Trust Christ.

When confessing Him costs you...

confess Him.

When forgiveness is hard...

forgive.

When the world mocks you...

cling to Christ.

Not because your suffering saves you.

His suffering saves you.

Your cross points away from you...

and toward Him.

We bear our cross so others can see Christ crucified for them.

“I am a sinner.

Christ is my Saviour.

He died for me.

He forgives me.

He forgives you.”

That is the Gospel.

That is the Kingdom.

And that is your hope.

Christ crucified.

Christ risen.

Christ for you.

09/02/2026

O Christ, Redeemer, save us all! Hear Christ for you at kfuo.org.

Lutheran Service Book 351

1 Creator of the stars of night,
Thy people's everlasting Light:
O Christ, Redeemer, save us all
And hear Thy servants when they call.

2 Thou, grieving that the ancient curse
Should doom to death a universe,
Hast found the healing, full of grace,
To cure and save our ruined race.

3 Thou cam'st the Bridegroom of the bride,
As drew the world to eventide,
The spotless Victim all divine
Proceeding from a virgin shrine.

4 At whose dread name, majestic now,
All knees must bend, all hearts must bow;
All things celestial Thee shall own,
And things terrestrial, Lord alone. A-men.

5 O Thou, whose coming is with dread
To judge the living and the dead,
Preserve us from the ancient foe
While still we dwell on earth below.

6 To God the Father and the Son
And Holy Spirit, Three in One,
Praise, honor, might, and glory be
From age to age eternally.

09/02/2026

08/28/2026

Sounded like someone was going bonkers with a squeaky toy outside the pastor's office this morning. Just two of God's birbs singing like no one was listening while having a bath in the parking lot.

08/28/2026

“Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4, ESV)

08/28/2026

Koinonia seems like a word we already know. Ask around, and most of us would say it means “fellowship” and leave it at that . . . Dr. Alex Vieira shows that it is not quite enough, and that the distance between the meaning we assume and the meaning the New Testament shows is important for us.

🔗 Visit the link in the comments below to read the full article + watch Dr. Vieira's keynote at Convention!

08/27/2026

Fellowship Potluck after the Service this Sunday!

08/26/2026

Matthew 16:13-20

08/25/2026

“O LORD, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells.” (Psalm 26:8, ESV)

08/23/2026

40162 CCLI20180536 Streaming Plus