Counterfeit Kingdom – Who Sits On The Throne

Who Sits On The Throne We all have a throne, and something is always sitting on it. The question is whether Jesus is truly King or simply an important part of a life we’re still trying to rule ourselves. In the opening message of Counterfeit Kingdom, we explore how easily the promises of comfort, control, success, approval, and even our own desires can compete for our allegiance. From the Garden to Israel’s demand for a king to the radically different responses of Herod and the Magi, Scripture keeps confronting us with the same question: Who sits on your throne? Because Christianity is not primarily self-improvement. It is a transfer of allegiance. And sometimes our strongest reactions reveal which king we’re actually serving. Colossians 1:13–14 Discussion topics HEAD – What did Jesus say to you through the Word? Read Colossians 1:13–14 and Galatians 5:17. We said, “Christianity is not primarily self-improvement. It is a transfer of allegiance.” What does allegiance to Jesus actually look like in everyday life? In 1 Samuel 8, Israel wanted a king “such as all the other nations have.” Where do you see Christians today being tempted to adopt the values of the kingdoms around us? Was there anything in Sunday’s sermon that really stood out to you personally? HEART – How did it make you feel? “Your reactions often reveal your allegiances.” Think about your strongest reactions lately: anger, defensiveness, fear, jealousy, anxiety, comparison. What might those reactions be revealing about what’s important to you? Which counterfeit king are you most tempted to trust for something only God can ultimately provide: comfort, control, approval, success, money, being right, relationships, politics, or something else? Complete this sentence as honestly as you can: “Jesus, You can have anything except _________.” What makes that particular thing difficult to surrender? HANDS – What are you going to do with it? Identify one area this week where you can intentionally surrender control to Jesus. What would surrender actually look like in that situation? End by praying a simple prayer of allegiance together: “Jesus, show me anything competing with You for the throne of my life, and give me the courage to surrender it to You.” Check out our other audio series and video playlists that can help you find Jesus in every moment and then discover what’s next