Ascension Sunday

Giotto di Bondone (1266–1337), “The Ascension”

Often, we in the church glide over Ascension Sunday as we move into Pentecost––but we do this at our own loss. As you will read, the ascension came 40 days after the resurrection of Christ and just ten days before Pentecost. It is significant that Jesus spent 40 days in this in-between time revealing himself as alive, and presenting the Early Church with a vision for moving the Gospel beyond Israel. It is also important that Jesus had to then leave the church physically, so that the Holy Spirit could enter into the church and, in real practical terms, move his earthly ministry out, eventually to the ends of the earth. 

As you reflect on the ascension this week, either on your own or in your Faith Formation Group, we encourage you to spend time in Scripture by reading Acts 1:1-11 (printed below) and then work through the questions below.

Acts 1:1-11

Acts 1:1    In my first book I told you, Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teach ² until the day he was taken up to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit. ³ During the forty days after he suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God.

Acts 1:4    Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. ⁵ John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 1:6    So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”

Acts 1:7    He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 1:9    After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. ¹⁰ As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. ¹¹ “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

Questions for Consideration:

1. What did Jesus focus on during the 40 days that he was with the disciples between his resurrection and his ascension (you can also read Luke 24 for more information on this)? 
2. What does Jesus command the disciples to do in verse 4? Did they do this? Why do you think Jesus asked them to do this?
3. What did Jesus share about their mission/ministry after they waited in Jerusalem (in verse 8)? Are we still living within this command?
4. What is the last promise of this passage of scripture? What are the implications of this promise on the church (and you) today?

As you meet this week, we encourage you to also take time to open yourselves up as a group and dialog on the following: How do I see the Holy Spirit working within (or not working) my life right now?  



Here is take one with the help of Lexie...
See if you can identify why we didn't use it.