2021-05-16 — Jesus’ Ascension Gives Direction to Our Lives
Sunday after Ascension: Date: May 16, 2021
– THE SERMON: Acts 1:1-11
Theme: Jesus’ Ascension Gives Direction to Our Lives
I. Assurance of Successful Fulfillment of His Mission of Salvation
II. Focus on Our Kingdom Calling
III. Anticipating His Visible, Physical Return.
SERMON TEXT: Acts 1:1-11
The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, 3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” (NKJV)
PRAYER; THE LORD’S PRAYER
HYMN 215:Draw Us to Thee
1 Draw us to Thee, For then shall we
Walk in Thy steps forever And hasten on
Where Thou art gone To be with Thee, dear Savior.
2 Draw us to Thee, Lord, lovingly;
Let us depart with gladness That we may be
Forever free From sorrow, grief, and sadness.
3 Draw us to Thee; O grant that we
May walk the road to heaven! Direct our way
Lest we should stray And from Thy paths be driven.
4 Draw us to Thee That also we
Thy heavenly bliss inherit And ever dwell
Where sin and hell No more can vex our spirit.
5 Draw us to Thee Unceasingly,
Into Thy kingdom take us; Let us fore’er
Thy glory share, Thy saints and joint heirs make us.
THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION
( Pastor Theodore Barthels )
Bulletin: Read Bulletin
Sermon: Read Sermon
THE ORDER OF SERVICE: (p. 22 Worship Supplement 2000)
THE EPISTLE LESSON: Ephesians 1:16-23
16 (I) do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
THE GOSPEL LESSON: Luke 24:44-53
44 Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.