1. Acts 1 In my first book [a] 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.a

2. 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 [b] water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 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?”b

3. Acts 1 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.”

4. Acts 1 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!”

5. Between Must and Cannot Rick Wright Ascension Sunday (B) Church of the Nations

6. Pray for the Holy Spirit Holy Cross Anglican Gerry Lane Chevrolet Bishop Clark Lowenfield Christian leaders in Houston pray for revival You are praying for the wrong thing... You are not ready… Pray that God will send the Holy Spirit upon you.

7. Luke 24 And Jesus says, This message will be proclaimed to all the nations. That in my name there is repentance and forgiveness of sins. You are witnesses of these things. And now I will send the Holy Spirit just as my Father promised. But stay here until the Holy Spirit comes. And fills you with power from heaven. Leads into Acts 1

8. Ascension?!? Ascension Sunday = Jesus is taken(?) into heaven I believe in God the Father creator of heaven and earth I believe in Jesus Christ his son our Lord He suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified died and was buried He descended to the dead On the third day he rose again He ascended into heaven (He will come again to judge the living and the dead)

9. Ascension?!? Incarnation -> Public ministry -> Suffering and death -> Resurrection -> Forty days with his graduate students… Ascension -> Jesus leaves!?! Mission of Jesus -> mission of Christian church What Jesus says and does -> now we must say and do

10. Our mission Mark – The women go and proclaim(? Will they???) Matthew – Go and make disciples of all nations… John – So that others will believe… and have eternal life Luke (+ Acts) – Forgiveness and repentance in his name – You will be witnesses

11. How are we doing? Not very well Make disciples of our own children? Hand Christian faith (and life) to next generation? Pew Religious Landscape Survey Modern Western society becoming hostile to Christian faith and practice

12. They (and we) ask Jesus Lord, when will you free Israel and restore our kingdom? Change our status in culture and society? 1.Only God the Father knows! 2.But you will receive power We must… but we cannot… We will receive power for the impossible mission Stay… wait… pray… for the Holy Spirit...