Acts 1:1-11br...
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Acts 1:1-11
It is a lamentable fact of modern life: the auto accident. If you're driving down an interstate on a busy holiday weekend, chances are you'll see at least one traffic accident, maybe more. Chances are, as well, you'll witness a human behavior that's the bane of the highway patrol, and the cause of more tie-ups than the accident itself: the behavior called "rubbernecking."
That's what they call drivers who lean out the car window, eager to witness some damage. There's something darkly fascinating about that terrible scene: the crumpled metal, the sparkling particles of windshield strewn like fallen stars across the asphalt, the dark puddle that's probably just motor oil (but could be something else).
What's so fascinating about an accident? It's probably not the circumstances of the accident itself. It's the sudden realization that the boundary between life and death is not so far away as we may think. It's not the high, unscalable wall we imagined it to be. Suddenly, regarding the flashing ambulance lights and the sputtering emergency flares, we remember our mortality. And the thought arises from deep within, unbidden: "There, but for the grace of God, go I."
Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? Is it just rubbernecking? Or something more?
Acts 1:1-11
Suzi was going through one of those dry periods in her life. As she went about her daily tasks she felt that something was missing. Every Sunday she went to church. Everything seemed the same week after week, same people, same place, same worship service. She felt something was missing.
Suzi teaches Sunday school and participates in the pastor's Bible study and even helps with the youth fellowship but still she felt something was missing. Suzi could not put her finger on what was missing, she seemed to be doing everything she could.
One day a friend asked her why she does so much for the church. Suzi replied that she loved the people at the church. Her friend challenged her telling her that was not enough. Suzi was puzzled. What was missing was a close relationship with Jesus Christ. That was a turning point in her life. She began looking for Jesus, seeking to draw close to him during worship services, Bible studies, and when she prepared her Sunday school lessons.
Today Suzi's relationship with Jesus is at the center of her life. It is that relationship that sustains her faith and life. Her faith in Jesus propels her to continue her involvement at her church. She wants others to discover what she has found to be true in Jesus.
The apostles had a different kind of a problem. They had spent forty glorious days with the risen Lord Jesus. Dramatically he was taken away from them. They stood staring at the sky. The men in white reminded them that there was work to do. "Why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven." The apostles needed to learn that Jesus would be present with them in a different way -- but he would remain with them nonetheless. They were charged to be Jesus' witnesses in all the world.
Acts 1:1-11
Little Samuel had a difficult task ahead of him. He had seen his cousin steal money from their grandfather's drawer. His cousin threatened that if Samuel told, he would beat him up. Samuel went to his older sister crying. What should he do? He confessed to her what he saw. She gave him this advice. "We will go to grandpa together. You tell him what you saw. I will stand beside you. If you are frightened, squeeze my hand. It will give you the power you need to tell your story. Then we'll go and talk to our cousin."
The Holy Spirit is like Samuel's big sister. The Spirit gives us the power, courage, direction, and even the words we need to say, as we witness to our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1:15-23
Relationships are important to us. In the past, relationships defined a person. You were not just "Daniel." You were Daniel, husband of Anna, son of John, nephew of Clarence, and so on. When last names cropped up, many of them reflected relationships: Thompson, Johnson, Samuelson, Paulson. Today, our family ties connect us to people who understand where we come from; our friendships connect us to people who understand who we are and who we want to be. There are different kinds of relationships: family, friends, romantic interests. In each type of relationship, we look for different things. In friends, we may look for companionship, honesty, or empathy. As we explore our relationships, we come to a better understanding of other people and ourselves. Paul understands that relationships are vital to our lives, and his prayer is almost like an I Spy puzzle, providing us with truths to seek. Hope, salvation, and power: three things Paul wants us to find as we explore our relationship with God.
Ephesians 1:15-23
My wife and her friend, Tina, attended university in Spain for their senior year. At the end of the school year Tina's fiancé, Charlie, and his family joined them for Tina and Charlie's wedding. Charlie didn't speak much Spanish but the priest spoke a little English. On the evening of the wedding practice when everyone was leaving the church building the priest, to confirm the time of the wedding service, said, "I'll be hoping for you here tomorrow at 6."
In Spanish "waiting" and "hoping" can be expressed by one word. This doesn't seem to be a linguistic accident. The experience of waiting includes hoping. Paul writes, "So that ... you may know what is the hope to which he has called you...." The riches from the spiritual life don't all come tumbling upon us immediately -- that's why we hope and wait while we also cling in faith to our Lord Jesus and express love toward all the saints.
Ephesians 1:15-23
By raising Christ from the dead and by seating him at God's own right hand, God has indeed "raised up" a new shepherd of the Davidic line. Christ's rule is above any other rule, authority, power, or dominion for all time. The letter to the Ephesians centers on the theme of power. The most extraordinary display of power the world had ever seen took place when God raised Jesus from the dead.
The risen Christ is now enthroned at the right hand of God. In the Bible hand is a symbol of power and authority. God has promised that only the Messiah will have the ability to sit at the most important place of power, which we confess in the Nicene and Apostles' Creeds. The very same power that raised Jesus from the dead will transform our world.
All members of the body of Christ are prized and loved and are a part of him. Together we make up the body of Christ in the world today. None of us has power independent of Christ, and none is more important than other parts of the body.
Luke 24:44-53
In Wittenberg-Lutherstadt they told me a story about a large statue of Christ in front of the Castle Church. On a Sunday afternoon, a group of Nazi youth beat it to pieces with clubs and then painted these words on a nearby fence: "The reign of Christ is over." Later a Christian youth group saw what had been done and took the paintbrush and can and stuck the pieces of the statue back together. Then they added three letters to the sign: "all." "The reign of Christ is over all."
(from Jerry Schmalenberger, Lectionary Preaching Workbook, Series VII, Cycle C [Lima, Ohio: CSS Publishing, 2003], p. 114)
Luke 24:44-53
Sandy and Joan had known each other since high school and enjoyed each other's company. "There is the comfort of shared histories and common laughter that makes it so easy to be together," Joan reflects. However, most of their adult years they had been separated by distance, living in different cities and so treasured their time together. They would spend a day together a couple of times each year.
The two women decided to take a once-in-a-lifetime trip together. It would be just the two of them, leaving their families home. They would travel throughout Europe by train.
As they settled in, the sun was setting and off in the distance they heard church bells signaling the end of the day. The train rocked them with its gentle rhythm. "Joan, I am sure that this is how the Lord takes people to heaven," Sandy said as she smiled and patted her shoulder.
For hours they rode in the dark, in silence. Sandy describes the experience as, "indescribable joy of being in the presence of someone who knows and loves you even though they might not have always agreed with you over the years. Such a presence of Christ and his unconditional love this longtime friend brings to me."
The risen Lord Jesus appeared to his followers. He taught them one more time about his mission, "everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms." Then Jesus was carried to heaven, the believers, "worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God."
Luke 24:44-53
Barry relates his experience at a Christian college. Barry played on the volleyball team. Before each game they prayed for strength and stamina and that no player on either team would be injured. After the game, they gave thanks for a job well done. What Barry remembers most is streaming up to the chapel after the season was over, both the men's and women's team, and joyously giving thanks to God for the gifts of talents and the freedom to use those talents.
The disciples witnessed Jesus' ascension. In a sense, the first half of their season was finished. They streamed back to God's house and gave thanks and prayed for the upcoming season that would begin after Pentecost.
