Sermon illustrations for Ascension of the Lord (2016)
Illustration
Object:
Acts 1:1-11
It is something of an understatement to say that Ascension Day is not one of the major holidays in the United States. Neither sacred nor secular institutions make much of the day. Few congregations draw big crowds to Ascension Thursday worship services. To my knowledge, there are no retailers who advertise discounts for Ascension Day, no restaurants that prepare an Ascension Day special, and no major employers that declare this Thursday a holiday. A quick search of the internet reveals that Ascension Day greeting cards are available. However, the relationship between cute, cuddly teddy bears suggesting the card’s recipient “Have a Nice Day” and the Feast of the Ascension remains a mystery.
There are places in the world, especially Europe, where this is a major holiday. Many countries even have special ways for families to celebrate. In Sweden, for instance, people go into the woods before dawn to listen for the songs of birds and the chatter of other wildlife.
Actually, a little time in the woods communing with God’s creation seems a wonderful way to celebrate many of the holidays of the faith.
R. Robert C.
Acts 1:1-11
On stage during Nelson Mandela’s memorial service was an interpreter signing for the deaf. For hours he interpreted the speakers -- but the problem was that he did not know sign language. He just used childish motions as heads of state gave passionate speeches. Those who were deaf knew he was a fake, but were unable to get him removed from the stage. David Buxton, the CEO of the British Deaf Association, said that “it was hours of complete nonsense.”
Application: When Jesus spoke the disciples had many questions, especially regarding the Second Coming. Though the disciples did not completely understand Jesus, they knew he was not speaking in childish gestures or nonsense.
Ron L.
Acts 1:1-11
At first glance, the Ascension seems not to be a joyful holiday. It is mixed with regret that Jesus is not still among us, for now he is removed from us in heaven. But he need not be so far away, if physicists who subscribe to string theory are correct. These physicists posit realities very different from our experience -- the existence of additional dimensions beyond height, width, and depth, and many universes beyond our own (the multi-verse) (Brian Greene, The Hidden Reality, especially pp. 83-88, 307ff). On these grounds the heaven where Christ now resides could be right here among us -- as present as the images on a computer screen, just not perceptible to us! This entails that he is still present among us, still involved in our struggles in life.
The middle class has been shrinking for the last decade. Less and less American families are able to earn the $35,000 a year it takes to stay out of poverty. Soaring college costs make it harder and harder. The Ascension gives hope -- for the Christ who has conquered evil and chaos now intermixes with us. Martin Luther put it this way: “Christ’s power and might over sin are now given to those who believe in him, who know that they too are masters over sin... (Complete Sermons, Vol. 6, p. 121).
The Reformer adds more details to this conquest, contending that though sin [and chaos] tries to allure us, we can trample it, “and instead desire to be gentle and humble, patient and friendly...” (Complete Sermons, Vol. 6, p. 123).
Mark E.
Ephesians 1:15-23
One body of Christ, the church, ordained by God, led by Jesus -- this is a description of church that speaks to my heart. Paul’s prayer to the church in Ephesus is a prayer of gratitude and thanksgiving for the faithfulness of the church. It is a calling down of wisdom, grace, awareness, and hope to the church. How often do we ask for these gifts in prayer for our own churches? How often do we move into gratitude as a means of faithfulness? How often do we pray in thanksgiving for those who have nurtured and shaped our faith and our relationship with the church, with the rest of the Body of Christ?
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” So the next time you are annoyed by a church decision, or by a member of your church community, or even by the folks who worship differently than you, remember to be grateful instead. Remember to build up the Body of Christ. Remember to pray for wisdom and grace and hope and for God to shower blessings on all God’s people.
Bonnie B.
Ephesians 1:15-23
It is a pretty incredible thing to inherit something from someone. Inheritances can be different. Sometimes what is inherited is a physical trait. Eye color or coordination can be examples of this. Sometimes that which is inherited is a temperament or characteristic -- impulsiveness or a quick temper come to mind. There are times, though, when an inheritance is a physical thing. When a loved one passes on, he or she might leave behind things of value and worth to those about whom they cared. This kind of inheritance, unlike the others, is not just noticeable or obvious. To know about it, you have to read a will and receive a message that you are a beneficiary. If you don’t get the message, you don’t get what you’ve inherited.
In this text Paul is describing an inheritance for all the saints of God. He is praying for the Christians in Ephesus and the surrounding area. His prayer includes that God “may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.”
He is praying that they may get a spirit of wisdom and revelation so that their hearts may be enlightened and that they may know the hope to which they were called, the greatness of his power, and the glorious riches of his inheritance. Christians are the recipients of a glorious inheritance! Can there be any better news than that?
Bill T.
Ephesians 1:15-23
God is the source of wisdom, but wisdom is a tool to be used! See Proverbs 8:27-30: Wisdom is there from the beginning. “Wisdom’s realm is a world of free will and choice....” The universe plays fair with us; if we learn the rules, we’ll do all right. What are your words to live by? Wisdom can be found in and outside of the Bible. For instance, when I was a kid and I scraped a knee or elbow my grandmother would recite this little poem and rub her fingers over the wound to make it all better: Sana, sana, colita de rana. Si no sanas hoy, sanarás mañana. “Health, health, gas from a frog. If you’re not well today you’ll be fine tomorrow.” That’s what wisdom is like. Wisdom is not rocket science. It’s common sense! It is gleaned from life, and from living together as a community! What are the sources of common sense in your life? Your family? A mentor? A book? Learning a proverb may help us make wise choices at crunch time.
Frank R.
Ephesians 1:15-23
I had left Nepal almost 20 years before. Most of my seminary students had established at least one church, and some had started several. I heard great things about them -- they even sent pictures of their congregations. Their faith had increased. There were many saints who had been converted. The members of your church are saints! You may not think so. You may even remember sins you have committed. But it is God who makes us saints!
Like almost every pastor, I have received letters from members in my former churches who remembered me for what I had done for them. We pastors must feel like Paul sometimes.
We don’t know exactly how long Paul had been gone from Ephesus, but he still had fond memories of the people, and the reports he got back from there made him rejoice. No, they had still not finished their growth as Christians. None of us have! That is one reason for faithfully attending a church, so that we will continue to grow in God’s Spirit. We come to church so that we can come to know our God better and better.
Sometimes we grow through experiences in our life and not just by memorizing passages of scripture. When God answers a prayer for us, we grow to know him better. We sometimes get to know him better through a tragedy in our lives. When my folks died, I came to know the Lord better. He comforted me!
There were no cellphones or e-mail in my early days, so sometimes it was a long time before we heard how friends were doing who lived far away. When our kids move away to college or beyond, all we have to do is make a call, or write a letter or an e-mail. We don’t have to wait until we hear from someone who knows them and has been with them and then wait years until we see them. But we still need to hear from them and about them. And we hope the news is good. We always keep them in our prayers. We older parents know how Paul felt.
The most powerful message from God’s word is that our Lord Jesus was raised from the dead and that he still lives and rules the world today. That is our greatest hope that we receive and can pass on. The Lord’s Supper is always a reminder. He is still with us!
Bob O.
Luke 24:44-53
Anyone who insists on reading scripture only through the narrow lens of a 21st-century scientific worldview will have significant trouble understanding and appreciating this passage. After all, it has been many years since the average person of faith thought of heaven as straight up, just beyond the clouds. With space travel and modern telescopes we know that the earth is a tiny speck in a universe of mind-boggling distance. Scientifically speaking, a physically ascending Christ would need to travel many light years to heaven -- that is, if heaven is understood as just beyond the last frontier of space. Luke also tells us that Jesus appeared to his followers and told them that he was hungry. This suggests that the risen Christ of Luke’s gospel has a body similar to a living person. Scientifically speaking, the human body would not withstand an ascent through the dark recesses of space without a reliable source of oxygen and some protection against extremely low temperatures.
Quite simply, the Ascension of our Lord should not be subjected to the limiting rules of science any more than Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s comment that “earth’s crammed with heaven” should be verified scientifically. This passage is simply not written in the language of science where truth is limited to observable, verifiable facts. Both Luke and Browning are writing about truths that are greater than the narrow claims of what science finds acceptable.
Science is a meaningful way of knowing many things. It cannot, however, claim to be the source of all truth. If we limited ourselves to the empirical epistemology of science, a kiss would have to be defined as “the exchange of bacteria between two Homo sapiens.” While accurate, that definition hardly covers the full truth of the human experience of kissing a loved one.
R. Robert C.
Luke 24:44-53
John Ashcroft, who served as a senator from Missouri as well as Attorney General in the George W. Bush administration, was a controversial and polarizing figure. Putting politics aside, Ashcroft’s Christian faith remains unquestionable. The night before he was sworn into the Senate in 1995, family and friends gathered around a piano in a private Washington, D.C. dining hall. His father, James, requested that John play and all sing the hymn “We Are Standing on Holy Ground.” After the joyful singing, James asked everyone to be quiet and listen carefully to his oration. Father spoke to son with these words: “The spirit of Washington is arrogance, and the spirit of Christ is humility. Put on the spirit of Christ. Nothing of lasting value has ever been accomplished in arrogance. Someday I hope someone will come up to you as you are fulfilling your duties as senator, tug on your sleeve, and say, ‘Senator, your spirit is showing.’ ”
Application: We are told by Jesus that we are to be witnesses to these things.
Ron L.
Luke 24:44-53
The Centers for Disease Control reports that roughly one in 17 Americans suffers from depression. The suicide rate among Americans is reportedly skyrocketing, as someone commits suicide every 18 minutes in the U.S. (Jean Twenge, Generation Me, p. 108). But the Ascension provides a word of hope in response to these dynamics. Martin Luther noted: “We must, therefore, conceive of his Ascension and Lordship as something active, energetic, and continuous.... He ascended up thither for the reason that he can best do his work and exercise dominion. Had he remained upon earth in visible form, before the people, he could not have wrought so effectually, for all the people could not have been with him and hear him. Therefore, he inaugurated an expedient which made it possible for him to be in touch with all and reign in all, to preach to all and be heard by all, and to be with all” (Complete Sermons, Vol. 2/1, pp. 190-191).
Commenting on a biblical text, the Reformer offered reflections on the significance of Christ’s return to the Godhead: “For in Christ a part of our flesh and blood, that is, our human nature sits in heaven above at the right hand of God.... It is an unspeakably great glory and honor for humankind to have been raised so high by him, not merely to heaven among the holy angels and archangels... but to the level of direct equality with God himself” (Luther’s Works, Vol. 13, p. 243).
We must be somebody, our lives must matter, if God takes one like us into him. Oh how he loves and forgives us, Luther says: “But now forgiveness is so great and powerful, that God not only forgives the former sins you have committed; but looks through his fingers and forgives the sins you will commit” (Complete Sermons, Vol. 1/2, p. 317).
Mark E.
It is something of an understatement to say that Ascension Day is not one of the major holidays in the United States. Neither sacred nor secular institutions make much of the day. Few congregations draw big crowds to Ascension Thursday worship services. To my knowledge, there are no retailers who advertise discounts for Ascension Day, no restaurants that prepare an Ascension Day special, and no major employers that declare this Thursday a holiday. A quick search of the internet reveals that Ascension Day greeting cards are available. However, the relationship between cute, cuddly teddy bears suggesting the card’s recipient “Have a Nice Day” and the Feast of the Ascension remains a mystery.
There are places in the world, especially Europe, where this is a major holiday. Many countries even have special ways for families to celebrate. In Sweden, for instance, people go into the woods before dawn to listen for the songs of birds and the chatter of other wildlife.
Actually, a little time in the woods communing with God’s creation seems a wonderful way to celebrate many of the holidays of the faith.
R. Robert C.
Acts 1:1-11
On stage during Nelson Mandela’s memorial service was an interpreter signing for the deaf. For hours he interpreted the speakers -- but the problem was that he did not know sign language. He just used childish motions as heads of state gave passionate speeches. Those who were deaf knew he was a fake, but were unable to get him removed from the stage. David Buxton, the CEO of the British Deaf Association, said that “it was hours of complete nonsense.”
Application: When Jesus spoke the disciples had many questions, especially regarding the Second Coming. Though the disciples did not completely understand Jesus, they knew he was not speaking in childish gestures or nonsense.
Ron L.
Acts 1:1-11
At first glance, the Ascension seems not to be a joyful holiday. It is mixed with regret that Jesus is not still among us, for now he is removed from us in heaven. But he need not be so far away, if physicists who subscribe to string theory are correct. These physicists posit realities very different from our experience -- the existence of additional dimensions beyond height, width, and depth, and many universes beyond our own (the multi-verse) (Brian Greene, The Hidden Reality, especially pp. 83-88, 307ff). On these grounds the heaven where Christ now resides could be right here among us -- as present as the images on a computer screen, just not perceptible to us! This entails that he is still present among us, still involved in our struggles in life.
The middle class has been shrinking for the last decade. Less and less American families are able to earn the $35,000 a year it takes to stay out of poverty. Soaring college costs make it harder and harder. The Ascension gives hope -- for the Christ who has conquered evil and chaos now intermixes with us. Martin Luther put it this way: “Christ’s power and might over sin are now given to those who believe in him, who know that they too are masters over sin... (Complete Sermons, Vol. 6, p. 121).
The Reformer adds more details to this conquest, contending that though sin [and chaos] tries to allure us, we can trample it, “and instead desire to be gentle and humble, patient and friendly...” (Complete Sermons, Vol. 6, p. 123).
Mark E.
Ephesians 1:15-23
One body of Christ, the church, ordained by God, led by Jesus -- this is a description of church that speaks to my heart. Paul’s prayer to the church in Ephesus is a prayer of gratitude and thanksgiving for the faithfulness of the church. It is a calling down of wisdom, grace, awareness, and hope to the church. How often do we ask for these gifts in prayer for our own churches? How often do we move into gratitude as a means of faithfulness? How often do we pray in thanksgiving for those who have nurtured and shaped our faith and our relationship with the church, with the rest of the Body of Christ?
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” So the next time you are annoyed by a church decision, or by a member of your church community, or even by the folks who worship differently than you, remember to be grateful instead. Remember to build up the Body of Christ. Remember to pray for wisdom and grace and hope and for God to shower blessings on all God’s people.
Bonnie B.
Ephesians 1:15-23
It is a pretty incredible thing to inherit something from someone. Inheritances can be different. Sometimes what is inherited is a physical trait. Eye color or coordination can be examples of this. Sometimes that which is inherited is a temperament or characteristic -- impulsiveness or a quick temper come to mind. There are times, though, when an inheritance is a physical thing. When a loved one passes on, he or she might leave behind things of value and worth to those about whom they cared. This kind of inheritance, unlike the others, is not just noticeable or obvious. To know about it, you have to read a will and receive a message that you are a beneficiary. If you don’t get the message, you don’t get what you’ve inherited.
In this text Paul is describing an inheritance for all the saints of God. He is praying for the Christians in Ephesus and the surrounding area. His prayer includes that God “may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.”
He is praying that they may get a spirit of wisdom and revelation so that their hearts may be enlightened and that they may know the hope to which they were called, the greatness of his power, and the glorious riches of his inheritance. Christians are the recipients of a glorious inheritance! Can there be any better news than that?
Bill T.
Ephesians 1:15-23
God is the source of wisdom, but wisdom is a tool to be used! See Proverbs 8:27-30: Wisdom is there from the beginning. “Wisdom’s realm is a world of free will and choice....” The universe plays fair with us; if we learn the rules, we’ll do all right. What are your words to live by? Wisdom can be found in and outside of the Bible. For instance, when I was a kid and I scraped a knee or elbow my grandmother would recite this little poem and rub her fingers over the wound to make it all better: Sana, sana, colita de rana. Si no sanas hoy, sanarás mañana. “Health, health, gas from a frog. If you’re not well today you’ll be fine tomorrow.” That’s what wisdom is like. Wisdom is not rocket science. It’s common sense! It is gleaned from life, and from living together as a community! What are the sources of common sense in your life? Your family? A mentor? A book? Learning a proverb may help us make wise choices at crunch time.
Frank R.
Ephesians 1:15-23
I had left Nepal almost 20 years before. Most of my seminary students had established at least one church, and some had started several. I heard great things about them -- they even sent pictures of their congregations. Their faith had increased. There were many saints who had been converted. The members of your church are saints! You may not think so. You may even remember sins you have committed. But it is God who makes us saints!
Like almost every pastor, I have received letters from members in my former churches who remembered me for what I had done for them. We pastors must feel like Paul sometimes.
We don’t know exactly how long Paul had been gone from Ephesus, but he still had fond memories of the people, and the reports he got back from there made him rejoice. No, they had still not finished their growth as Christians. None of us have! That is one reason for faithfully attending a church, so that we will continue to grow in God’s Spirit. We come to church so that we can come to know our God better and better.
Sometimes we grow through experiences in our life and not just by memorizing passages of scripture. When God answers a prayer for us, we grow to know him better. We sometimes get to know him better through a tragedy in our lives. When my folks died, I came to know the Lord better. He comforted me!
There were no cellphones or e-mail in my early days, so sometimes it was a long time before we heard how friends were doing who lived far away. When our kids move away to college or beyond, all we have to do is make a call, or write a letter or an e-mail. We don’t have to wait until we hear from someone who knows them and has been with them and then wait years until we see them. But we still need to hear from them and about them. And we hope the news is good. We always keep them in our prayers. We older parents know how Paul felt.
The most powerful message from God’s word is that our Lord Jesus was raised from the dead and that he still lives and rules the world today. That is our greatest hope that we receive and can pass on. The Lord’s Supper is always a reminder. He is still with us!
Bob O.
Luke 24:44-53
Anyone who insists on reading scripture only through the narrow lens of a 21st-century scientific worldview will have significant trouble understanding and appreciating this passage. After all, it has been many years since the average person of faith thought of heaven as straight up, just beyond the clouds. With space travel and modern telescopes we know that the earth is a tiny speck in a universe of mind-boggling distance. Scientifically speaking, a physically ascending Christ would need to travel many light years to heaven -- that is, if heaven is understood as just beyond the last frontier of space. Luke also tells us that Jesus appeared to his followers and told them that he was hungry. This suggests that the risen Christ of Luke’s gospel has a body similar to a living person. Scientifically speaking, the human body would not withstand an ascent through the dark recesses of space without a reliable source of oxygen and some protection against extremely low temperatures.
Quite simply, the Ascension of our Lord should not be subjected to the limiting rules of science any more than Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s comment that “earth’s crammed with heaven” should be verified scientifically. This passage is simply not written in the language of science where truth is limited to observable, verifiable facts. Both Luke and Browning are writing about truths that are greater than the narrow claims of what science finds acceptable.
Science is a meaningful way of knowing many things. It cannot, however, claim to be the source of all truth. If we limited ourselves to the empirical epistemology of science, a kiss would have to be defined as “the exchange of bacteria between two Homo sapiens.” While accurate, that definition hardly covers the full truth of the human experience of kissing a loved one.
R. Robert C.
Luke 24:44-53
John Ashcroft, who served as a senator from Missouri as well as Attorney General in the George W. Bush administration, was a controversial and polarizing figure. Putting politics aside, Ashcroft’s Christian faith remains unquestionable. The night before he was sworn into the Senate in 1995, family and friends gathered around a piano in a private Washington, D.C. dining hall. His father, James, requested that John play and all sing the hymn “We Are Standing on Holy Ground.” After the joyful singing, James asked everyone to be quiet and listen carefully to his oration. Father spoke to son with these words: “The spirit of Washington is arrogance, and the spirit of Christ is humility. Put on the spirit of Christ. Nothing of lasting value has ever been accomplished in arrogance. Someday I hope someone will come up to you as you are fulfilling your duties as senator, tug on your sleeve, and say, ‘Senator, your spirit is showing.’ ”
Application: We are told by Jesus that we are to be witnesses to these things.
Ron L.
Luke 24:44-53
The Centers for Disease Control reports that roughly one in 17 Americans suffers from depression. The suicide rate among Americans is reportedly skyrocketing, as someone commits suicide every 18 minutes in the U.S. (Jean Twenge, Generation Me, p. 108). But the Ascension provides a word of hope in response to these dynamics. Martin Luther noted: “We must, therefore, conceive of his Ascension and Lordship as something active, energetic, and continuous.... He ascended up thither for the reason that he can best do his work and exercise dominion. Had he remained upon earth in visible form, before the people, he could not have wrought so effectually, for all the people could not have been with him and hear him. Therefore, he inaugurated an expedient which made it possible for him to be in touch with all and reign in all, to preach to all and be heard by all, and to be with all” (Complete Sermons, Vol. 2/1, pp. 190-191).
Commenting on a biblical text, the Reformer offered reflections on the significance of Christ’s return to the Godhead: “For in Christ a part of our flesh and blood, that is, our human nature sits in heaven above at the right hand of God.... It is an unspeakably great glory and honor for humankind to have been raised so high by him, not merely to heaven among the holy angels and archangels... but to the level of direct equality with God himself” (Luther’s Works, Vol. 13, p. 243).
We must be somebody, our lives must matter, if God takes one like us into him. Oh how he loves and forgives us, Luther says: “But now forgiveness is so great and powerful, that God not only forgives the former sins you have committed; but looks through his fingers and forgives the sins you will commit” (Complete Sermons, Vol. 1/2, p. 317).
Mark E.
