The risen, ascended and exalted Christ.
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series V, Cycle A
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Acts 1:1--11 (C, RC, E, L)
In introducing his book, Luke notes to Theophilus that he is taking up where he left off with his gospel. The gospel ends with the witness to the resurrected Christ and Acts begins by bringing to a close this 40--day string of appearances. The disciples are still anticipating a kind of earthly reign (v. 6), but Jesus tells them not to be concerned with God's chronology but to wait for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which would empower them for witness to the world. Having said this, he rose out of their sight. Two angels ask them why they are gazing heavenward. Jesus would return in the same manner in which they witnessed him go.
Lesson 2: Ephesians 1:15--23 (C, E); Ephesians 1:17--23 (RC); Ephesians 1:16--23 (L)
This poetic passage exalts Christ as the sovereign who is above every authority and power throughout the universe. God has put all things under his feet. Christ assumes this power not just for his benefit but for the sake of his Body, the Church (v. 22). The power of Christ's resurrection is manifested in the lives of believers and in the church.
Gospel: Luke 24:44--53 (C, L); Luke 24:49--53 (E)
The risen Christ interprets to his disciples how his ministry, especially his death and resurrection, is a fulfillment of the scriptures. The purpose of which is that forgiveness of sins might be offered to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem. He reminds them that they are witnesses of all these things but that they should wait until they have received the promised Spirit from on high. Christ led his disciples to Bethany and while he lifted his hands in blessing, he ascended to the Father. The disciples responded to these events with unsurpassed joy and praise, as they worshipped continually in the temple.
Gospel: Matthew 28:19--20 (RC)
Christ claims that all authority has been given to him by the Father. He commands his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 47 (C, RC, E) - ''God has gone up with a shout ...'' (v. 4).
Psalm 100 (L) - ''Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth'' (v. 1).
Prayer Of The Day
Mighty risen Lord, you rose above the plane of earthly existence, not to distance yourself from us, but that all who believe might know you and serve you through the gift of the Holy
184
Spirit. Give us the wisdom to yield all authority unto you, that we might discover true fulfillment and joy in your service. In Jesus' name. Amen.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Acts 1:1--11
Wait for the promise. That's what Christ told his disciples shortly before he ascended. What promise? The Holy Spirit. We Americans are impatient people. We are reluctant to wait for what we want. We barge ahead and then become tired and discouraged when plans backfire. Jesus told his disciples to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit, the power of the Spirit, without which their strength would soon flag. Waiting is necessary because it shows that the Lord is in control, not we ourselves. The apostles asked if God were going to restore the kingdom to Israel at that time. He told them that the times and seasons were God's prerogative and that they needed to wait for him to act. How do we wait? Prayer is waiting for God to instruct, strengthen and guide us. Isaiah proclaims: ''They who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength, they will mount up with wings as an eagle, they will run and not be weary, they will walk and not faint'' (Isaiah 40:31).
Times and seasons: When the disciples asked if he was going at that time, to restore the kingdom to Israel, he replied: ''It is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father has fixed ....'' The Greek words were are chronos and kairos. Chronos is a span of time, measurable time. Kairos is that special, God--appointed time. Chronos has to do with quantity of time. It is time which permeates all aspects of existence, giving it meaning and purpose. We don't know how much time (chronos) we have and we never know when God will invade our time in a special way with his holy presence. Our main task is to witness to the kairos (the life, death, resurrection and ascension), which defines all time and eternity.
Get ready, he's coming back. As soon as Jesus ascended, two angels put a fire under them. What are you standing around, gazing at the heavens for? Jesus is coming back the same way you saw him depart. Get about the tasks of the kingdom.
Lesson 2: Ephesians 1:15--23
The eyes of the heart. Paul speaks about having ''the eyes of our heart enlightened'' (v. 18). In the Bible, the heart is the vital center for human beings. The heart is considered the seat of the physical, intellectual, emotional, moral and spiritual life in man. So, the prayer of Paul is that God may open the eyes of the new believers in their vital center. You might say, he's talking about seeing reality through the eyes of God's Spirit in us.
God's power. This passage speaks eloquently of God's power. We must be clear about the nature of this power. God's power is not a type of force by which God seeks merely to dominate us. No, God could do that any time he chose. God seeks to effect his power from within us. Verse 19 speaks of the ''immeasurable greatness of his (God's) power in us'' (Revised Standard Version) but is translated for us (NRSV). Both prepositions reveal a different aspect of God's truth. God chooses to display his transforming power ''in'' us, when we yield him obedience. The proposition ''for'' us speaks to the qualitative dimension of God's power. God exercises and channels his power for our good.
Gospel: Luke 24:44--53
The Word interprets the word. The risen Christ opened the minds of his disciples to understand the scriptures (v. 45). Christ is the incarnate Word that unlocks and opens the door to understanding the scriptures. We can only rightly interpret the scriptures, and the God of the scriptures through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
You are witnesses of these things (v. 48). All Christians are called to bear witness to that which they have seen and experienced in their relationship with the Lord. They are to witness
185
to the reality of the risen Lord and the forgiveness offered in his name. Before we can fulfill this command, we must have something to witness to. That is, Christ must be a living reality in and through our lives.
Final blessing. In the television show, Unsolved Mysteries, there was the case of the brutal murder of an elderly man, in ill health. He was bludgeoned to death with an iron by a vagrant. The son repined how horrible it must have been for his father to end his life staring into the face of a crazed killer, whose bloodied hands were raised in violence against him. In this passage, Luke reports that the Lord raised his hands in benediction as he was taken up into heaven. That image may well have been the final image before those witnesses were ushered into glory. What a comfort for every Christian to know that our Lord's final gesture was one of blessing, which he left behind as he ascended.
Gospel: Matthew 28:19--20
Mandate for Mission. These verses disclose the church's reason for being: go, make disciples, baptize and teach. There is good reason that this is not called the Great Suggestion or the Great Guideline. There is no option here; it is a command, an imperative. If the church forgets this truth, it becomes a club, a religious society to promote the self--interest of its members, not the living Body Of Christ.
PREACHING APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
Lesson 1: Acts 1:1--11
Sermon Title: Wait For Reinforcements Before Engaging In Battle
Sermon Angle: Jesus instructed them to wait in Jerusalem until they received the promise of the Father (the Holy Spirit). It's dangerous to engage in battle with a mighty foe until your forces have the edge. Better to wait for reinforcements than to jump presumptuously into the fray. Jesus realized that his modest cadre of troops was no match for the foe. That's why he instructed them to wait for the promised Spirit. This was done for the same reason Gideon, of Old Testament fame, weeded out his recruits by taking only those who lapped water like a dog. It was to show that power resides in the Lord, not in the strength of our arm.
Sermon Title: Return Trip
Sermon Angle: The angels asked them why they stood gazing into the heavens. Jesus was going to come back the same way he went. You might think that this comment might have encouraged them to camp on the hilltop, telescope in hand. What the heavenly visitors apparently communicated to the disciples was that they need not worry; Jesus had not abandoned them. Not only had he bequeathed his Spirit to them, he was coming back to receive them into glory. Life is not a one way trip to nowhere but a round trip to our spiritual home.
Outline:
Introduction: When you book a vacation, you don't look for a one way flight but a round trip. The Ascension was Jesus' return trip back to the Father. The angels assured that Jesus was going to return, but for what reason?
1. To judge all people
2. To establish the kingdom
3. To receive his own
4. To return us to our spiritual home
Lesson 2: Ephesians 1:15--23
Sermon Title: Dynamite
Sermon Angle: This pericope speaks eloquently of God's power. The Greek word here is dynamis, from which we get the name for dynamite. In the thinking of Paul, the power of God is preeminently revealed in the resurrection of his Son. But what kind of power is it?
186
1. It is power above every earthly or heavenly power (vv. 21--22)
2. It is power in us who believe (v. 19)
3. It is power for us who trust in him
4. It is power channeled through and for the church (v. 22)
April 26, 1994, was a historic day for South Africa. For over four decades the majority black population has been on the losing end of a power struggle, but on April 26, they were given the power of the ballot, the power to determine their own destiny. Ten years ago, Desmond Tutu, the Anglican Archbishop in that country made an ironic comment, which I recently heard on the radio. This is the sense of what he had to say. I'm 51 years of age and most people would say that I'm a reasonably responsible individual. Yet, I cannot vote. At the same time, a 19--year--old young man can vote simply because he's white. He shared how demeaning it was to be treated like children. The elderly and the infirm were given the privilege of being the first to exercise their right to vote. The television showed clips of them going to the polls for the first time. They hobbled on crutches, rode in wheelchairs. They got there any way they could, standing in long lines. The joy that they evidenced at the opportunity to exercise their power of franchise was truly inspiring. This happy day has dawned because individuals, Nelson Mandela and others, boldly witnessed to the truth.
Gospel: Luke 24:44--53
Sermon Title: I Witness News
Sermon Angle: Almost every television newscast in the country claims to be Eye Witness News. They claim this title by virtue of the fact that they send photographers and reporters to the scene of newsworthy events, where they report what they have observed or others have witnessed. Christian witness to the resurrection is not so much eye witness news, since we came on the scene almost 2,000 years after the resurrection, but I witness news. The world will not know of the risen Lord or his love for us except through ''I witness'' testimony. Christianity is not as much dogma as it is truth, communicated through persons.
Sermon Title: The Churches' Ho Hum Festival
Sermon Angle: Of all the holy days of the Church, Ascension has to be the least understood. Most Christians regard it with apathy and ignorance. What is the significance of the Ascension?
Outline:
1. It concluded Jesus' earthly ministry
2. It expanded the Lord's outreach through the Church
3. It made available the Holy Spirit to the Church
4. It allowed Jesus to prepare a place in heaven for his own (John 14:1--6)
5. It made forgiveness available to all (v. 47)
6. It shows that glory, not death is God's final word (Hebrews 2)
187
Lesson 1: Acts 1:1--11 (C, RC, E, L)
In introducing his book, Luke notes to Theophilus that he is taking up where he left off with his gospel. The gospel ends with the witness to the resurrected Christ and Acts begins by bringing to a close this 40--day string of appearances. The disciples are still anticipating a kind of earthly reign (v. 6), but Jesus tells them not to be concerned with God's chronology but to wait for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which would empower them for witness to the world. Having said this, he rose out of their sight. Two angels ask them why they are gazing heavenward. Jesus would return in the same manner in which they witnessed him go.
Lesson 2: Ephesians 1:15--23 (C, E); Ephesians 1:17--23 (RC); Ephesians 1:16--23 (L)
This poetic passage exalts Christ as the sovereign who is above every authority and power throughout the universe. God has put all things under his feet. Christ assumes this power not just for his benefit but for the sake of his Body, the Church (v. 22). The power of Christ's resurrection is manifested in the lives of believers and in the church.
Gospel: Luke 24:44--53 (C, L); Luke 24:49--53 (E)
The risen Christ interprets to his disciples how his ministry, especially his death and resurrection, is a fulfillment of the scriptures. The purpose of which is that forgiveness of sins might be offered to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem. He reminds them that they are witnesses of all these things but that they should wait until they have received the promised Spirit from on high. Christ led his disciples to Bethany and while he lifted his hands in blessing, he ascended to the Father. The disciples responded to these events with unsurpassed joy and praise, as they worshipped continually in the temple.
Gospel: Matthew 28:19--20 (RC)
Christ claims that all authority has been given to him by the Father. He commands his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 47 (C, RC, E) - ''God has gone up with a shout ...'' (v. 4).
Psalm 100 (L) - ''Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth'' (v. 1).
Prayer Of The Day
Mighty risen Lord, you rose above the plane of earthly existence, not to distance yourself from us, but that all who believe might know you and serve you through the gift of the Holy
184
Spirit. Give us the wisdom to yield all authority unto you, that we might discover true fulfillment and joy in your service. In Jesus' name. Amen.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Acts 1:1--11
Wait for the promise. That's what Christ told his disciples shortly before he ascended. What promise? The Holy Spirit. We Americans are impatient people. We are reluctant to wait for what we want. We barge ahead and then become tired and discouraged when plans backfire. Jesus told his disciples to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit, the power of the Spirit, without which their strength would soon flag. Waiting is necessary because it shows that the Lord is in control, not we ourselves. The apostles asked if God were going to restore the kingdom to Israel at that time. He told them that the times and seasons were God's prerogative and that they needed to wait for him to act. How do we wait? Prayer is waiting for God to instruct, strengthen and guide us. Isaiah proclaims: ''They who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength, they will mount up with wings as an eagle, they will run and not be weary, they will walk and not faint'' (Isaiah 40:31).
Times and seasons: When the disciples asked if he was going at that time, to restore the kingdom to Israel, he replied: ''It is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father has fixed ....'' The Greek words were are chronos and kairos. Chronos is a span of time, measurable time. Kairos is that special, God--appointed time. Chronos has to do with quantity of time. It is time which permeates all aspects of existence, giving it meaning and purpose. We don't know how much time (chronos) we have and we never know when God will invade our time in a special way with his holy presence. Our main task is to witness to the kairos (the life, death, resurrection and ascension), which defines all time and eternity.
Get ready, he's coming back. As soon as Jesus ascended, two angels put a fire under them. What are you standing around, gazing at the heavens for? Jesus is coming back the same way you saw him depart. Get about the tasks of the kingdom.
Lesson 2: Ephesians 1:15--23
The eyes of the heart. Paul speaks about having ''the eyes of our heart enlightened'' (v. 18). In the Bible, the heart is the vital center for human beings. The heart is considered the seat of the physical, intellectual, emotional, moral and spiritual life in man. So, the prayer of Paul is that God may open the eyes of the new believers in their vital center. You might say, he's talking about seeing reality through the eyes of God's Spirit in us.
God's power. This passage speaks eloquently of God's power. We must be clear about the nature of this power. God's power is not a type of force by which God seeks merely to dominate us. No, God could do that any time he chose. God seeks to effect his power from within us. Verse 19 speaks of the ''immeasurable greatness of his (God's) power in us'' (Revised Standard Version) but is translated for us (NRSV). Both prepositions reveal a different aspect of God's truth. God chooses to display his transforming power ''in'' us, when we yield him obedience. The proposition ''for'' us speaks to the qualitative dimension of God's power. God exercises and channels his power for our good.
Gospel: Luke 24:44--53
The Word interprets the word. The risen Christ opened the minds of his disciples to understand the scriptures (v. 45). Christ is the incarnate Word that unlocks and opens the door to understanding the scriptures. We can only rightly interpret the scriptures, and the God of the scriptures through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
You are witnesses of these things (v. 48). All Christians are called to bear witness to that which they have seen and experienced in their relationship with the Lord. They are to witness
185
to the reality of the risen Lord and the forgiveness offered in his name. Before we can fulfill this command, we must have something to witness to. That is, Christ must be a living reality in and through our lives.
Final blessing. In the television show, Unsolved Mysteries, there was the case of the brutal murder of an elderly man, in ill health. He was bludgeoned to death with an iron by a vagrant. The son repined how horrible it must have been for his father to end his life staring into the face of a crazed killer, whose bloodied hands were raised in violence against him. In this passage, Luke reports that the Lord raised his hands in benediction as he was taken up into heaven. That image may well have been the final image before those witnesses were ushered into glory. What a comfort for every Christian to know that our Lord's final gesture was one of blessing, which he left behind as he ascended.
Gospel: Matthew 28:19--20
Mandate for Mission. These verses disclose the church's reason for being: go, make disciples, baptize and teach. There is good reason that this is not called the Great Suggestion or the Great Guideline. There is no option here; it is a command, an imperative. If the church forgets this truth, it becomes a club, a religious society to promote the self--interest of its members, not the living Body Of Christ.
PREACHING APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
Lesson 1: Acts 1:1--11
Sermon Title: Wait For Reinforcements Before Engaging In Battle
Sermon Angle: Jesus instructed them to wait in Jerusalem until they received the promise of the Father (the Holy Spirit). It's dangerous to engage in battle with a mighty foe until your forces have the edge. Better to wait for reinforcements than to jump presumptuously into the fray. Jesus realized that his modest cadre of troops was no match for the foe. That's why he instructed them to wait for the promised Spirit. This was done for the same reason Gideon, of Old Testament fame, weeded out his recruits by taking only those who lapped water like a dog. It was to show that power resides in the Lord, not in the strength of our arm.
Sermon Title: Return Trip
Sermon Angle: The angels asked them why they stood gazing into the heavens. Jesus was going to come back the same way he went. You might think that this comment might have encouraged them to camp on the hilltop, telescope in hand. What the heavenly visitors apparently communicated to the disciples was that they need not worry; Jesus had not abandoned them. Not only had he bequeathed his Spirit to them, he was coming back to receive them into glory. Life is not a one way trip to nowhere but a round trip to our spiritual home.
Outline:
Introduction: When you book a vacation, you don't look for a one way flight but a round trip. The Ascension was Jesus' return trip back to the Father. The angels assured that Jesus was going to return, but for what reason?
1. To judge all people
2. To establish the kingdom
3. To receive his own
4. To return us to our spiritual home
Lesson 2: Ephesians 1:15--23
Sermon Title: Dynamite
Sermon Angle: This pericope speaks eloquently of God's power. The Greek word here is dynamis, from which we get the name for dynamite. In the thinking of Paul, the power of God is preeminently revealed in the resurrection of his Son. But what kind of power is it?
186
1. It is power above every earthly or heavenly power (vv. 21--22)
2. It is power in us who believe (v. 19)
3. It is power for us who trust in him
4. It is power channeled through and for the church (v. 22)
April 26, 1994, was a historic day for South Africa. For over four decades the majority black population has been on the losing end of a power struggle, but on April 26, they were given the power of the ballot, the power to determine their own destiny. Ten years ago, Desmond Tutu, the Anglican Archbishop in that country made an ironic comment, which I recently heard on the radio. This is the sense of what he had to say. I'm 51 years of age and most people would say that I'm a reasonably responsible individual. Yet, I cannot vote. At the same time, a 19--year--old young man can vote simply because he's white. He shared how demeaning it was to be treated like children. The elderly and the infirm were given the privilege of being the first to exercise their right to vote. The television showed clips of them going to the polls for the first time. They hobbled on crutches, rode in wheelchairs. They got there any way they could, standing in long lines. The joy that they evidenced at the opportunity to exercise their power of franchise was truly inspiring. This happy day has dawned because individuals, Nelson Mandela and others, boldly witnessed to the truth.
Gospel: Luke 24:44--53
Sermon Title: I Witness News
Sermon Angle: Almost every television newscast in the country claims to be Eye Witness News. They claim this title by virtue of the fact that they send photographers and reporters to the scene of newsworthy events, where they report what they have observed or others have witnessed. Christian witness to the resurrection is not so much eye witness news, since we came on the scene almost 2,000 years after the resurrection, but I witness news. The world will not know of the risen Lord or his love for us except through ''I witness'' testimony. Christianity is not as much dogma as it is truth, communicated through persons.
Sermon Title: The Churches' Ho Hum Festival
Sermon Angle: Of all the holy days of the Church, Ascension has to be the least understood. Most Christians regard it with apathy and ignorance. What is the significance of the Ascension?
Outline:
1. It concluded Jesus' earthly ministry
2. It expanded the Lord's outreach through the Church
3. It made available the Holy Spirit to the Church
4. It allowed Jesus to prepare a place in heaven for his own (John 14:1--6)
5. It made forgiveness available to all (v. 47)
6. It shows that glory, not death is God's final word (Hebrews 2)
187
