Wesley Word – May 25, 2022

Carolyn Lemaster   -  

To go along with service on: Sunday, May 29th 

Experiencing Grace

Exploring Truth

Will You Be His Witnesses?

Acts 1:1-11

This Thursday is Ascension Day, which we will celebrate this Sunday on Ascension Sunday. The Ascension of Jesus takes place 40 days after Easter and ten days before the Day of Pentecost. According to Acts chapter 1, Jesus has been spending the last 40 days with his disciples proving to them that he is alive and giving them final instructions.

As Jesus prepares to depart and return to heaven, his disciples asked him if now is the time he is going to restore the kingdom to Israel. They are referring to what we talked about a few weeks ago as the new Heaven and the new Earth. Jesus tells them quite bluntly that it is none of their business, nor is it any of ours, the time that the father has set for these things to occur.

What is our business is being witnesses for Jesus Christ. What does a witness do? A witness tells what they know, what they have seen, and what they have heard. We who have come to know Jesus Christ, we who have had an encounter with the Risen Lord, we who have put our faith in him as our Lord and Savior, are commanded to go into the world and tell others about him and about what he has done for us.

The original disciples had to wait for another ten days until they received the power of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. However, we do not need to wait. We have the Holy Spirit now. God has empowered us and enabled us to go into all the world to bear witness to the life, death, resurrection, and coming again of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

Question for Reflection/Discussion:

  1. What is keeping you from being a witness for Christ?

New Testament in a Year: https://wesleyonline.org/biblereading/

  • May 25    John 14:15-31
  • May 26    John 15:1-27
  • May 27    John 16:1-33
  • May 28    John 17:1-26
  • May 29    John 18:1-24
  • May 30    John 18:25-19:22
  • May 31    John 19:23-42
  • June 1    John 20:1-31

Expressing Love: Family/Mission Activity

What do you see?- Take advantage of the nice weekend weather to discuss Jesus’ ascension. Go outside with a blanket or something soft to lay on. Look up at the clouds and ask everyone what images they see (certain animals, cars, faces, etc.). Then have someone read the ascension story from Acts 1:1-11. Ask your family to discuss what they think it would have been like to watch Jesus ascend into heaven. It took some imagination earlier to see some of the things in the clouds. It takes some imagination for us now to think about what it would have been like (how did it look, feel, smell, sound) to be there when Jesus ascended, but we know it happened. Because we know the Bible is the actual word of God, we can believe every word in it to be true. When Jesus ascended, we, as Christians, were left with the job of spreading the word of Jesus and the life we have in Him. As you continue to look up at the clouds and imagine Jesus’ ascension, talk about ways you can tell others about Jesus.

Announcements

  • Jackson Concert: Tom Trenney Hymnfest with Organ & Choir – Thursday, June 16 @ 7:30pm
  • VBS, July 11-14, register here.
  • Music Camp, July 18-22, register here.