Sermon   7th Sunday after Easter      

May 20, 2012               

 “A missional community”        Acts 1:1-11

Today is Ascension Sunday.  Jesus ascends into heaven leaving all his followers standing there watching him.  Kind of like on Star Trek when Captain Kirk says “beam me up.”  Sometimes I want to be beamed up off the planet.  Life can be tough.  But then I remember that God has a plan for me.  He has called me to tell others about Jesus.  That is my life’s goal. That is the goal of those that follow Jesus.  That is the goal of this church.  I love being a part of a community that loves Jesus because they realize that Jesus first loved us.  Isn’t it great?  I can think of no more fulfilling way to live this life. 

Let’s read about Jesus ascension into heaven.  How he promises the Holy Spirit will come on his followers to empower them, so that he would still be with them by the Holy Spirit.  He doesn’t leave them alone.  He hasn’t left us alone.  We have God in us. He also gives them their mission.  Our mission.  Our life’s work.  What a passion, power filled life we lead.  Let’s read. 

(Read)
There is one part of this section that I want us to focus on.  Jesus’ suffering, verse 3.  That is the motivation for our work as a church.  That’s why we have a cross on the wall.  Jesus’ suffering for me has so profoundly changed me that it provides my motivation for sharing Jesus with others.  If we ever lose track of our motivation as a church, we will be lost, adrift at sea.  We love others because Jesus suffered for us.  No other reason.  We don’t love others because others love us.  That’s called favoritism, a sin.  We don’t love others because they are family.  We don’t love others because it’s fashionable.  We love because Jesus demonstrates his Father’s great love for us in the sacrifice of His Son and the Son’s obedience to His Father. 

We understand what our motivation is.  Do we pursue this calling alone?  No.  Jesus does not just get beamed up into heaven leaving his followers alone, on their own to figure things out.  He leaves them with a gift: The Holy Spirit.  The power and presence of the Almighty God.  Given sparingly in the Old Testament.  But now given generously to all those who lay their lives down at Jesus’ feet.  This Holy Spirit guides us individually and as a community.  The Spirit says, “go and comfort this person.”  The Holy Spirit shows us how to pray so that we are not praying selfishly, but with the mind of Christ.  The Holy Spirit is our comforter.  I have a profound sense of intimacy with God.  I feel loved and known by God through the Holy Spirit.  I feel forgiven.  No shame.  A feeling of higher calling and purpose.  The ability to see others through God’s eyes.  Eyes of compassion.  Thank you Father for your great gift. 

We understand our motivation is God’s love for us.  We understand He doesn’t leave us alone but abides in us as the Church by the Holy Spirit.  Lastly we are reminded that we face life’s struggles together.  A community to love and pray for and encourage one another.  If I have to face life’s struggles, then I want to do it in an encouraging community, not alone.  This is the Church community.

But we’re “sent”, aren’t we?  Jesus gives us a mission.  Our church has a mission.  From God.  Through God.  For God.  Directed at people.  Us.  Others. You can just picture this scene.  Jesus ascends into the clouds.  His followers looking up, eyes and mouths wide open.  Standing there.  Amazed.  Two angels appear.  Why are you standing here?  He’ll be back.  Stop standing there amazed.  Get going.   And don’t ever stop.  Didn’t Jesus give you work to do?  Yes, He has.  Spread the Word.  Jesus’ mission is our mission.  Is there something keeping you from it?  What is more important?  Why is it more important?  We are a missional community.  We are the missional church.  Amen.