The Ascension
1Digest
This sermon centers on the church's core mission: bearing witness to Christ's present reign. It begins by contextualizing the disciples' final encounter with Jesus before his ascension, focusing on their question regarding the restoration of the kingdom to Israel. R.C. Sproul highlights their misunderstanding of the kingdom's spiritual and global nature, contrasting their earthly expectations with the reality of Christ's reign. He uses the ruins of Ephesus and Corinth to illustrate the fallen state of David's kingdom and the Jewish people's longing for restoration, connecting this to the disciples' question. Sproul then analyzes Jesus' response—the Great Commission—emphasizing the Holy Spirit's crucial role in fulfilling this mission. The sermon stresses that the Holy Spirit's purpose isn't merely spiritual experience but empowerment for missionary work, illustrated with real-life examples of missionaries facing persecution. Finally, it concludes with Christ's ascension and a call to continued dedication to the Great Commission, urging listeners to actively participate in spreading the Gospel.
Outlines
The Church's Mission and the Disciples' Misunderstanding of the Kingdom
The sermon establishes the church's mission to witness Christ's reign and explores the disciples' initial misunderstanding of the Kingdom of God as a primarily earthly, nationalistic restoration. It uses historical examples (Ephesus and Corinth) to illustrate this misunderstanding.
The Great Commission and the Holy Spirit's Empowerment
This section focuses on Jesus' response to the disciples: the Great Commission. It emphasizes the Holy Spirit's crucial role in empowering believers to fulfill this mission, providing examples of missionary work and perseverance in the face of persecution.
Christ's Ascension and the Ongoing Call to Mission
The sermon concludes with Christ's ascension and a renewed call to action, urging continued dedication to the Great Commission and highlighting the ongoing nature of Christ's reign and the need for persistent witness.
Keywords
Great Commission
The command from Jesus to spread the Gospel to all nations, emphasizing witness and discipleship.
Ascension of Christ
Jesus' ascension into heaven, marking the beginning of his reign and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit
The third person of the Trinity, empowering believers for service and witness in spreading the Gospel.
Kingdom of God
God's reign, both present and future, encompassing spiritual and earthly dimensions, extending beyond national boundaries.
Missionary Work
The active spreading of the Gospel through evangelism, service, and discipleship, often in challenging contexts.
Church's Mission
The primary purpose of the church is to bear witness to Christ's present reign and rule.
Disciples' Misunderstanding
The initial misinterpretation of the Kingdom of God as a solely earthly, nationalistic restoration of Israel.
Q&A
What is the primary mission of the church according to this sermon?
To bear witness to the present reign of Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, spreading the Gospel to all nations.
How did the disciples misunderstand the Kingdom of God?
They viewed it as a primarily earthly, nationalistic restoration of Israel, failing to grasp its spiritual and global scope.
What is the significance of the Holy Spirit in fulfilling the Great Commission?
The Holy Spirit empowers the church to fulfill the Great Commission, providing strength and guidance to overcome obstacles and spread the Gospel effectively.
What is the practical application of this sermon for listeners?
To actively participate in fulfilling the Great Commission, whether through local ministry or supporting global missionary efforts.
Show Notes
If you could bring a question to Jesus, what would you ask? From his sermon series in the book of Acts, today R.C. Sproul discusses a question that Christ’s disciples asked Him before He ascended into heaven. His answer gets to the heart of the church’s mission today.
Get R.C. Sproul’s commentary on the book of Acts for your donation of any amount: https://gift.renewingyourmind.org/3984/donate
Live outside the U.S. and Canada? Request the ebook edition of R.C. Sproul’s commentary on Acts for your donation of any amount: https://www.renewingyourmind.org/global
Meet Today’s Teacher:
R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was founder of Ligonier Ministries, first minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew’s Chapel, first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine.
Meet the Host:
Nathan W. Bingham is vice president of ministry engagement for Ligonier Ministries, executive producer and host of Renewing Your Mind, and host of the Ask Ligonier podcast.
Renewing Your Mind is a donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts
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