Movements in the lesson--Remembrance / Illumination / Kerygma / Witnesses / Promise / Blessing / Absence / Waiting / Doxology

Luke’s interests--continuity - Luke’s presentation of Christ and the Church includes the theme of continuity of Jesus’ mission with that of Israel (2:21-40; 4:16-30; 24:25-27; 24:44-45). That is, the death and resurrection of Jesus and the proclamation of the gospel to all peoples were in the plan of God revealed in Hebrew Scriptures. No new departures here.

Universality of God’s offer of repentance and forgiveness to all (vs. 47). Luke makes this point from the inception of Jesus’ ministry (2:29-32), and Jesus makes it a top priority in his mission (4:16-30); now the disciples carry the inclusive gospel-"repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations . . ." (vs. 47).

Mission/commission-Luke is also interested in the notion of the centripetal vis-à-vis the centrifugal thrust of mission. Acts 1:8 reflects just such an interest. Here, the call is to proclaim to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem (Lk. 24:47).

Ascension means that life with God, not resurrection, is Jesus’-and our--destiny.

Ascension means transition . . . between resurrection and Pentecost; but the time includes commissioning and promises of the empowering presence of the Spirit.

Ascension means the sending of the Spirit so that the worshiping church can get on with its mission task. Though it suggests worlds of mystery with the ascending Jesus, it keeps our feet grounded in the mission of the church.[1]

Here are several interesting sermon ideas to consider . . . [2]

Story line-block #1: name the promise Jesus give the disciples of his supportive presence; block #2: he opens their minds to understand the Scriptures; block #3: he calls them to be witnesses.

Three "musts" of Easter-(1) Christ must suffer; (2) Christ must rise; (3) in his Name, repentance and forgiveness must now be preached.

Four guiding lights-Christ illuminates the future path for his disciples: (1) a biblical theology (v. 46); (2) an evangelistic program (v. 47); (3) an apostolic authority (v. 48); and (4) a spiritual dynamic (v. 49).
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1) New Proclamation, Marshall D. Johnson, ed. (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2002), page 63.
2)Taken from C.W. Burger in Sermon Guides For Preaching in Easter, Ascension, and Pentecost (Grand Rapids: W. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), page 78.