The Ascension

Luke 24:36-53

Sermon / Teaching Outline

Big Idea

The apostles creed is

A Public Commitment: It is a way for people to stand up in front of others and say, "This is what I believe."

The Big Picture: It takes the most important lessons from the entire Bible and puts them into a short list. It helps you understand the core basics of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit without having to read a thousand pages at once.

A Link to the Past: It connects you to Christians from over many years . When you say it, you are repeating the same foundational truths that the very first followers of Jesus believed.

Today we are looking at The Ascension

The Ascension means Jesus is alive, reigning as King, and sending His people on mission.

Heidelberg Catechism

1. What does it mean that Jesus ascended into heaven?

It means that Jesus physically went up from earth into heaven while His disciples watched. He is now in heaven with the Father, and one day He will return to judge the living and the dead.

2. If Jesus went to heaven, is He still with us?

Yes.

Jesus is fully human and fully God.

As a human, Jesus is in heaven right now.

But as God, Jesus is always with His people through His Spirit, power, and grace.

So even though we cannot see Him, Jesus is never absent from us.

3. Why is Jesus’ ascension good news for us?

Jesus going to heaven helps us in three big ways:

Jesus speaks to the Father for us He is our advocate, which means He stands up for us before God.

Jesus prepares a place for us Since Jesus (with a human body) is in heaven, it shows that one day His people will be there too.

Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to help us The Spirit helps us live for God and focus on the things that matter most.

3 points for tonight, 1. The Ascension Confirms Jesus Really Rose

2. The Ascension shows that Jesus is Reigning as King 3. The ascension launches the mission of the church

let’s read

Famous last words illustration:

1. The Ascension Confirms Jesus Really Rose

(Luke 24:36–43)

Before Jesus ascends, He proves He is truly alive.

The disciples think they see a ghost, but Jesus:

Shows them His hands and feet

Invites them to touch Him

Eats fish

Jesus wants them to know:

The resurrection is real.

The one ascending into heaven is the same Jesus who died on the cross.

But Jesus’ resurrection isn’t fiction—it’s the foundation of our faith.

2. The Ascension Shows Jesus Is the Reigning King

(Luke 24:50–51)

Jesus blesses the disciples and is taken up into heaven.

The ascension is not Jesus leaving the story.

It is Jesus returning to the Father and taking His throne as King.

The disciples understand this because they respond with:

Worship

Joy

They know Jesus is now reigning over everything.

3. The Ascension Launches the Mission of the Church

(Luke 24:47–49)

Before leaving, Jesus gives them their mission:

Proclaim repentance and forgiveness of sins to all nations.

Then He promises they will receive power from the Father.

This promise is fulfilled in:

Acts of the Apostles

At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit comes and the disciples begin spreading the gospel.

The ascension means:

Jesus continues His work through His people.

The Closing Story: The "Presence" of Kobe Bryant

In 2020, the sports world was devastated when NBA legend Kobe Bryant passed away. For the Los Angeles Lakers, it felt like their leader, their "North Star," was gone. There was a lot of sadness and a feeling of being lost.

However, something strange happened in the months and years following. Even though Kobe wasn't physically sitting on the bench or shouting instructions from the court anymore, his teammates and players all over the league started saying the same thing: "He’s everywhere now."

Players started playing with "Mamba Mentality"—a level of focus and intensity that Kobe had taught them.

: His "departure" didn't end his influence; it actually spread it. Instead of Kobe being limited to one locker room, his way of life and his "power" were now living inside hundreds of players at the same time.

When the Lakers won the championship later that year, they didn't feel like they were doing it without him; they felt like they were doing it for him and with the strength he had left behind.

Tying it to the Ascension

When Jesus was on earth, he could only be in one place at a time. If he was in Jerusalem, he wasn't in Galilee.

But when he ascended to his throne, he didn't "leave". Instead, he sent his Spirit so that he could be with all of us, everywhere, all at once. Just like those players felt Kobe’s "spirit" every time they stepped on the court, we have the actual Power of God living inside us because Jesus took his seat as King.

Final "Mic Drop" Moment

"Jesus didn’t leave the stadium; he moved to the control room. He’s got the headset on, he sees everything, and he’s currently giving you the power to win your part of the mission."