“He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight – Acts 1:9.
Ascension Sunday
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Call to worship – Hebrews 10:19-23
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
He is ascended to heaven! Alleluia!
Call to confession – Hebrews 4:11-13
Assurance of pardon – Hebrews 4:14-16
*OT reading – Genesis 3:20-24
*NT reading – Acts 1:1-11
Confession of faith – Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 46-48
Q46. What do you mean by saying, “He ascended to heaven”?
A. That Christ, while His disciples watched,
was taken up from the earth into heaven1
and remains there on our behalf2
until He comes again to judge the living and the dead.3
1 Luke 24:50-51; Acts 1:9-11
2 Rom. 8:34; Eph. 4:8-10; Heb. 7:23-25; 9:24
3 Acts 1:11
Q47. But isn’t Christ with us until the end of the world
as He promised us?1
A. Christ is true human and true God.
In His human nature Christ is not now on earth;2
but in His divinity, majesty, grace, and Spirit
He is never absent from us.3
1 Matt. 28:20; 2 Acts 1:9-11; 3:19-21; 3 Matt. 28:18-20; John 14:16-19
Q48. If His humanity is not present wherever His divinity is,
then aren’t the two natures of Christ separated from each other?
A. Certainly not. Since divinity is not limited and is present everywhere,1 it is evident that Christ’s divinity is surely beyond the bounds of the humanity that has been taken on, but at the same time His divinity is in and remains personally united to His humanity.2
1 Jer. 23:23-24; Acts 7:48-49 (Isa. 66:1)
2 John 1:14; 3:13; Col. 2:9
*Sermon Text – Leviticus 1:1-9
Sermon title – The Ascension of Jesus Christ
* Charge – Colossians 3:1-4
* Benediction – Numbers 6:24-26
Sermon Theme: Jesus ascended to heaven as our firstfruits, as foreshadowed by temple sacrifices.
Sermon outline
Intro –
I. Reality of the Ascension – John 14-16; Acts 1
II. Metaphysics of the Ascension – catechism 47-48
III. Ascension Offering – Leviticus 1:1-9
A. Drawing near
B. Imputation / representation
C. Knife
D. Fire
E. Acceptable Ascent
F. Back to the Garden of Eden
G. First fruits of Ascension
Conclusion
Words for children to listen for
Ascension Corban Knife
Fire &n