Thursday, May 21 – Via Zoom

Opening Thoughts – Carl Groff

He read Acts 1:1-11. Acts 1:1-11 New King James Version

Prologue

1-3: The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

The Holy Spirit Promised

4-8: And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

Jesus Ascends to Heaven

9-11: Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

Message by Marv Shenk

Lesson Title – Goodbye Promises from Jesus

What happened to you in the last forty days – since Easter?

We were on a “stay at home order” but it seems like Jesus was on a “stay away from home order” following his resurrection.

Jesus did not leave earth without saying goodbye.

In John 14, Jesus said I am going to prepare a place for you.

I will come back again.

Goodbye means good wishes.

While I am gone…

Be a good shepherd

Take care of my sheep

Follow the pattern I gave you.

God brings us security forever.

Our Father God is in control – with Jesus at His right side.

Without Jesus we have a cloud-filled future.

Don’t you wonder what the cloud looked like that took Jesus to Heaven?

After Jesus said goodbye, he left the Holy Spirit to be with us.

It is not how much of the Holy Spirit we have – it matters much the Holy Spirit has of us.

Jesus is coming again.

Thank You, Jesus, for showing us how to live.

Thank You for giving us the Holy Spirit.

Thank You for being in control of everything.

Continue to lead us.