Community Group Questions: November 16th-22
Luke 24:50-53
The Ascension
50 And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51 While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple blessing God.
50 And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51 While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple blessing God.
Key Takeaways
- Christ's ascension proves His authority and previews our future – We will one day be caught up to be with Him, seated in heavenly places.
- The blessing of Christ is His promised presence – Through the Holy Spirit, God is with us always, marking us as His own.
- Three marks of genuine discipleship:
- Worship – Recognizing Christ's divinity and responding with our whole lives
- Joy – Rooted not in circumstances but in the resurrection and Christ's promises
- Thankfulness – Gratitude for the gap between what we deserve and what we receive through grace
- Our lives are meant to be lived in anticipation – The ascension wasn't an ending but the beginning of everything—the Spirit-empowered mission of the church.
Discussion Questions
Understanding the Text
Personal Reflection
Application
Understanding the Text
- What surprised you about the disciples' response to Jesus leaving them? How does their reaction differ from their previous responses to difficult circumstances throughout the Gospels?
- What does it mean that Jesus "blessed" the disciples before ascending? How does the blessing in Numbers 6:24-26 help us understand what Jesus was doing?
- Read Ephesians 1:20-2:10. How does Paul connect Christ's ascension to our future? What does it mean that we are "seated with him in the heavenly places"?
Personal Reflection
- The sermon mentioned three marks of discipleship: worship, joy, and thankfulness. Which of these three comes most naturally to you? Which is most challenging?
- How do you distinguish between happiness (based on circumstances) and joy (rooted in Christ's resurrection)? Share a time when you experienced joy despite difficult circumstances.
- The disciples trusted Jesus's promises even when He physically left them. What promises of God do you find hardest to trust when you can't "see" Him working?
Application
- The sermon stated: "Your path might not look the same as other people's paths." How does comparison steal your joy or gratitude? How can we celebrate the unique path God has for each person?
- What does it look like practically to be "continually in the temple blessing God" in our modern context? How can we cultivate a lifestyle of gratitude throughout our week?
- Jay mentioned the joy of introducing someone to Jesus for the first time. Who in your life needs to meet the "real Jesus" (not cultural caricatures)? How might you invite them to explore the Gospels with you?
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