The Ascension”: Experience the Closeness // Acts 1:1-11
Break Bread
Enjoy the company of each other. Eat together with gratitude. If possible and/or if no food, take communion together. Ask highs and lows of the week.
Worship (Worship through Thanksgiving)
Transition to a space friendly for deep engagement.
We are going to start a time of worship. Psalm 100 says to enter his courts with Thanksgiving. Let's host God's presence by starting our time by saying short prayers of Thanksgiving together, one at a time. It it can be as simple as thank you for food. let the spirit guide your mind and heart in the practice of Thanksgiving. I will start and then we can go around
Thank you Jesus for today Thank you for this house we can meet at …and on
End the time with “Amen”
Have One (Or a few) Person Read this Background Aloud
Jesus’ ascension isn’t telling the disciples (spatially) that He is in outer space but rather that Jesus now permanently has a new relationship with His followers as their King (not just their Rabbi), guiding the destiny and purposes of their lives.
The disciples were processing much of what this meant. They had expectations and disappointments. They wanted Him to act in a certain way, but He challenged them to act in the way He had shown them—to live as His witnesses, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
As they processed His approaching ascension, the disciples asked Him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6-7). They had practical, present, and political concerns they wanted and expected Jesus’ new resurrected/ascended status to address. These concerns shaped their worldview and their expectations of what Jesus should do. Notice that their questions weren’t about doubting God’s existence or Jesus’ resurrection (though we know that “Doubting Thomas” needed to touch Jesus’ wounds). They wanted to know what He was going to do—His purposes. They wanted Him to restore the kingdom in the way they expected.
As followers of Jesus, we’re not too different from the disciples in this moment. Most of our doubt revolves around God’s purposes, just as theirs did. “God’s not doing what I think He should be doing.” In short, we think we know what Jesus’ Kingdom should look like.
Now look at how Jesus responds and shifts their focus: “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Talk about a conversation changer!
What is God doing in this moment? He is shifting their assumptions about what He is doing by revealing the reality of His plan. He is setting aside their dreams and expectations for a moment, saying, “Those things are important, but right now, focus on what I am doing in this moment.”
Tonight is about partaking in the realignment journey that Jesus took His disciples on—dealing with our expectations, doubts, and disappointments. When we’re too focused on our circumstances and what we think God should be doing, we can miss out on what God is doing!
Reading
Go in a circle and read the passage taking it a few verses at a time
Acts 1:1-11
Afterwards, leave 30-60 seconds for silent reflection on the reading
Optionally, leave it open to share anything the Spirit highlighted.
Do this Practice Tonight
Leader: Depending on where your group is at, consider this activity:
Listening Prayer for Disappointments & Alignments
Step 1: Activity Prep
Read aloud: Look how Jesus completely re-focuses them off their focus- Jesus doing what they wanted and being the solution… to Jesus focusing them on the reality that THEY were the solution... they would be His witnesses all over the earth. The Kingdom would be outworked through them and through us.
Oftentimes we need to lay aside what our minds are surrounded by in order to hear the purposes of God. We are going to engage
Consider gathering paper + pens or if you can do in a focused and peaceful way write it down on your phone.
Step 2: Listen the Holy Spirit
Read Aloud: It is not that God is not speaking, but we are not listening. Amidst a busy and noisy city, let’s create a quiet, restful spiritual environment for a few minutes so that we can posture our hearts to hear God.
For the next 5-10 minutes, we’re going to be engaging in silence, solitude and with a prayerful listening posture, hear from God. We want to listen specifically two questions:
Listen for:
What disappointments do you have about what God is doing this season?
What purposes does he want you to draw close to this season?
Feel free to write this down on some paper.
After 5-10, queue the group to gather again for sharing
Consider doing the rest in gender groups
Step 3: Share openly
Take 2-3 minutes to share responses from those 2 questions
Step 4: What are doable + purposeful goals?
Ask the Holy Spirit to outwork this purposeful work by highlighting a person in your life to pursue. Some examples:
Text a few people a week some encouragement.
Invite 1 person a month to a meal.
Process what to talk about when you meet.
Again, ask the Holy Spirit to prepare you with some ideas...
Close In Prayer
Either leader or suggest someone to close in prayer
Suggestions for Practices for the Week
Practice: Closeness with the Spirit
Even those of us who have had deep, transformative experiences with the Lord can still regularly feel distant or disconnected, just like in any other relationship! Practicing “closeness” with God and re-establishing that connection often involves intentionally bringing your “awareness” to His presence. He has promised to always be with you, and His sheep hear His voice! Here are some suggestions to help you practice awareness and foster closeness…
Contemplation: Take something that’s on your mind or heart and start processing it. Invite the Holy Spirit into that process, sit with Him, and notice what comes to mind
Listening: Actively listen for what the Holy Spirit may be saying. He might highlight a memory, a scripture, or speak directly to your heart. Being intentional about this, even for a few minutes, is key.
Journaling: Write down what He seems to be highlighting so you can document it and revisit later. It often feels more real once it’s written!
Journal at the start of the day with the prompt: “In what ways am I seeing you that you are calling me to see differently?
Leaving Together
Say goodbye Stand at the door with a blessing and a hug