The Ascension of the Lord

 

Opening Prayer

Lord,

May you find us looking for you

In the sky

At work or school

Within a stranger

Wherever we go, may we find you!

 

Journal/Reflection Questions

Acts 1:1-11

• Share a time when you had Jesus in your midst.
• What proof do you have that Jesus was alive and walked on the earth?
• Does the message the men in white had for the disciples ring true for you today?

 Ephesians 1:17-23

• How do you know if the Spirit is near? Is with you?
• What name do you give God? Jesus?  Holy Spirit?  Do they respond when you call them by name?  Share an example.

 Mark 16:15-20

• What does the Gospel say about baptism that continues to live on in you today? Anything?  Nothing?
• How do you think it felt for the disciples to lose Jesus a second time? How was this time different?  How was this time the same?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• Describe the Holy Spirit.
• What does your baptism have to do with the Holy Spirit? How does the Holy Spirit affect your baptism?
• How does knowing the Holy Spirit change your perspective on life? Situations?  Struggles?  Blessings?
• How do you know the Spirit is near? Is with you?
• Where do you look for God? In the sky?  In the blessings?  How does this limit God’s power?
• Do you believe in heaven? Why or why not?  Do you believe this is where God/Jesus can be found?
• Explain why God is exalted? What does this mean?
• Give an example of someone who has grown in faith? What are the symptoms/signs that your faith has grown?
• What characteristics does a person who is “full of faith” have? By your definition, how do you compare?
• How does God call you to share the Good News?
• What message are you here to share? All of the Gospel or just a piece of it?
• What signs or miracles do you see today?
• Have you been a witness of a modern day miracle?
• Where do you believe God is most present?
• Where do you believe God in needed most?

 

Closing Prayer

Leader:  Father, we are

 ALL:  connected in faith!

Leader:  Father, we are

ALL:  bound by love!

Leader: Father, we are

 ALL:  consumed with grace!

Leader:  Father, we are

ALL:  surrounded by mercy!

Leader:  Father, we are

ALL:  unified in blood!

Leader:  Father, we are

ALL:  joined with the Spirit!

 

Challenge for the Week:  Consider the qualifications of a person who follows God.  What would be the job description of a Disciple?  Would the description be different from the time the Apostles walked with Jesus vs today?  Why or why not?  Do you need to work for the church, be a priest or pastor in order to be closer to God or to be a Disciple?  Do you need to spend hours in prayer and reading scripture?  Must you do good works and deeds and help those who are marginalized in order to be considered as a Disciple?  Spend time this week really considering what a person in society today has that makes them a Disciple of God.