The Disciple's Final Exam - Graduation Sunday

“The Disciples Final Exam”

Luke 24:44-53 & Acts 1:4-11

Ascension/Graduation Sunday, May 30, 2003

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(half-sheet handout)

The Disciple’s Final Exam

(based on Luke 24:44-53 & Acts 1:4-11)

The disciples had spent three-and-a-half years with Jesus in ministry. What were the most important things Jesus tried to teach them, and in turn, us during his last moments on earth?

Question #1 – What do we witness? (Luke 24:46-48)

Question #2 – What do we do? (Luke 24:49 & Acts 1:4-5)

Question #3 – Why did Jesus not come?(Acts 1:6-7)

Question #4 – Where do we witness?(Acts 1:8)

Question #5 – Where is Jesus at today?(Acts 1:9-11)

Extra credit: What does it take to graduate as a Christian?

Introduction – Illustration – my final exam.(I had a final exam in a credit/no credit course that I didn’t need to take in order to pass. I choose not to take it instead of making the effort.)

Point- the disciples couldn’t do what I did, their life was hanging in the balance!

Jesus had given them some things to think about.

He has given them to us as well.

Question #1 – What do we witness? (Luke 24:46-48)

We are witnesses to Christ’s suffering…we are witnesses to Christ’s resurrection…we are witnesses to Christ’s redemptive grace-filled offer…and we are witnesses of the remission of sin.

“And you are witnesses to these things.” (v.48)

Jesus had just shown these disciples the ultimate “shock and awe” campaign.

Just when the disciples thought it was over that Good Friday afternoon…

But they were shocked by Easter morning….

And awed by the teachings that were now starting to make sense…(ex. the road to Emmaus – vs. 31 – “then there eyes were opened.”)

We witness to the suffering, death, resurrection of Christ and the redemption and remission of sin that is offered to all humanity. This is our witness.

Did you get this one right? Good, question #2.

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Question #2 – What do we do? (Luke 24:49 & Acts 1:4-5)

We tarry (according the NKJV) other versions say that we remain or stay…until what???

“until we are endued with the power from on high”

Acts 1:5 says “you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

There’s been a lot of theological thought around this verse. Some say that the Holy Spirit comes after baptism, some say during, and that we can only come to a true understanding of what we are to do once we’ve been baptized with Spirit one way or another…”

In either case, its not a matter of the answer, it’s a matter of the question. Let me explain.

What we do while we wait for Christ’s second coming is based solely on our Spiritual gift. Therefore the question should not be one of when (I believe a strong case can be made for either), but is should be a question of how.

Turn to I Corinthians 12:12-14….

“For as the body is one and has many member, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ! (listen up here)

For by one Spirit were we all baptized

(the same spirit that baptized the disciples also baptized us when we came to faith – notice when is not the issue – it happened!)

into one body---whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free (it doesn’t matter where we’ve come from – we are a new creature in Christ)

and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. (we are in this together)

What do we do while we wait? We become the Spirit-filled, Spiritual gifts given, Spiritual gifts using, people of Jesus Christ. “When” is not the right question? We need to be asking “how” do we continue the ministry that Jesus Christ started on this earth 2000 years ago.

Without Christ there is no Christianity. Without the Holy Spirit there are no gifts. Without gifts, we are powerless. (But taking this more positively….)

We do have Christ in Christianity? Amen??? The Holy Spirit has given us gifts? Amen???

And we, as the people of Jesus Christ, are anything but powerless? Amen!

What do we do, we wait to see how the Spirit is going to use us, and then follow Its direction.

Did you get this one right? Good, onto question #3…

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Question #3 – Why did Jesus NOT come? (Acts 1:6-7)

It’s amazing to me that after three-and-a-half years the disciples still didn’t get it!

Just before Jesus was to leave them. Just before the birth of the Church, the filling of the Holy Spirit, the thousands coming to be saved through the ministries of Peter, Paul and the others, they are still asking, “It is time to restore Israel yet?”