Prelude to Pentecost (Part One)

This sermon on Acts 1:1-11 explores why Luke uses Christ's Ascension as the defining moment that divides his two-volume work (Gospel of Luke and Acts). Rather than treating the Ascension as a minor concluding event, the pastor demonstrates how it represents the pivotal transition from Christ's visible earthly ministry to His invisible heavenly reign through apostolic witness. The message addresses the apostles' misunderstanding about the kingdom being political and ethnic, showing instead how Christ redirected them toward a global, spiritual mission. It challenges modern tendencies toward "sky-watching" speculation about Christ's return while neglecting present faithfulness, calling believers to active witness in our post-Ascension era. The sermon emphasizes that we live in the same time period as the original apostles—after Christ's ascension but before His return—making their example directly relevant for contemporary Christian living and mission.