In one of the strange texts of the book of Acts, one of the great duos of the Bible breaks up, and Paul seems to completely contradict himself with he decides to take Timothy with him.
Vision Sunday Fall 2024 – What is the mission statement of the Church? What even IS the Church? River City belongs to a long line of people who gathered in local churches around the world, united by the Spirit of Jesus.
Now that he has met Jesus face to face, Saul's entire outlook on scripture and Jesus has changed. He now begins preaching Jesus as the Messiah to the very people he used to work with, and twice they try to kill him. He heads for the Jerusalem believers and they aren't so sure either. Only one guy, an encourager named Barnabas takes him in.
Guest Preacher Brooks Simpson (Grace Community Church, North Liberty, IA) joins us with a message from Mark 11 on how Jesus is not the king we all want, but he is the king we need.
Luke starts out his second narrative like a new driver adjusting the rearview mirror, remembering where we've come from in terms of Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and ascension. He reminds us of the promise of the Father, and gets us ready for the mission: Be My Witnesses. And then he ascends.
Jesus' last move on earth was to commission his disciples and then ascend back into heaven – which is where? Where did he go? Did he change forms and become spirit again? Did he ascend up through the clouds, the atmosphere, into outer space? No and no.