12.28.2025 - God Incarnate - Ascended into Heaven--Bodily - Acts 1:9-11

·44 min·4 clips

Why does a pastor say our hatred of doctor's waiting rooms reveals a deeper spiritual problem with waiting on God?

The episode is a sermon from Anacostia River Church, part of an Advent series extended past Christmas to emphasize the ongoing season of waiting. Pastor Mike opens with greetings to returning members like LaRonda, Nelson, and George, then reads Acts 1:1-11. He frames the sermon around three ways Jesus's Ascension defines Christian waiting: mission, power, and hope. First, he contrasts societal impatience, like in doctor's waiting rooms, with God's purposeful waiting. He analyzes Luke's threefold mention of the Ascension, comparing it to the Netflix movie 'House of Dynamite' where retelling an event adds perspective. The mission section uses a Law and Order analogy to distinguish between the apostles as eyewitnesses and modern Christians as expert witnesses based on studying Scripture. Pastor Mike emphasizes that Jesus commands witness, not asks for volunteers, linking it to the Great Commission in Matthew 28. Second, he explores the power from the Holy Spirit, addressing Jesus's statement in John 16:7 that it's better for him to leave so the Spirit can come. He explains that Jesus depended on the Spirit for ministry, as did the apostles, and believers today receive the Spirit at conversion for boldness and holy living. Third, he discusses hope from the angelic announcement in Acts 1:11, noting Jesus's bodily Ascension promises believers future bodily resurrection and his return as conquering king. He references the Clark Sisters' gospel song 'Is My Living in Vain?' to affirm that Christian work is not futile. The sermon ends with a prayer for empowerment and a call to worship, rejoice, and gather continually, mirroring the apostles' response in Luke 24.

As heard by us

A post-Christmas sermon frames Christ's ascension as the church's continuing call to witness.

ARC treats Christ's ascension as a way to keep Advent's posture of waiting alive after Christmas. The episode follows a clear line from Christ's departure to the church's continuing charge: the apostles' eyewitness work does not simply end with them, but is carried forward as…

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Christmas has passed, but the waiting has not; press play for a sermon on Christ's ascension and the witness he gives his church.

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