In this sermon, Preston Kelso focuses on the Great Commission and the Ascension of Christ as described in Acts 1:8-11. He emphasizes the mandate given to the disciples, and by extension to the church, to be witnesses to the ends of the earth, highlighting that this mission is ongoing and unending, with the power of the Holy Spirit as its driving force.
Kelso unpacks the suddenness of Christ's ascension as a dramatic segue from His final charge to His enthronement in heaven, suggesting that the absence of a formal transition underscores the urgency and permanence of the missionary call. He delves into the symbolic significance of the cloud in the Ascension narrative, drawing parallels to its appearances throughout the Bible as a representation of God’s divine presence.
The sermon also contemplates the role of the two men in white robes who appear as Jesus ascends, proposing that they serve as divine witnesses to this pivotal event, much like angels at the tomb after Jesus' resurrection.
Kelso uses the rhetorical question posed by these men—"Why do you stand looking into heaven?"—as a prompt for the disciples, and Christians in general, to turn their gaze from heaven back to earth, where the work of spreading the Gospel awaits. This charge comes with an admonition to live vigilantly in anticipation of Christ's return while also busily engaging in the work of the kingdom here and now.
The sermon concludes with a prayer that emphasizes God’s sovereignty over all creation and a plea for the empowerment of His people through the Spirit to fulfill their mission. Kelso reminds the congregation that they are living in the midst of the ongoing story of God’s work in the world, calling them to actively participate in the expansion of His kingdom until Christ returns.
