Summary

The sermon focuses on Jesus' final words to his disciples before his ascension into heaven, as recorded in Luke 24:36-53. The pastor emphasizes three key elements of Jesus' last message: peace, purpose, and power. Through personal stories about last words shared with loved ones, the sermon illustrates the significance and intentionality of final messages, relating this to Jesus' final earthly communication with his followers.

Intro Prayer

Heavenly Father, as we gather to discuss Your Word, we ask that You would open our hearts and minds to understand the significance of Jesus' final words to His disciples. Help us to receive Your peace, understand our purpose, and embrace Your power in our lives. Guide our discussion and reveal what You want each of us to learn today. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Ice Breaker

What are some meaningful last words that someone has shared with you, or that you have shared with others?

Key Verses

Luke 24:36

Luke 24:47-48

Luke 24:49

Luke 24:51-52

Questions

• How does Jesus' message of peace relate to areas of anxiety or fear in your life?
• What does it mean to be a witness for Christ in today's world?
• Why do you think the disciples needed to be reminded of their purpose after the resurrection?
• How does the promise of the Holy Spirit's power impact your approach to sharing your faith?
• What barriers do you face in proclaiming the gospel to others?
• How can we maintain joy in our Christian witness, like the disciples who 'returned to Jerusalem with great joy'?
• In what ways can we be more intentional about sharing Christ's message in our daily lives?
• How does knowing that Christ ascended to heaven impact your faith today?

Life Application

This week, identify one person in your sphere of influence with whom you can share Christ's message. Ask God for the peace, purpose, and power to be His witness, and take a specific step to share His love with that person.

Key Takeaways

• Jesus offers peace to calm our fears and anxieties.
• Our purpose is to be witnesses and proclaim the gospel to all people.
• The Holy Spirit empowers us to fulfill our mission.
• The ascension marks a transition from Jesus' earthly ministry to the church's mission.
• We are called to continue Christ's work with joy and confidence.

Ending Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your final words of peace, purpose, and power. Help us to embrace these gifts and use them to fulfill our calling as Your witnesses. Give us courage to share Your message, confidence in Your power, and hearts full of Your peace.  May we go forth as Your faithful ambassadors, filled with joy and empowered by Your Spirit. In Your name we pray, Amen.

Day 1: Finding Peace in Chaos

Devotional

In our chaotic world, peace often feels elusive. We face anxieties, troubling medical diagnoses, relationship challenges, and financial worries that threaten to overwhelm us. Yet when Jesus appeared to his frightened disciples after his resurrection, his first words were significant: "Peace be with you." 

Jesus knew exactly what his followers needed in that moment. They were confused, afraid, and uncertain about their future. Before giving them instructions or explaining what would happen next, he offered them peace—not as the world gives, but a divine peace that transcends understanding.

This same peace is available to us today. When the storms of life rage around us, Jesus still speaks those same words: "Peace be with you." This isn't a temporary calm or a momentary absence of trouble. It's a deep, abiding peace that remains even when circumstances don't change.

When we feel overwhelmed by life's challenges, we can remember that Jesus begins his message to us with peace. He knows we cannot effectively hear anything else until our hearts are calmed by his presence. This peace isn't dependent on our situation improving—it's a gift he offers regardless of our circumstances.

Today, whatever you're facing, pause and listen for Jesus' first words to you: "Peace be with you." Allow his peace to settle your heart before you do anything else.

Bible Verse

"When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, 'Have you anything here to eat?'" - Luke 24:40-41

Reflection Question

What area of your life feels most chaotic right now, and how might Jesus' words "Peace be with you" specifically address that situation?

Quote

Peace be with you. And it's telling to me that Jesus chooses to begin his message with peace. Because it may be that you and I need Jesus message to begin with peace.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, I open my heart to receive your peace today. In the midst of my chaos and uncertainty, speak your calming presence into my life. Help me to trust that you hold me securely, just as you showed your disciples your hands and feet. May your peace guard my heart and mind today. Amen.

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Day 2: Embracing Our Purpose

Devotional

After offering peace to his disciples, Jesus didn't stop there. He moved from peace to purpose, reminding them of their mission in the world. This wasn't a new assignment but a continuation of his own ministry—now entrusted to them.

Jesus made it clear: "Repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem." This wasn't just information; it was a commission. The disciples weren't witnessing the end of a mission but receiving the baton to carry it forward.

This same purpose extends to us today. The church's mission isn't complete. While we may see church buildings in our communities, many people still haven't truly encountered the transformative message of Jesus Christ. Our purpose remains clear: to proclaim the good news wherever we find ourselves.

Perhaps this is why Jesus began with peace. He knew the mission would feel overwhelming at times. We need his peace to ground us before we can effectively embrace our purpose.

Your mission field might be your home, workplace, school, or neighborhood. Wherever you are, you have influence. Your words and actions can proclaim the message of repentance and forgiveness that Jesus commissioned his followers to share.

Today, consider how you might fulfill this purpose in your everyday interactions. You don't need to travel to distant lands to be a witness—your mission field is wherever you are right now.

Bible Verse

"Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, 'Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.'" - Luke 24:45-47

Reflection Question

What specific opportunities do you have in your daily life to fulfill Jesus' commission to proclaim repentance and forgiveness, and what's one small step you could take this week?

Quote

Jesus reminds them of their purpose. You see it there in verse 47 and following repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for entrusting me with the purpose of sharing your message of hope and forgiveness. Open my eyes to see the opportunities around me and give me courage to step into them. Help me to see my everyday interactions as opportunities to reflect your love. Guide me to fulfill the purpose you've given me, starting right where I am. Amen.

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Day 3: The Voice of Influence

Devotional

Each of us has been given a voice and influence in our particular spheres of life. Whether we recognize it or not, people are watching how we live, listening to what we say, and noticing how we respond to life's challenges. This influence is not accidental—it's part of our purpose as followers of Jesus.

Jesus commissioned his disciples to be witnesses, and that commission extends to us today. We might feel our influence is small or insignificant, but even the smallest light shines brightly in darkness. Your workplace, neighborhood, family gatherings, and social circles are all places where your voice and actions matter.

Sometimes we proclaim the good news through explicit conversations about faith. Other times, we proclaim it through acts of kindness, integrity in our work, patience in difficult situations, or forgiveness when wronged. Both our words and actions testify to the difference Jesus makes in our lives.

The mission Jesus gave his disciples wasn't accomplished in their lifetime, and it continues through us today. The church still has work to do—not just within its walls but in the world. And you are part of that mission, wherever you find yourself.

Today, consider the influence you have. How might God use your voice—whether spoken or lived out—to draw others toward the message of hope and forgiveness found in Jesus?

Bible Verse

"You are witnesses of these things." - Luke 24:48

Reflection Question

In what specific relationship or environment has God positioned you to have unique influence, and how might you more intentionally use that influence to point others toward Christ?

Quote

Wherever you are, you have a voice. And wherever I am, I have influence. Wherever we find ourselves, there is an opportunity for us to proclaim to the people, either with our voices or with our actions.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for entrusting me with influence in the lives of others. Help me to be mindful of the ways my words and actions can either draw people toward you or push them away. Give me wisdom to know when to speak and when to demonstrate your love through actions. Use my life as a witness to your transforming power. May I faithfully represent you in all the places you've positioned me. Amen.

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Day 4: Promised Power

Devotional

After giving his disciples peace and clarifying their purpose, Jesus made a crucial promise: they would receive power. He knew they couldn't fulfill their mission in their own strength. The task of being his witnesses would require supernatural empowerment.

Jesus instructed them to wait in Jerusalem until they were "clothed with power from on high." This promise was fulfilled at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon them, transforming fearful followers into bold witnesses. The same disciples who had hidden behind locked doors became courageous proclaimers of the gospel.

This promise of power wasn't just for the early church—it's for us too. Jesus knows our limitations. He understands our feelings of inadequacy when faced with opportunities to share our faith. We worry about not having the right words, being asked difficult questions, or appearing hypocritical.

But Jesus doesn't send us out alone. The same Spirit that empowered the early church empowers us today. We don't need to rely on our own eloquence, wisdom, or perfect example. The Holy Spirit works through our willing hearts and faltering words to accomplish God's purposes.

When we feel powerless to fulfill our purpose as witnesses, we can remember Jesus' promise. The power doesn't come from us—it comes from him. Our responsibility is simply to be available and willing vessels through whom his Spirit can work.

Bible Verse

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." - Acts 1:8

Reflection Question

What feelings of inadequacy or powerlessness have kept you from sharing your faith, and how might embracing Jesus' promise of the Spirit's power change your approach?

Quote

Jesus promises power in the second volume of the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts. In the first chapter, Jesus will say to them, you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.

Prayer

Holy Spirit, I acknowledge my need for your power in fulfilling the purpose Jesus has given me. Forgive me for the times I've relied solely on my own abilities or remained silent out of fear. Fill me afresh today with your presence and power. Give me courage to speak when you prompt me and wisdom to know what to say. I surrender my inadequacies to you and receive your empowerment. Amen.

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Day 5: Embracing the Gifts

Devotional

As we conclude our journey through Jesus' final message to his disciples, we see a beautiful pattern: peace, purpose, and power. These three gifts work together to equip us for the mission he's entrusted to us.

Peace calms our anxious hearts and minds, creating space for us to hear God's voice clearly. Purpose gives direction and meaning to our lives, helping us understand our role in God's greater story. Power enables us to fulfill that purpose, not through our own strength but through the Holy Spirit working in and through us.

Yet how often do we fully embrace these gifts? We may accept Christ's peace in certain areas while holding onto anxiety in others. We might acknowledge our purpose intellectually without actively living it out. And perhaps most commonly, we believe in the concept of spiritual power while practically living as if everything depends on our own abilities.

Jesus offers these gifts as a complete package. They work together to transform us from fearful followers into confident witnesses. The early disciples embraced all three, and the result was a movement that changed the world.

Today, you're invited to not just receive these gifts but to fully embrace them. Let Christ's peace permeate every anxious corner of your heart. Embrace your purpose as his witness wherever you are. And rely completely on the Spirit's power rather than your own capabilities.

As you do, you'll find yourself participating in the same world-changing mission that began with those first disciples.

Bible Verse

"And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." - Luke 24:49

Reflection Question

Of the three gifts Jesus offers—peace, purpose, and power—which one do you find most difficult to fully embrace in your life, and what practical step could you take to more fully receive this gift?

Quote

I wonder if you and I might be people who more easily experience peace and more easily understand our purpose. Then we believe in the power that Jesus Christ would give to us as we carry out that purpose.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for your gifts of peace, purpose, and power. Forgive me for the times I've failed to fully embrace what you've so generously offered. Today, I open my heart anew to receive your peace that passes understanding, to embrace my purpose as your witness, and to rely on your Spirit's power rather than my own strength. Use me as you will, and may I be faithful to follow wherever you lead. In your name I pray, Amen.