Why Did He Leave?
May 4, 2025
Following the shocking and joyous triumph of the resurrection, Jesus made several appearances to His disciples. Forty days later, He ascended to heaven, leaving His followers standing around, looking into the sky and wondering what it all meant. Why would Jesus leave? Wasn’t the resurrection the perfect opportunity to establish the kingdom of Israel and reign as the rightful and eternal king? Join us for part two of Ascended, where we will answer the question, “Why did Jesus leave?”
Passages
The ##History## of the Spirit (Genesis 2:7; Ezekiel 37; John 20)
The ##Help## from the Spirit (Acts 1:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7; Galatians 5:22-23)
The ##Hope## in the Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14)
Principle
Jesus left to ##infuse## His followers with ##His## ##Spirit## so that we could continue establishing God’s kingdom on ##earth## as it is in ##heaven##.
Practice
Live ##surrendered## to the Holy Spirit.
Small Group Questions
Use this outline for personal reflection, as a couples or family devotion, or with a small group.
HANGOUT
Have you ever felt abandoned while trying to complete a task for which you felt unprepared? Have you ever encountered a project that seemed impossible? How did you tackle these challenges? How did those experiences influence your faith?
HEAR
Read Acts 1:6-9 & Acts 2:1-13
- Where were the disciples staying in Acts 2 (see verse 5), and who was there with them?
- What aspects of Jesus’ promise in Acts 1:8 are fulfilled in Acts 2:1-13?
- How essential was the power of the Holy Spirit to the events that took place at Pentecost? How did that power manifest?
Read Acts 2:14-36
- [Acts 2:14-21] What does Peter’s quotation from Joel reveal about the Holy Spirit? What does it reveal about the events occurring among Jesus’ followers?
- [Acts 2:22-28] What evidence does Peter provide to support his claim that Jesus is the Messiah?
- [Acts 2:29-36] What did Jesus receive from God, and what did He do with it? Have you observed the Holy Spirit working in and through believers and the Church?
Read Acts 2:37-47
- How did the crowd react to Peter’s sermon? What did Peter instruct them to do? Describe what each of these actions means in practical terms: “repent, " “be baptized,” and “receive the Holy Spirit.”
- What were the results of Peter’s challenge? Based on Acts 2:42-47, describe the habits and practices of the early church. How does this church compare to the American church today?
- What aspects of your daily life would need to change to be part of a church like the one described in this passage? What changes would our church need to undergo to resemble the church depicted in this passage?
HUDDLE
Describe an encounter you’ve had with the Holy Spirit. If you haven't experienced the Holy Spirit, invite Him to reveal Himself to you in the coming days. Discuss this, invite accountability, and pray together.
Daily Reading
As you read each passage, look for connections to this week’s sermon and small group discussion. Invite the Holy Spirit to be your teacher as you seek Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.
- Day 1: Genesis 1 & 2
- Day 2: Ezekiel 37
- Day 3: John 14
- Day 4: John 15
- Day 5: John 16
- Day 6: Acts 1
- Day 7: Acts 2
Passage to Memorize: Galatians 5:22-23
Think Deeper
- When have you felt the most alive? Have you ever felt like the living dead?
- What is the animating force in your life?
- How would you describe your relationship with the Holy Spirit?
Suggested Reading
Following Jesus: Biblical Reflections on Discipleship, By N.T. Wright
Surprised by Hope, By N.T. Wright
Forgotten God, By Francis Chan
Check out these and other books from our suggested reading list at https://bit.ly/AspireSMB.