Sermon ideas for Ascension center around the story of Jesus’ ascension. Ascension refers to the bodily departure of Jesus from this earth and his return to the right hand of God the Father Almighty, where already now he rules the cosmos as King and Lord. During the forty days after his resurrection, Jesus appeared regularly to his disciples before being lifted up and out of their sight with the promise of the coming Spirit. The Spirit would empower the disciples to continue ministering in his name and witnessing to his lordship. Jesus’ ascension is a preview of his return, when he will come back from heaven to fully establish his kingdom and make all things new.
A preacher could consider preaching on the benefits of the Ascension. 1) Jesus serves as our true Mediator, pleading our cause with the Father, answering our prayers, and advocating for the church in its ongoing mission on earth. 2) Because Jesus’ own body is now in heaven, we are assured that one day our own resurrected bodies will likewise be in the presence of God in the new creation. Jesus’ bodily presence at God's right hand is a preview of what we will enjoy one day. 3) Above all, Jesus is able to send the Holy Spirit to the church. That first happened with dramatic power ten days after the Ascension on the day the church now calls “Pentecost.” The Holy Spirit empowers ministry, gives needed and varied gifts to God’s people to carry out the mission of God, and thickens the faith of all believers, enabling them to endure with patience the trials, temptations, and pain that still attends them as they live in both the already and the not-yet of God’s kingdom.
Throughout Scripture are other preaching texts for Ascension sermons. Psalm 47 is traditionally associated with the Ascension. Other sermon ideas can be found in Luke 24:50–53; John 16:7; Acts 1:6–11; Ephesians 4:7–10; and Colossians 3:1–4.