How do I plan an Ascension Day worship service?

Ascension Day worship services focus on at least four things:

1. Christ ascended to heaven having known and experienced suffering and temptation. While in heaven, having known these things that we experience, he prays for us and perfects our prayers.
2. Christ's ascension to heaven is a witness to and guarantee of our own bodily resurrection.
3. Christ's ascension is an invitation to set our minds and hearts on things that are above, where Christ is.
4. Christ's ascension points to and is a close prelude to Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came to dwell upon all believers.

When is Ascension Day?

Ascension Day falls every year on the Thursday that is the fortieth day of the Easter season. It is sometimes celebrated or marked on a nearby Sunday.

What color do we use for Ascension Day?

White is the color for Ascension Day.

What themes do we use for Ascension Day?

• The risen Christ leaving earth
• The lordship of Christ
• Prophet, Priest, and King
• Christ as high priest
• Christ enthroned in heaven

Bible passage ideas for Ascension Day

Old Testament echoes of Christ's ascension

Throughout the Bible, a cloud is a sign of God's presence. When Jesus ascended, he did not shoot off into outer space, but was received into heaven, another hidden dimension of reality, the control tower of the universe.

• Exodus 13:21, a pillar of cloud
• Exodus 19:16, a thick cloud over the mountain
• Exodus 40:34, a cloud covered the tent of meeting
• 2 Kings 2:1–18, Elijah ascends to heaven
• Psalm 47, God has gone up with a shout
• Psalm 68, let God rise up
• Psalm 97, clouds are all around God
• Psalm 110, Christ sits at God's right hand
• Psalm 113, God is seated on high
• Daniel 7:9–14, an Ancient One takes his throne

Ascension accounts

Jesus's ascension is one of the most important events in the life of Christ but also one of the most neglected. Without his ascension, Christ is not Lord, and we are not saved. In Christ's ascension, we see not only his enthronement and exaltation, but also our own.

The angels' appearance, as with Jesus's birth and resurrection, marks this as an important event. The angels instruct the upward-looking disciples to look instead to their work as witnesses as they await Christ's return. Ascension is not about heavenly speculation, but about Christ's new place of authority.

• Matthew 28:16–20, the great commission
• Mark 16:15–20, go into all the world
• Luke 24:44–53, the ascension of Jesus
• John 14:1–14, Jesus is the way to the Father
• Acts 1, Jesus is taken up to heaven

Jesus Christ in heaven

In Colossians 3:1–3, Paul appeals to Christ's ascension as the motive and inspiration for our life in the world. He also asserts in verse 4 that when the ascended Lord "is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory." John's vision in Revelation 1 offers a vivid picture of the ascended Lord. In chapters 4 and 5, John envisions the worship in heaven when the Lamb that was slain opens the scroll of history, to the acclamation of the saints and angels (Revelation 5:6–14).

• Acts 3:17–26, Jesus in heaven
• Romans 8:34, Christ at God's right hand
• Ephesians 1:15–23, God seats Christ at God's right hand
• Ephesians 2:4–7, God seats us with Christ in heaven
• Ephesians 4:7–16, Christ ascended on high
• Colossians 3:1–4, Christ is seated at the right hand of God
• Hebrews 2:5–18, Christ is crowned with glory and honor
• Hebrews 4:14–5:10, Christ is high priest in heaven
• Hebrews 6:13–20, Christ is high priest forever
• Hebrews 8, Jesus the great high priest
• Hebrews 9:23–28, Christ entered heaven itself
• 1 Peter 3:18–22, Christ has gone into heaven
• Revelation 1:9–20, John's vision of Christ
• Revelation 4–5, worship in heaven

Christ, the ascended Lord, as Prophet, Priest, and King

The writer of Hebrews hangs the book's argument almost entirely on Christ's ascension. The author begins by saying that Jesus, after making "purification for sins, . . . sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high" (Hebrews 1:3). The author then goes on to describe redemption through the lens of the ascension. Christ is the perfect high priest who ascends to the heavenly temple to offer the blood of his perfect sacrifice at the heavenly mercy seat (Hebrews 9:11–14). An important aspect of the ascension is Christ's intercession for us. He pleads our case before the Father for us, his adopted brothers and sisters. Christ's ascension also declares his lordship over all things. While this lordship is often hidden in our world, the Spirit of the ascended Lord is at work in both the church and the world to bring all things under Christ's reign. In his final appearance (parousia), the wraps will be removed, and "every knee shall bend, in heaven and on earth." (Philippians 2:10).

• Psalm 110, God's anointed as priest
• John 14:5–21, Jesus shows the way to the Father
• John 18:33–37, Jesus is King
• Acts 3:11–24, Peter testifies that Jesus is a prophet
• Romans 10:5–13, Jesus is Lord
• Philippians 2:1–11, our humble King is exalted
• Hebrews 1:1–4, Jesus as prophet
• Hebrews 4:14–5:10, Jesus intercedes on our behalf
• Hebrews 7:11–29, Jesus, our high priest