Bible Study

Bible Study June 1st

“This Jesus… will come in the same way,”

Week beginning Sunday 1st of June
Lectionary Reading: Acts 1 v 1-11

SESSION THEME:

Ascension of Jesus

Welcome and Settling

Gather the group and create a welcoming space—perhaps with a candle, a deep breath, or a short silence.

“We gather to listen—to scripture, to one another, and to our own hearts.
We take a moment of quiet, asking God to open us to whatever the Spirit wants to show us today.”

Reading the Passage

(3-5 minutes)

Read Acts 1 v 1-11 slowly, allowing pauses. Consider reading it twice in different voices or translations. Leave time for silence in between readings.

Wondering Questions (15-20 minutes) choose the questions that feel right for your group

Allow silence after each question to give space for reflection and sharing.

I wonder how the disciples might have described their experience of the convincing proofs that Jesus was alive
I wonder what it was like for the disciples to feel the emptiness of Jesus leaving but as yet there was no gift of the Spirit
I wonder how you understand ‘Jesus will come in the same way ‘ How do we picture Jesus in this phrase?
I wonder how important images of height and superiority are to your image of God
I wonder

Narrative form for reading with the group

(Optional) if you believe your group would benefit from some background notes:

You may choose to summarise the following aloud to frame the session:

Acts 1:1–11 describes the final moment of Jesus’ earthly ministry and the beginning of the Church’s. It’s one of three Ascension accounts in the New Testament—Luke mentions it on Easter Day, Matthew locates it on a Galilean mountain, and Acts places it 40 days after Easter on the Mount of Olives.

The number 40 recalls biblical journeys—flood, wilderness, temptation—and here prepares the disciples for a new beginning. Jesus is “taken up,” echoing the ascents of Moses and Elijah— figures who also appeared with Jesus at the Transfiguration.

The disciples still ask, “Lord, is this the time…?” suggesting their understanding is still unfolding— just like ours. The angels’ words, “This Jesus… will come in the same way,” remind us that Christ’s return will be as personal and embodied as his first coming, not distant or abstract.

The passage ends not with answers, but with waiting and a promise: the Spirit will come, and the mission will go to the ends of the earth.

Connecting with Life

(20 minutes)

Prompt reflection with these questions:

Have you had an experience of being empowered by the Holy Spirit and how did that feel ?
Have you had an experience you might describe as the absent or hidden God?
Have you had a time of great uncertainty about your future and what it might hold for you?
Listening for the Heartbeat (3-5 minutes)

Invite the group into quiet reflection:

“We pause in silence, holding what we’ve heard.

What is the heartbeat of God in this story—for us, for our church, for our community?”

Practical Sharing for the Trellis (15 minutes) the group makes own suggestions
Photo suggestion: what photo might you suggest to share that would highlight something that lies at the heart of this reading for you? from within your community
Music suggestions: what songs and hymns might bring this text to life?
Poem/Reading Example: Is there a poem or reading or reference to a film that might people to appreciate the theme of the bible reading.

• “The Guest House” by Rumi – a reflection on welcoming the unexpected into our lives.

Practical Example: what could your community in your community to live this out? Or can you highlight something that you are already doing individually or as a community?
Organising a community meal or coffee morning that invites people to share stories across boundaries of age, background, or belief.

Prayer

(2-3 minutes)

Invite people to name aloud people, places, or situations that came to mind. Close with this prayer:

Risen Christ
You have raised our human nature to the throne of heaven;
Help us to seek and serve you,
That we may join you at the Father’s side
Where you reign with the Spirit in glory
Now and for ever
Amen

Sending

(1 minute)

“As we go, may our hearts remain open to the Spirit’s surprising invitations. May we carry God’s heartbeat into every place we go this week. Go in peace.”

Background Notes: Act 11 v1-11

Ascension of Jesus in the New Testament

The New Testament has three accounts of the Ascension of Jesus and Farewell to Disciples

Luke 24 v 51 On Easter Day at the village of Bethany
Acts 40 days after Easter on Mount of Olives
Matthew Unspecified time at a Mountain in Galilee

How might these different accounts have come about and what might be the special message of each of them

In our account the number 40 is often associated with key events in the Bible – Years of the

Exodus, Days of the Flood, Days of Temptation in the wilderness

Key Phrases

Taken up into heaven This phrase could also be applied to Moses and Elijah – from the Old Testament and it is worth noting that these are the figures who also appeared on the Mount of

Transfiguration with Jesus

Lord is this the time? The disciples asking questions as if they have not fully understood the teaching of Jesus. This is a recurrent theme in the Gospels – Can we see this as reassuring to us in our time when we have our own questions?

This Jesus … will come in the same way? The same way suggests his coming again will be in the form of Jesus as the humble sandal wearing prophet from Galilee Yet nearly all the artistic representations of Jesus coming back are in terms of great majesty and robed in wonderful apparel How do you understand ‘in the same way ‘ ?

Key Themes to Notice

Emphasis on the many convincing proofs that demonstrated Jesus was alive
The stress on waiting for the promised gift of the Spirit
The importance of the Holy Spirit as the source of power / dynamism for the mission to follow
This mission will be to the ends of the earth – see Matthew 28 v 19 making disciples of all nations