1. Livingston United Methodist Church Ascension of the Lord Sunday
Intrusion of Heaven
Livingston United Methodist Church
Ascension of the Lord Sunday

2. Dark energy and dark matter
Normal matter = < 5%!
Universe expanding
Galaxies spin slowly
What we cannot see makes a difference on what we can see

3. Ephesians 1
For this reason because I have heard of your trust in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints I do not stop giving thanks for you. Remembering you in my prayers. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ – the Father of glory – will give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation for knowing him.
Ascension Sunday = Jesus returns to/into/unto heaven

4. Apostles’ Creed Early summary of Christian faith
I believe in God the Father Almighty creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord. He suffered under Pontius Pilate. Was crucified died and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven. And is seated at the right hand of the Father.

5. Acts 1
After his suffering and death Jesus presents himself alive to his friends by many proofs. He appears to them over forty days and talks about the kingdom of God.
What about us?!? How do we know?
Cannot and must not try to prove Christian faith and teaching

6. Back to Ephesians 1
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ will give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you will know him. That the eyes of your heart will be enlightened. That you will know the hope to which he has called you. What are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints. And what is the greatness of his power in us who believe.
We show the Christian faith
“You have shown me what Christianity is”

7. Die himmlische Gemeinschaft
Martin Luther ~ 1500
Church = heilige Gemeinschaft
Holy community (that can be seen)
How about Die Kirche ist die himmlische Gemeinschaft?
Heavenly community

8. Problem and promise Christ no longer visibly/physically present
How will we be his witnesses?
Christ present in/through Christian church = his body
God = personal reality
Goal is to know him – not that/about him!

9. How do we know?
Dark matter and dark energy -> difference in physical universe
World sees that we know God
Eyes of our heart full of light
We know hope
Power of God in our lives together
Same power in resurrection and ascension!

10. Where earth and heaven meet
“The Church, guided by the Holy Spirit down through the ages, is meant to be the special place where earth and heaven come together. In good preaching, in great art, in the architecture of our places of worship, in our works of mercy and service to others, in the lives of the saints, and perhaps especially in the liturgy – in our ritual worship -earth and heaven meet” (Robert Barron)

11. Intrusion of heaven Kingdom of heaven shines/pushes into this world
We are the intrusion of heaven