Ephesians 1:15-23
Your Story
Talk about a time when you were given a promotion. How did you feel?
My Story and the Bible Story
As a teenager, I loved volunteering for Vacation Bible School. It felt like a promotion to be able to help. Suddenly, I was in charge (sort of). Instead of listening to what I was supposed to do, I was the one giving direction. I like to be in charge. But, when someone else knows what’s going on and gives direction, I’m comfortable following, too. While it can be hard for some of us (like me) to know that we aren’t in charge of everything, it can also be helpful. We aren’t in charge of keeping this world under control; we don’t have to take everyone’s burdens. Jesus does that.
Read Ephesians 1:15-23.
When Jesus ascended into heaven, God gave him a spot at His right hand, far above everything else. Jesus is above us, above the powers of this world, above presidents and royal families, above even the angels. God also made Jesus the head of the church. When we think of who’s in charge of our churches, we may think about the pastor first. But Jesus is the head of the church. On Ascension Sunday, we remember and celebrate that when Jesus ascended, he became in charge of everything. Instead of us feeling the weight of the world on our shoulders, we can give our burdens to Jesus. And in our churches, when we struggle with a decision, we should remember that Jesus is the head of the church. And may we listen to him when he asks us to do something. May we always remember that Jesus is in charge. And may that give us peace.
Discussion and Prayer
1. Ask your children how their responsibilities have changed as they’ve gotten older.
2. Remind your family of the importance of listening to Jesus, especially when they are in charge of something.
3. Talk about how we can give our burdens over to Jesus and he will give us peace.
4. Pray, thanking God that Jesus is in charge of everything, and ask for help in remembering that we don’t have the weight of the world on our shoulders.
Rev. Jessica Asbell is the Minister to Children and Families at First Baptist Roswell, where she has been serving since 2012. She has written the children’s curriculum for Smyth & Helwys’s Annual Bible Study for the books of Daniel; Ezekiel; Luke; Jonah; 1 Corinthians; 1, 2, 3 John and Jude; Colossians; The Story of Israel’s Ancestors: Living toward a Promise; and Where Faith & Family Meet: A Book of Weekly Devotions. She has also written for CBF’s Spark and Form and for Affect in CBF’s fellowship! magazine. Married to Jonathan Oravec, Jessica reads every chance she gets.
