September 23, 2026 · David Farmer
What He Left Us With...
“And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.”
Luke 24:50-53 →
## His Words and Works
As we come to the end of Luke, what main ideas can we recall most simply? Luke has made an effort to lay out for us a most documented account of Jesus’ teachings and miracles; His words and His works. He calls us repeatedly to dig in to the many factual records (archeological, historical, and otherwise) to authenticate our beliefs. He also reminds us we are bearing Christ for the world to see. Here in Luke’s last verses, we see a simple pattern from Jesus and His Disciples. Jesus leads us. Jesus blesses us. We worship Him. We bless God. But it is my fear that I (and you) will read the Bible in the morning, and walk away unchanged into the world daily. Winston Churchill said, “Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened.”
## Blessing God In Great Joy
So what is the end goal of the Christian’s life? As these verses conclude Luke’s Gospel, they clean up the message for us. After worshipping Him, the disciples return to Jerusalem. “Jerusalem” means “He teaches peace” or “teaching of peace”. Let Jesus lead you, and He will lead you to the teaching of peace. Let Him bless you, and you will be blessed with peace and joy. Worship Him? Peace and great joy.
## Self-Check
Though this may seem like a “good time blessing encouragement” sermon, I think that is rather anti-Biblical. The Bible is not here to build up man but to lift up God. When we lift up God, we have more peace and joy. When our lives contain more peace and joy, we are more available to be used by God in the world to do His work; to extend His work.
## ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Mark Bishop is the lead Pastor of New Covenant Church in Greer, South Carolina and has been in full-time ministry since 2008. He has a passion to dig into the scripture and make it applicable. David Farmer is one of the worship leaders at his church, Greenville First Assembly in Greenville, South Carolina and is currently furthering his Biblical knowledge through seminary studies. They both feel called to teach the Bible in depth while making it applicable to our everyday lives.