Reflections on "Gambling on God" Acts 1: 1-14; 21-26

I forced the sermon title into the text of the sermon (sort of), but the original idea for the sermon did not fit the final product.  I began with the idea that we ought to risk it all and trust in God, which probably could have worked, but I ended up with what we can learn as the church from the early church.

The World Cup story was certainly fitting for this time, but I don't think I was able to integrate it properly in the sermon.  It was a late minute addition to the sermon.  It probably would have fit better if I had more time to consider how how it fit with the sermon.

I also basically left out the Holy Spirit in the sermon, even though it is clearly present in the text.  As I was writing the sermon, that seemed like another sermon by itself, but it did seem to me that I neglected the role of the Spirit in the early church.  Of course, the one story most people know from Acts is the Pentecost story, so maybe it was good to move beyond the Spirit in a sermon about Acts.

I had some fun with the sermon.  As you read the sermon (if you did not hear it), think tongue-in-cheek for the comparison with the Nominating committee.

“Gambling on God” June 29, 2014; FPC, Troy Acts 1: 1-14; 21-26

Move 1: How would you like to serve on this Nominating Committee.

That's right, in the Presbyterian world of church we have Nominating Committees that meet to find people to present to the congregation for election as elders, deacons, and trustees.

Nominating committees sound so formal, so well, so Presbyterian!

But how would you like to serve on this Nominating committee.

You would only have to meet once. No fall spent going to multiple meetings.

And the meeting would last about 5 minutes or less. No long discussions about the gifts and talents needed to be a trustee who looks after the physical plant of the church; or conversations about who might be good as a deacon, providing pastoral care to members; or who has the gifts for being an elder and shaping the vision of the church and dealing with all the issues that come before it.

No phone calls to people to see if they might be willing to serve, and then waiting as they prayerfully consider the opportunity.

None of that. Instead, all the names of the members of the congregation are put into a big bowl, someone prays over the names and basically says, “God you pick.”

Then the names are drawn – first three are elders; next four are deacons; final two are trustees; or vice versa.

5 minutes or less and the work of the Nominating committee is done.

Who wants to serve on that Nominating committee.

What that doesn't sound quite like the committee ought to work?

But, in fact, it sounds a bit like the way the early church did it in Acts.

They have to replace Judas, who have removed himself by first his betrayal and then the taking of his life, so they cast lots and Matthias gets chosen.

Sounds rather random, doesn't it? Almost like rolling the dice and gambling.

Move 2: That's how the book of Acts begins.

This summer we are spending the sermon time reflecting on the significant moments in Acts.

these stories of the early church.
These stories of how the followers of the resurrected Christ engage the world after Jesus has ascended to heaven and as they wait an undetermined time for Christ to come again.

The stories that Luke believes are important enough to write down and tell a a way of instructing those who will follow.

Instructing us as try to live out our calling as the body of Christ in our time and our context.

Move 3: what do we make of how they select Matthias to replace Judas?

a. Importance of the twelve – connects us back to the disciples Jesus called; connects us back to Israel. We have a history with God. God has been at work among us since creation. We are not the first group of people to try and serve God.

b. Church is going to around for awhile. We live into our calling as the body of Christ. Our business is to do Christ’s business until he comes again.

100. Prayer – notice that they pray before they cast lots. In fact, the reason they cast lots is because they want to take their human biases out of the choice; they want to resist the temptation to pick the person they want, and instead let God choose through the casting of lots.

This is a pattern we discover throughout the Book of Acts. Prayer precedes every major event in Acts (study notes from The New Interpreter's Study Bible, 1956)

What may seem random and uninformed now to our reading was actually a prayerful attempt to allow God to be at work in the process (of course, that's why we Presbyterians pray before every meeting, including meetings of the Nominating Committee).

500. In fairness (that is, taking out Richard's exaggerations), when they cast lots in the story in Acts, they have already narrowed the list down to two people who were qualified. To use the example of the Nominating committee, the only names in the bowl would be those who were deemed qualified to serve as officers.
     Highlights one of our tasks as the church – empower and enable people to develop and use their gifts to serve God.

To find those who are qualified does not suggest that they arrive in our midst qualified – we have to continually help people, help ourselves, to grow in our faith and develop skills for serving as the body of Christ.

Notice that the only criteria mentioned was witnesses to the resurrected Christ. In the case of Matthias and Barsabbas it meant literally seeing the resurrected Christ. But I like that image for us – developing the gift of witnessing to the resurrected Christ. That is, becoming people whose words and actions reveal the life-changing, life-saving hope of the resurrection.

Baptismal vows – part of nurturing Trenton is providing him opportunities

Conclusion: World Cup tie-breaker rules – four criteria based on each teams' play; but if still tied, they draw lots to see who advances (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2061793-brazil-world-cup-2014-clarifying-group-tie-break-scenarios-and-rules)

sounds rather random.

On the other hand, there are two teams equally prepared to move on in the tournament. Why not cast lots? And I bet lots of prayers would be said just prior to the casting of lots!

If we do our work well as the body of Christ. If we equip those in our midst to witness to the resurrection. If we prayerfully seek God's guidance, then choosing those for leadership should be as easy as casting lots.