I have always found the story of choosing Matthias to replace Judas a fascinating one. It seems so random, so unlike Presbyterians who have a system and pattern for everything, including choosing officers. I have used the Nominating committee example before, but it works in a different congregation because the Nominating Committee is such an integral part of who we are as Presbyterians.
I originally had a conclusion that noted in World Cup group play if two teams are tied after the four tie-breakers, then lots are drawn. It is one of the few examples of drawing of lots that I could find in our world today. But, when I got to that point in the sermon, it seemed like I should stop, instead of introducing that new idea. I can use the World Cup example in a future sermon on this text.
“Gambling on the Future” May 13, 2018, SAPC, Denton;
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. 13 When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of[c] James. 14 All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.
15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers[d] (together the crowd numbered about one hundred twenty persons) and said, 16 “Friends,[e] the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus— 17 for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness; and falling headlong,[f] he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their language Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the book of Psalms,
‘Let his homestead become desolate,
and let there be no one to live in it’;
and
‘Let another take his position of overseer.’
21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection.” 23 So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed and said, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place[g] in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.
Introduction: 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 and deacons.
Nominating committees sound so formal, so well, so Presbyterian!
Some of you have served on nominating committees in previous years.
You know how it goes - gathering together five or six times from late summer through the fall; praying over who has the gifts needed; praying someone will say yes when asked.
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 who has the pastoral gifts to serve as deacons; no conversations about the big issues facing the session and who might have the vision to be a Ruling Elder.
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 five are elders; next seven are deacons; 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 Presbyterian way?
Maybe not, but in fact, it sounds a lot like the way the early church did it in Acts.
They have to replace Judas, who has 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. Gambling on the future, if you will.
Move 2: Look at how the book of Acts begins.
a. Resurrected Christ is in their midst.
1. He tells them they will be led by the Holy Spirit as they give testimony to him.
2. Then he ascends to heaven, and they are left to live out his charge as they wait an undetermined time for Christ to come again.
b. Acts will share the stories of the early church as they try to do what Christ has told them to do.
1. one fo the first things they do is find someone to replace Judas.
2. They cast lots and Matthias is chosen.
Move 1: what do we make of how they select Matthias to replace Judas?
a. Importance of the twelve, literally.
1. Why not just let eleven act as the leadership group?
2. Surely they know that as they move into local communities, local leadership will arise?
3. or given the enormity of the task, increase the number to 24 or 36?
4. They stick to twelve because it symbolizes the twelve disciples Jesus called.
5. A clear reminder — the early church will be a continuation of what the disciples had been doing with Jesus when he was in their midst.
6. Twelve also connects us back to Israel.
7. A reminder that God’s people have a history with God.
8. God has been at work among us since creation.
9. the disciples are not the first group of people to try and serve God.
10. Twelve is an important symbol.
b. Choosing another leader suggests that the church is going to around for awhile.
1. If following Christ was just a fad that would soon fade away, no point in maintaining leadership.
2. Judas is gone; then as each disciples moves on or dies, let attrition take its toll and when the lat of the twelve is gone, then so is the early church.
3. No - the body of Christ, by the power fo the Holy Spirit, lives on until Christ comes again.
c. Prayer – notice that they pray before they cast lots.
1. In fact, the reason they cast lots is because they want to take their human biases out of the choice.
2. they want to resist the temptation to pick the person they want, and instead let God choose through the casting of lots.
3. So they pray.
3. 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)
4. 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).
5. these disciples are gambling on the future by gambling on God. Trusting that God will lead them.
d. 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.
1. 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.
2. Highlights one of our tasks as the church – empower and enable people to develop and use their gifts to serve God.
2. Highlights one of our tasks as the church – empower and enable people to develop and use their gifts to serve God.
3. This morning we commission Stephen Ministers, people trained to do pastoral care.
4. wE will also hear Laurie Lamonica share about her experience in the Young Adult Volunteer program, a program of our denomination that offers young adults opportunities to serve and discover their gifts for ministry.
3. 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.
e. Notice that the only criteria mentioned was witnesses to the resurrected Christ.
1. In the case of Matthias and Barsabbas it meant literally seeing the resurrected Christ.
2. In our time, it means having seen the resurrected Christ at work in our lives and our world.
3. We heard in the I Letter to John the importance of testimony from the heart.
3. That is who God calls us to be - people whose words and actions reveal the life-changing, life-saving hope of the resurrection.
Move 2: A final thought from this opening chapter in Acts - the presence of Mary, the mother fo Jesus.
a. Perhaps it caught my attention because today is Mother’s Day.
1. But i find it surprising that Mary is there.
2. I am assuming her presence surprises Luke as well, or why would he have mentioned her by name..
3. Luke does not mention her much in his gospel once Jesus has grown up.
b. Romanticize Mother’s Day
1. Hallmark cards, flowers, sentimental thoughts fill today as we remember our mothers.
2. Obviously, I can’t speak for being a mother, but I think it’s hard hard being a mother. At least my experience as a parent suggests it is hard.
3. Trying to parent kids is hard enough, but then the grow up to be adults.
3. the vulnerability of watching your child grow up and make his or her own decisions.
4. Imagine being Jesus’ mother.
5. The awe at who he is; the joy at seeing how he changes lives; the fear at seeing how he is reviled.
6. Watching his trial and death; surely part of her died on the cross that day with her son.
7. But then the unimaginable joy of resurrection.
8. What a roller coaster. If I were Mary, the mother of Jesus, I would need a good, long time-out.
c. But here she is with the little group praying together and trying to grow the early church by telling people about the resurrection.
1. she’s there. as the church moves into the future.
2. supporting the remaining disciples and the early church as it develops.
3. imagine as Matthias, just after he is chosen, looks around and sees Mary, the mother of Jesus, joining with him in the task at hand.
4. What powerful witness to who Jesus is and the importance of those who are called to follow him.
Conclusion:
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