Sermon – Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 – They Cast Lots

Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard

Sermon – Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 – They Cast Lots

Pitts Creek and Beaver Dam Churches

Seventh Sunday of Easter

May 20, 2012

Since Easter we have been looking at the first church. We have seen how God used miracles to help it grow. We have seen how people have been transformed by the Holy Spirit. The gospel of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is being proclaimed and through baptism the promise of eternal life is sealed. Some 5000 people have joined the church within a few weeks, and they are united by their faith into one mind. With all of this going on we have to ask the question: Who were the leaders of all of this and how were they chosen? We will find this out in today's text, but first let's pray.

“Grant unto us, O Lord, to be occupied in the mysteries of thy heavenly wisdom, with true progress in piety, to thy glory and our own edification. Amen.” (John Calvin)

Acts 1:15-26 15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16 and said, "Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus-- 17 he was one of our number and shared in this ministry."

21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection." 23 So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs." 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

When Jesus was on earth he was the unquestioned leader of the church. He recruited the disciples, trained them, nurtured their faith, and sent them into the world to accomplish specific tasks. So after Jesus ascended into heaven it would have been logical to ask the question: Who would replace Jesus as the leader of the group? The natural person for this role would have been the apostle Peter. Peter had been part of the inner core of disciples around Jesus and led all the lists that were made of the twelve. So people looked to Peter to find out what would happen next. Peter knew that there was no way that he could replace Jesus. So he decided that the twelve would form a council to lead the church. This was an important decision. It ensured that the church would continue to see Jesus Christ as its leader even though he had ascended to heaven, and Jesus would work through church councils.

Throughout church history there have been attempts to setup individuals as leaders of the church. The medieval church had a structure of priests, bishops and pope for leadership. This structure with Pope on top matched the political structure of the day with King on top. But in the sixteenth century we wanted to reform the church and replace this structure with a series of church councils that would discern Christ's leadership for the church. Our belief was that in a church council we would be more likely to discern God's will for the church. So in the Presbyterian church we did away with the system of priests, bishops and Pope, and replaced it with church councils just like the first church. Our churches are governed not by priests but by sessions made up of ruling elders. Regionally we are governed not by bishop, but by a council of ruling and teaching elders called the presbytery. And nationally ruling and teaching elders come together every two years in a council called the General Assembly. In each of the councils we prayerfully discern God's will for the church.

When the first council met they realized that although Jesus had recruited twelve and this in some way represented the twelve tribes of Israel they were down to eleven because of the death of Judas. They establish criteria for leaders so that they could come up with a list of possible candidates from which they could discern Christ's choice. The criteria was that a new member of the twelve must be a witness of Jesus from his baptism to his ascension. The apostles had to be witnesses because it was through their testimony of Jesus Christ that others would come to faith.

We have similar criteria for leaders today. Of course no one alive today was living during Christ's life on earth. So the criteria has to change a little. Today we look for leaders who from their discipline of regular, daily prayer, worship and meditation on scripture have come to know our Lord Jesus Christ and have developed a relationship with him. So whenever we join together in a church council, whether that be as the congregation or session to select leaders we must always select those among us who have developed the deepest spirituality through their daily devotions.

The first council found two people who met the criteria they had set, Joseph and Matthias. Both had been with Jesus since his baptism in the Jordan. But they needed some way to find out which one God wanted to serve. To do this they did two things, they prayed and they consulted scripture.

Prayer is essential when determining who God wants to lead the church. Whenever church nominating committees are looking for people to serve on our boards or a pastor nominating committee is looking to a pastor they must always start in prayer. Prayer is how we make ourselves receptive to hearing from God. We usually think of prayer as our way of telling God what we want or need. But in reality prayer is a conversation, we talk to God and God talks to us. Listening for God in prayer is a skill we need to practice. It is important every day to meditate on scripture and ask God to speak to you through it. If you spend enough time in prayer you will begin to hear God. And through this God can reveal who His leaders are.

The first council also consulted scripture to determine who God was calling to be one of the twelve. In ancient times, the high priest would put the Urim and Thummin in his breast plate. Whenever the high priest needed to discern God's will he would use the Urim and Thummin. We don't know exactly what they were, but they seem to be something like dice that would be thrown to discern God's decision on some matter. The first council adapted this idea for their own use and cast lots to select Matthias.

Today we don't cast lots. Rather we use Robert's Rules of Order and votes where the majority rules. Sometimes this process can discern God's will in some matters. This is especially true when the vote is overwhelming. When the nominating committee's slate of candidates for session receives a unanimous vote of the congregation we should rejoice because God has spoken. But when votes are close to 50-50 I'm not sure we can say God has spoken. When a group of people prayerfully asks God to settle a question and 49% think God has spoke one way and 51% think that God has spoken another way then I think that maybe God has not spoken at all. In those times we should wait before acting until we have a clearer picture of what God wants. You would never select a pastor with just 51% of the congregation's support. So I hope the Presbyterian church can find a way to not make major decisions when we are so closely divided.

One last thing I would like to talk about today is the selection of Matthias. His name is mentioned nowhere else in scripture. We know all about Peter and Paul, but nothing about Matthias. I think Matthias is one of those Christians with strong faith who work so hard for the church. They plant bushes, or prepare a reception after a memorial service. They serve on committees, teach children, or sing in the choir. They are the unsung heroes who are vital for the ministry of the church. Their work goes on behind the scenes often unnoticed. But God notices what they do and is pleased. We don't know what happened to Matthias except the church tradition teaches that he went to Ethiopia to continue the work of building the African church.

The first church has left an enduring legacy for the Presbyterian church. It has taught us to do our work in councils and rely on prayer. It has shown us to find leaders who have developed a relationship with Jesus Christ though daily prayer and meditation on scripture. And it has taught us to rely on volunteers who do the work of Christ without fanfare but with God's approval. Let us pray.

We thank you O Lord for the councils that govern our church, our presbytery and our denomination. Bless them, as you bless the first council of the church with your spirit. Give us people who will lead us to Jesus Christ. And bless all the unsung heroes who do so much for the church. This we pray in the name of the leader of our church, Jesus Christ. Amen.