Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas

December 31, 2023
Pastor Jack

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Acts 1:12-26

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain that is called Olive Grove which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. And when they had entered, they went up to the upstairs room 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 James. All these were busily engaged with one mind in prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus and with his brothers. And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers (and it was a crowd of persons of about one hundred twenty at the same place) and said, “Men and brothers, it was necessary that the scripture be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit proclaimed beforehand through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus, because he was counted among us and received a share in this ministry.” (Now this man acquired a field for the wages of his wickedness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines spilled out. And it became known to all who live in Jerusalem, so that that field was called in their own language “Akeldama,” that is, “Field of Blood.”) “For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his residence become deserted, and let there be no one to live in it,’ and, ‘Let another person take his position.’ Therefore it is necessary for one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time in which the Lord Jesus went in and went out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day on which he was taken up from us—one of these men must become a witness of his resurrection together with us.” And they proposed two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was called Justus) and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show clearly which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to depart to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was added to serve with the eleven apostles.

Get excited about what God is doing!

Acts 1:12–14

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

  • Jesus had gone to the Father
  • The Holy Spirit had not yet arrived
  • Disciples devoted to prayer

Acts 1:15–20

15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to 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 he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms,

May his camp become desolate,
and let there be no one to dwell in it;

and

  Let another take his office.
  • The church is gathered together
  • Peter is leading
  • They need to replace Judas
  • Early church business meeting

Acts 1:21–26

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 men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place 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 numbered with the eleven apostles.

  • Notice that while the church is gathered, it is God that is making the decision. The Church is there to witness what God is doing.
  • A flourishing church needs:
    • God
    • Leadership
    • Membership

Questions for Reflection

  • According to statistics, the median church in the US has a weekly attendance of 65 people.
  • This same statistics indicate the a “large” church has a weekly attendance of 100 people.
  • What do you think the average weekly attendance is at Bethlehem?
    • 80 to 100 (9 & 11 services combined)
  • We need to be conducting ourselves more like a large church.
  • What do you think those statistics consider “regular church attendance”?
    • Someone that atteneds three or more times in an eight week span.
  • God is doing something here at Bethlehem!
    • Get excited about it!
    • Do you want to be a part of it?
  • We need:
    • To be a people devoted to prayer
    • To come together
    • Stand for what we profess to believe
    • To be involved in church
  • So, how can we be devoted to prayer?
  • What ways can we “come tegether” as a church or as a small goup?
  • What do we believe and how can we stand for it?
  • How can we be more involved in church? What does that mean?
  • What can we do as a group to prepare to welcome new people
    • at Bethlehem?
    • at Grace LG?
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