Act 2: The Restoration of God’s People

Sermon Summary

The sermon from last Sunday, "Acts 1:15-26--The Restoration of God's People," recounts a transitional period for the early church, just before the sending of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:1ff). We see the Lord leading the church to appoint Matthias as Judas Iscariot's replacement in answer to the gathered church's communal prayer and faithful deliberations--from which the sermon draws its Main Idea: Prayerfully trust in the Lord who restores His people through fulfilling His promises, executing judgment, and answering faithful prayer made to and through Him.

Sermon Outline:

1. God restores His people through His promises (vv. 15-17, 20)

2. God restores His people through judgment (vv. 18-20)

3. God restores His people through prayer and trust…in Jesus (vv. 21-26)

Sermon Text: Acts 1:15-26

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.

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.

Discussion Questions:

1. What stood out to you the most from the reading and/or the sermon?

2. Compare and contrast the early church's practice of prayer, Scriptural discussion, and application with how faithful Jewish people in the Old Testament practiced faithfulness. What remains the same? What's different?

3. What's significant about the similarities? What's significant about the differences?

4. Looking at Judas Iscariot's aftermath, how would you caution yourself and others about "belly idolatry"? (Cf. Philippians 3:18-19) How can we combat belly idolatry with the gospel?

5. Should we start casting lots to make church decisions? Why or why not?

6. How should we decide on which practices to keep doing or have as a biblical example that we can learn from that need not be applied to the letter today?

7. How does God use prayer and the gathering of His people to accomplish His plans and will today? How can we cultivate this pattern in our personal lives and the church?