Second Presbyterian Church

"Pre-Launching Preparation
Preaching From the Book of Acts"
January 8, 2006

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Sermons Homepage » Sermons for 2006 » Sermons for January 2006 » Sermons from the Series from the Book of Acts

#2 in the Series from the Book of Acts
The Rev. Daniel E. Hale, D. Min.

• Acts 1: 12-26

I don't have the slightest idea what the pre-launching procedure is for the Space Shuttle. I just assume that the procedure, along with its checklist, is complex and long. All the systems have to be checked and reviewed to make sure that they are operable. This includes: the fuel system, the rocket engines, guidance systems, the computers and their backups, and so on and so on. Switches and systems have to be turned on and become operational. Each item needs to be done within a certain time limit. The astronauts and the control center are incredibly busy during the pre-launch process. When everything has checked out and is functioning properly, then the shuttle can be launched and head for earth orbit.

The church was getting ready to be launched. We have already noted that Jesus spent forty days with the disciples and followers before he ascended into heaven. Surely he was encouraging them, teaching them, getting them ready for the launching of their witness: their apostleship. Part of what he had said was to wait for the power of the Holy Spirit. There is no church without the power of God's Holy Spirit giving it the vitality that it needs to accomplish the witness of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

It seems to me that the disciples and followers did three basic acts for preparation of the launching of the church: 1) Gathered, 2) Reviewed and Replaced, 3) and Prayed.

I. Gathered

They gathered together in Jerusalem. The upper room is mentioned when it came to the 11 disciples, but at another point it mentioned that there were about 120 people gathered together. They were of one accord. They had spent 40 days in the joy of being with Jesus, the resurrected Lord. What the followers had not understood before the crucifixion was now all coming together and Jesus was there putting it all together for them. He interpreted the scriptures. He explained why he had to come, be crucified and that he rose again from the dead.

Honestly, the followers were expecting Jesus, now raised from the dead, to NOW come and restore the Kingdom of Israel. As we have noted, Jesus commanded them to prepare to be witnesses throughout the entire world. Witnesses to what? Jesus was preparing them to be witnesses to the risen Lord Jesus Christ and to reach out into the world and call all people to become his disciples!

II. Reviewed and Replaced

Yet there was a gap. One of the original twelve had turned away from his appointment to become an apostle. Traditionally speaking there needed to be twelve apostles in order to judge the twelve tribes of Israel. The office that Judas Iscariot forsook needed to be filled. So, the group nominated two of its own: Joseph and Matthias. They prayed to God, cast lots and Matthias was chosen.

Interestingly, that is the very first and last that we hear of both of these men. Nowhere else are they mentioned in the New Testament.

Now the number of the apostles was complete; they again had 12. They were now ready. And immediately, beginning in the next chapter (2), Luke records the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples who have now become apostles.

III. Prayed

I purposefully left the third act Pre-launch preparation to the end, because it is so important. I have a sense of the importance of gathering together. A church does not exist on an individual basis; it has to be at least a congregation of people. That is, people who have gathered, congregated together for the purpose of worshiping and obeying God.

I have a sense that it is important to review the past and to make appropriate adjustments to the present in light of the past. That is what these early followers were doing. It may seem insignificant to us now, but I guarantee it wasn't insignificant to them! It was important for them to process what happened with Judas Iscariot. It was important to them to have someone replace Judas into the role of apostle.

But when it comes to prayer, we all know how vital prayer is for the preparation of doing a task, especially a task that involves the ministry and mission of the church! The followers of the risen Lord were all gathered together praying to God for His will, for His wisdom, for His power.

And it would come, as we shall see, next week.

Today we ordain and install our elders for the class of 2008: Thelma Kirkland, Mark Stevens, Cheryl Smith, and Beecher Watson. They also have been called to the ministry of Jesus Christ in terms of the leadership of our congregation. They, like the rest of us, need our prayers and support. They, like the rest of us, cannot do this by themselves. It as a ministry of fellowship and prayer. It is a ministry in which we all need to discern our individual call and gifts and use them for the building up of the church.

When we move into the ordination and installation part of the service I invite you to pay special attention to the words that are spoken and the prayers that are given.

We are a covenant people. We live by agreements. These faithful people are taking the vows of ordination and installation. They are the same vows that all elders of this congregation have taken. And there is a vow for commitment of support on your, the congregation's, part. They pledge to fulfill their calling to best of their ability, with style and grace, with love and mercy. They pledge their dependence upon the help of Jesus Christ to fulfill their covenant, because it is impossible to fulfill them without the help and grace of God.

And you pledge your support, offering to be of service to them in any way possible that promotes the ministry of Jesus Christ.

The church has been doing this since its beginning: gathering, reviewing, praying. Amen.

The Rev. Daniel E. Hale, D. Min.