Our family of pastors has recently entered a Season of Prayerful Discernment over the Summer and into the early Fall months. In the past, we may have referred to the upcoming Conference as a Solemn Assembly (e.g. Leviticus 23:36, Joel 1:14). The word solemn in the Hebrew, ʿăṣārâ[i], carries a different connotation than our English word, solemn. It denotes a restraining, but from work, not from fun. The idea is that you cease from work to enjoy the rest of a Sabbath, communing with God.
I have the joy in my role of being able to work closely with the Next Generation, for whom questions of discernment are central: “What does it look and feel like to hear from God? Is it like a voice? Is it a gut feeling? Can the Bible provide specific direction for specific life circumstances? Can I miss the will of God?” And, especially among young adults, “how do I practice discernment?”
In the Acts 1-2 narrative that is framing our annual theme, Comeunity, there is a curious, instructive story about discernment wedged between Christ’s ascension/promise of the Holy Spirit and the Spirit’s outpouring on the church. What Luke provides for us here is a buffet of wisdom for those who want to practice communal discernment. It is everything that happens between promise and fulfillment, which in our lives, churches, and denominational family, can sometimes feel like long seasons. In Acts 1, the little community of The Way is grappling with the most important work that they need to do while they wait for the Spirit’s outpouring: choosing leadership. Here are some insights from the text that I think are both timeless and timely:
- They joined together constantly in prayer – As we’ve highlighted in previous articles, “joined together” is the Greek verb homothymadon, “rushing along together with one purpose.” The apostles are doing this with prayer constantly. This mirrors the life of Jesus; a regular rhythm of retreating to commune with the Father, especially before crucial decisions like choosing disciples (Luke 6:12-16). If you need discernment, it is certainly helpful if prayer and listening is a regular practice, not simply an act of desperation. It might be helpful to begin every day with the invitation of God to speak to you, direct you, guide your conversations, and to course correct if you are heading towards sin.
- They discerned together in community – Peter stood up “among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty)” (1:16). This was a diverse group, including the apostles, Jesus’ mother and brothers, the female disciples who are showcased in the gospels as Jesus’ most faithful followers and first witnesses, and many others who remain nameless. Discernment was never meant to be a solo exercise. Prayerfully discuss important matters with friends, mentors, family in the faith, pastors, leaders, men and women, and enjoy the rich blessing of a diversity of people and perspectives who will have your good at heart.
- They framed their situation in the scriptural narrative – In this case, Peter and the 120 drew from a number of places in the Psalms that they felt spoke directly to their current situation. We should also live and breathe the scriptural story as we endeavour to walk in the will of God. While the decision we are making might be a-moral, we will draw encouragement and wisdom from the great cloud of witnesses who are cheering us on (Hebrews 12:1).
- They rooted their decision making in the “why” – A fundamental coaching question that I use with pastors, disciples, and boards, is: “how does this decision flow from or against your mission, vision and values?” For the disciples in the upper room, their purpose for making the decision was clear: “One of us must become a witness with us of his resurrection” (1:22).
- They combined good common sense with a prayer of trust – They collectively narrowed their choice down to Joseph and Matthias based on their evident ability to witness and lead, with a healthy rubric of qualifications (vv.21-22). Then they made their decision with the acknowledgment that they had done all that they could do, and they needed God to direct their path (v.25). In this case, they cast lots, a practice which never shows up again after the Holy Spirit is poured out.
I invite you in this season to pray with us as a Comeunity. Perhaps there is a reason that we find ourselves in a situation so similar to this particular part of the scriptural story in this season. Perhaps practicing communal discernment is a natural precursor to a renewed outpouring of the Holy Spirit on us for power to witness to a world that is evidently starving for direction, purpose and hope.
[i] Reference: https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h6116/kjv/wlc/0-1/
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