A Cup Of Cold Water

A Cup of Cold Water

Matthew 10: 40-42

I. Intro Story

A. Jared and Dad playing catch when Jared asked,

“Dad, is there a God?”

B. Joe (Dad) – same hopeless feeling he experienced before

1. on high school baseball team, lost sight of fly ball in blazing

sun

2. didn’t know whether to move forward, backward, or just stay put

3. trite answers came to mind

4. honestly answered “I don’t know.”

C. Jared still curious, “If there is a God, how would you know him.”

D. Joe, “I really have no idea, Jared. I only went to church a couple

of times when I was a kid, so I don’t know a lot about those kind

of things.”

E. Jared deep in thought while game continued.

1. suddenly headed for house

2. yelled over shoulder, “I’ll be right back. I have to get

something.”

F. Returned with mylar balloon from circus and pen and index card.

1. “Jared, what in the world are you doing?” Joe asked

2. “I’m going to send a message to God by airmail.”

3. Index card “Dear God, if you are real and if you are there, send

people who know you to Dad and me.”

4. Joe said nothing, not dampen son’s enthusiasm

5. silent petition – “God, I hope you’re watching.”

6. Jared tied card to balloon string and both watched sail away

G. 2 days later – father and son pulled into a free car wash by church

1. Joe – “How much?”

2. “It’s free,” a guy told him, “No strings attached.”

3. Joe – “Really? Why doing this?”

4. Guy – “We just want to show you God’s love in a practical way.”

H. Opened door in Joe’s heart

1. Joe - “Wait, are you Christians?

2. Guy – “Yeah, we’re Christians.”

3. Joe – “Are you the kind of Christians who believe in God?”

4. Guy w/ smile, “Yes, we’re that kind of Christians.”

I. Big grin to Jared, Joe told story of balloon w/ message

1. Joe – “I guess you’re the answer to one of the strangest prayers

God’s ever received.”

J. Jesus in lesson today – speaks of sharing a cup of cold water,

Talking about living the Christian life practically

K. Our life of faith is not meant to be private, designed to touch

others in practical ways

II. Small Things

A. To share our faith in practical ways, not necessarily big things

B. We can do small things to show God’s love to others

C. Recently read about a moral/ethical challenge that was once used as

part of a job application process

1. The Challenge – What would you do in this situation?

a. You are driving alone in your car on wild, stormy night.

b. 3 people waiting for bus

c. an older woman who looks very ill

d. an old friend who once saved your life

e. your dream man or dream woman

f. Who would you choose to offer a ride to, knowing you that

there could only be one passenger in your car

g. candidate hired (out of 200 applicants) came up this answer

h. “give up car to old friend, let him/her take the woman to the

hospital,stay behind and wait for bus with dream date”

D. ok to think “outside the box” when challenged to share the love of

God with others

E. We never fully know what small act of kindness will touch and

transform a life

F. Frisbee Story

1. John Bowes, chairman of Wham-O corp., maker of Frisbees

Once participated in a charity effort (show one)

2. sent 1000s of plastic flying discs to an orphanage in Angola,

Africa

a. thought children would enjoy playing with them

3. several months later, a representative of the company visited

the orphanage

a. one of nuns thanked him for the wonderful “plates” that his

company sent

b. she told of how the children were eating of them and carrying

water with them, even catching fish with them

c. then representative explained how the Frisbees were intended

to be used

d. nun even more delighted that the children would also be able

to enjoy them as toys (throw a couple)

G. A small act of kindness can make a huge impact on someone’s life

H. Jesus gives us hint of impact, later in Matthew’s Gospel

“Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘My father has

blessed you! Come and receive the kingdom that was prepared for

you before the world was created. When I was hungry, you gave

me something to eat, and when I was thirsty, you gave me

something to drink. When I was a stranger, you welcomed me, and

when I was naked, you gave me clothes to wear. When I was sick,