The Great Life: Sharing Jesus in Practical Ways
June 29-30, 2002
Matthew 10:40-42 (New International Version)
40”He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. 41Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. 42And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.”
INTRODUCTION: Servant Evangelism.
Jared and his dad were playing a game of catch one afternoon, when Jared asked, “Dad, is there a God?”
Joe had the same helpless feeling he experienced on the high school baseball team when he lost sight of a fly ball in the blazing sun. He didn’t know whether to move forward, backward, or jus stay put. A string of trite answers raced through his mind. In the end Joe opted for honesty, “I don’t know, Jared,” he replied.
Yet Joe’s agnosticism failed to stifle his son’s curiosity. Jared dug a little deeper, “If there is a God, how would you know him?”
“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 kinds of things.
Jared seemed deep in thought for a few minutes as the game continued. Suddenly, he headed for the house. “I’ll be right, back,” he yelled over his shoulder. “I have to get something.” Jared soon returned with a mylar balloon fresh from the circus along with a pen and an index card.
“Jared, what in the world are you doing?” Joe asked.
“I’m going to send a message to God – airmail,” the boy earnest replied. Before Joe could protest, Jared started writing on the index card, “Dear God, if you are real and if you are there, send people who know you to Dad and me.”
Joe kept his mouth shut, not wanting to dampen his son’s enthusiasm. This is silly, he thought as he helped Jared fasten the card to the balloon’s string. But God, I hope you’re watching, he added to his silent petition. After Jared let go of the balloon, father and son stood with their faces to the sky and watched it sail away.
Two days later, Joe and Jared pulled into a free car wash that a church was holding as part of their outreach into the community on a Saturday morning. “How much?” Joe asked as neared the line of buckets, sponges and hoses.
“It’s free,” the guy told him. “No strings attached.”
“Really!” Joe exclaimed. He was intrigued by getting something for nothing. “But why are you doing this?”
“We just want to show you God’s love in a practical way.”
It was as if that simple statement opened a hidden door to Joe’s heart. The look on his face was incredible, “Wait a minute,” he practically shouted. “Are you guys Christians?”
“Yeah, we’re Christians,” the man replied.
“Are you the kind of Christians who believe in God?”
The man couldn’t help but smile, “Yes, we’re that kind of Christians.”
After directing a big grin at Jared, Joe proceeded to tell the story of releasing the helium balloon with its message only days earlier. “I guess you’re the answer to one of the strangest prayers God’s ever received,” Joe said.
Folks, that is the story of a church in Ohio that is committed to what they call servant evangelism which is defined as, “Servant evangelism is demonstrating the kindness of God by offering to do some act of humble service with no strings attached.” – Steve Sjogren (story from Steve Sjogren)
Jesus in Matthew 10:42 when he speaks of sharing a cup of cold water is speaking of the practicality of living the Christian life. Christianity and our relationship with God is personal, but not meant to be private. Our life with God is a life that is designed to touch others in practical ways. Today let’s look at 3 principles to
Share Jesus in Practical Ways
PRINCIPLE 1. DO the small thing to show the main thing of God’s love at work. Liz Norton sent this e-mail with this “What would you do challenge?” You are driving along in your car on a wild, stormy night. You pass by a bus stop, and you see three people waiting for the bus:
1. An older woman who looks as if she is about to die.
2. An old friend who once saved your life.
3. The perfect man (or) woman you have been dreaming about.
Which one would you choose to offer a ride to, knowing that there could only be one passenger in your car. This is one of those moral/ethical dilemmas once used as part of a job application.
You could pick up the older woman, because she is going to die, and thus you should save her first; or you could take the old friend because he once saved your life, and this would be the perfect chance to pay him back. However, you may never be able to find your perfect dream lover again.
The candidate who was hired (out of 200 applicants) had no trouble coming up with his answer. I love what he came up with. What did he say? He simply answered: “I would give the car keys to my old friend, and let him take the lady to the hospital. I would stay behind and wait for the bus with the woman of my dreams.”
Never forget to "Think Outside of the Box." Jesus challenges his disciples and us here in Matthew 10 and in other places to do the small thing to show the main thing of God’s love at work. In Matthew 10, it is giving a cup of cold water. In John 13, the night before he dies, he washes his disciples feet and then challenges them to love others. He then makes this observation in John 13:35, Everyone will know that you are my disciples because of your love for each other. -- (GOD’S WORD)
Do the small thing to show the main thing of God’s love at work. We never fully know what small act of kindness will touch and transform a life.
John Bowes, chairman of the parent company of Wham-O—the maker of Frisbees—once participated in a charity effort. He sent thousands of the plastic flying discs to an orphanage in Angola, Africa. He thought the children there would enjoy playing with them.
Several months later, a representative of Bowes’ company visited the orphanage. One of the nuns thanked him for the wonderful “plates” that his company had sent them. She told him the children were eating off the Frisbees, carrying water with them, and even catching fish with them. When the representative explained how the Frisbees were intended to be used, the nun was even more delighted that the children would also be able to enjoy them as toys.
You never fully know how a life will be touched by a small act of kindness, but God does. Jesus gives us a hint of the impact that doing the small thing to show the main thing of God’s love at work can have in Matthew 25:34-40, 34Then 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. 35When 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, 36and when I was naked, you gave me clothes to wear. When I was sick, you took care of me, and when I was in jail, you visited me.” 37Then the ones who pleased the Lord will ask, “When did we give you something to eat or drink? 38When did we welcome you as a stranger or give you clothes to wear 39or visit you while you were sick or in jail?” 40The king will answer, “Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me.” – (Contemporary English Version)
PRINCIPLE 2. Understand simple acts DONE with great love will change the world. Baron De Rothschild was one of the richest men who ever lived. Legend has it the Baron once posed before an artist as a beggar. While the artist, Ary Scheffer, was painting him, the financier sat before him in rags and tatters holding a tin cup. A friend of the artist entered, and the baron was so well disguised that he was not recognized. Thinking he was really a beggar, the visitor dropped a coin into the cup. 10 years later, the man who gave the coin to Rothschild received a letter containing a bank order for 10,000 francs and the following message: “You one day gave a coin to Baron de Rothschild in the studio of Ary Scheffer. He has invested it and today sends you the capital which you entrusted to him, together with the compounded interest. A good action always brings good fortune. Signed, Baron de Rothschild.”
Jesus puts it this way in Matthew 10:42, I can guarantee this truth: Whoever gives any of my humble followers a cup of cold water because that person is my disciple will certainly never lose his reward. -- (GOD’S WORD)
Simple acts done with great love will change the world. Just think how God came into this world. How did he come? Not with bells and whistles, not riding white horses with trumpets blazing, he came as a baby. He touched people at their point of need, not just to heal them physically or to lift their spirits, but to change their lives. He came and gave his life on a cross, on an instrument of death, to pay for our sins and to change the world with His love. God was aware we would never get this on our own, so He sent His Son to die for us, His Holy Spirit to lead us to faith and to change our hearts, and people who touched our hearts with His love.
God’s desire is to use you and me with simple acts done with great love to change our world. In the Mid-East the peace process is way off-track. Palestinians carry out suicide bombings, and the Israeli military seeks to put the squeeze on Arafat, and the temperature seems to continue to rise.
Jesus was once asked what it meant to love one’s neighbor. The guy asking the question figured he was already doing this, so he was hoping to look good in front of others. Instead Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan. If he were speaking to Jewish audience in Israel today, it would be the parable of the Good Palestinian. A man traveling along the road is mugged, robbed, and left for dead. Two fellow Jews eventually pass by, but cross to the other side. One who goes by is a priest, the other who comes by is a Levite, neither helps though as what we could pastor and elder, you would expect them to stop. Instead it is a Samaritan, the Jews enemy #1, who stops and cares for this man, bandages him up, gets him a hotel room to recover, and picks up his bill since his HMO wouldn’t cover it, then Jesus asks his questioner this question in Luke 10:36-37, 36”Of these three men, who do you think was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by robbers?” 37The expert said, “The one who was kind enough to help him.” Jesus told him, “Go and imitate his example!” -- (GOD’S WORD)
Israel and Palestine’s hope for peace will require that kind of love. Simple acts done with great love will change the world. God’s simple act of Christ’s death offers to change our world, and invites us to reach out and to change the world of others by sharing His love in practical ways.
PRINCIPLE 3. Realize my “service power” is not based on who I am, but who JESUS is THROUGH me. At this point we can get caught up in the guilt of not doing enough to show that love, or feeling horrible how inadequate our love might seem. The challenge is often we try to love under our own power, and the power to share Jesus in practical ways comes from Christ. Paul knew this, even when imprisoned, he knew and experienced the power of Christ at work, that’s why he tells the Philippians and us in Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. -- (NKJV)
Salvation and life with God is not by my power, but by what Christ has done. Eric Selander told me this story the other evening about a Sunday School teacher who asked her class, "If I sold my house and my car, had a big garage sale and gave all my money to the church, would I get into Heaven?" "NO"! the children all answered.
"If I cleaned the church every day, mowed the yard, and kept everything neat and tidy, would I get into Heaven"? Again, the answer was "NO"!
"Well," the teacher continued, "then how can I get to Heaven?" In the back of the room, a 5 yr. old boy shouted out, "You gotta be dead"!
We get into heaven not by what we do, but by what Christ has done for us. The power of the life we live in love toward God and others flows out of God working in our hearts. Jesus the night before he dies prays for this to happen in our lives when he prays in John 17:21, The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, So they might be one heart and mind with us. Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me. – (The Message)
CONCLUSION: Why “Just Do It!”
Nike commercials challenge us to “Just do it!” Sharing Jesus in practical ways with a cup of cold water, with a meal, with words of prayer, a listening ear, a ride to the doctor and in so many other ways is a call to just do it. Yet we need to always remember why we just do it. Our actions flow out of the realization that Jesus did it. He died for us. He gives us life eternal. He empowers us with His presence. He challenges us to live out our purpose not in only a big moment of life, but all of its little ones as well, even a cup of cold water given in his name. For we do the small thing to show the main thing of God’s love at work. We understand simple acts done with great love will change the world. We realize my service power is not based on who I am, but who Jesus is through me. Folks, those simple acts done in love seem so small, yet when you realize God is at work through them. You discover the great life of sharing Jesus in practical ways. Amen.
