LECTIONARY 13A Matthew 10:40-42 David Eck
6/22/11
Jesus said, "Whoever gives even a cup of cold water
---To one of these little ones.
---Truly I tell you
---None of these will loose their reward."
A cup of cold water.
---This is the image Jesus uses
---To describe what it means to serve others
A simple cup of cold water.
---It's not a big commitment on our part,
---However, to the one who receives it
---It can make all the difference in the world!
A cup of cold water
---Can be used to quench the thirst of a weary traveler.
---It can be used to nurture a young seedling.
---It can be mixed with mortar and used to build a house.
A cup of cold water
---Can wash the hair of an elderly person in a nursing home.
---It can be used to help a child paint a water color picture.
Combined with flour and yeast
---A cup of cold water can also make bread for the hungry
A cup of cold water seems like such a simple thing,
---Hardly any effort on our part
---However, God can use this small gesture of good will
---And turn it onto something extraordinary!
II. I am convinced that some people
---Don't get involved with serving others
---Because they think it takes too much time!
They think that service means
---Going overseas to work with impoverished people in Africa
---Or volunteering with the Red Cross in their relief efforts
---After a natural disaster
They think that service means
---Taking a week off from work
---To build a house with Habitat For Humanity
Or make a monthly commitment
---To volunteer with a helping organization
---Such as ABCCM or Manna Food Bank
Yes, it's true service can be done
---On a large scale that impacts a large number of people
---But, truth be told,
---Jesus says all it takes is a cup of cold water
Now, you might think that's silly
---Or trivial or overly optimistic
---But ponder Jesus' words carefully for a moment
One cup may not make a huge difference in and of itself
---However, if you have a cup, and I have a cup
---And the person sitting next to you has a cup
---And we combine our cups together...
We become a force to be reckoned with
---We become a tidal wave of compassion
---That has a significant impact on our community,
---Our nation and our world
III. Let me give you some examples:
---We may only be able to donate
---A small amount of extra funds
---To the ELCA Disaster Response
---To help with earthquake relief in Japan
---And tornado relief in the United States.
---However, did you know that our combined giving
---For these two natural disasters was over $1,600?
This figure does not include the funds we sent
---To Relay For Life, Bus-Pass-It-On
---Or the food that was donated
---To feed the homeless at Pritchard Park.
Perhaps giving a cup of cold water
---Is not a silly notion after all!
Furthermore, I buy approximately two bags
---Of Equal Exchange coffee every month.
---It doesn't seem like a big deal, in and of itself.
But did you know that over 4,300 Lutheran churches
---Participate in the Lutheran World Relief Coffee project?
And if each congregation bought an average
---Of 100 pounds of coffee a year,
---Which our congregation has done and more,
---That's 215 tons of fair trade coffee a year!
Perhaps giving a cup of cold water
---Is not a silly notion after all!
Perhaps it's not trivial
---Or overly optimistic
In fact, giving a cup of cold water
---Is one of the most powerful and moving images
---We have in the New Testament
---That teaches us what it means to serve others.
We are called to give a cup of cold water
---To those in need.
We are called to quench the thirst
---Of those whose hopes have dried up;
---Those whose lives are in need of refreshment.
We are called to be a cool oasis
---In the midst of the desert times of life.
And this does not mean
---We have to do long term mission projects
---With major time commitments on our part
----[Although that is also a holy calling]
---A simple cup of cold water fits the bill quite nicely!
In today's gospel lesson
---I believe Jesus is calling us
---To grow a heart for service.
Jesus' words remind us that service
---Can start with something as simple
---As a cup of cold water.
Sometimes it is the little things
---That make all the difference in the world.
We need to have the faith
---That God will bless our cups of cold water
---And use them to quench the thirst of those around us.
VII. So what is your cup of cold water?
---What are you passionate about?
---What makes good use of your talents and abilities?
This is what I would like us to ponder
---For the remainder of our time together.
It will come as no surprise to you
---But Abiding Savior is a small church
---With a limited number of people
---And a limited amount of resources.
We cannot do what a mega-church does.
---We cannot offer tons of programs
---And big flashy service projects.
However, this little cup of cold water called Aiding Savior
---Does some pretty amazing things
---On this campus, in our community,
---And in our world.
We will be able to do even more good
---If each of us is willing to put our cup
---Into the bigger cup known as Abiding Savior.
Because of our size, if one cup is missing,
---We feel it more profoundly
---Than a larger church does.
So, if we're going to be all that God is calling us to be
---We need each and every person,
---From the youngest to the oldest,
---To seriously ponder what cup they can contribute
---To the ministry of our congregation.
Here are a few cups for you to consider:
1. We need leadership.
---As I wrote this sermon
---We still had five empty slots to fill on Church Council.
---2 for stewardship, 2 for Family Life and 1 for Outreach.
Without leadership, ministry comes to a halt.
---Without leadership there is no one to plan
---Service projects, community outreach,
---Fellowship events, worship, and the like.
We cannot grow if we do not have leaders.
---Perhaps this is where your cup can best be used.
2. Our church secretary has resigned
---And this week our Church Council
---Has decided not to hire someone else
---But to ask for volunteers to help me in the office.
---Perhaps this is where your cup can best be used.
3. We always have little projects to do around the church
---Such as maintaining the grounds
---And cleaning the church.
---Perhaps this is where your cup can best be used.
4. We have a small group of people
---Who have a passion for service in the community
---And are involved in projects such as
---The breakfast at Pritchard Park,
---Providing desserts for the Fairview Welcome Table,
---Participating in the CROP Walk,
---And other activities like these.
We cannot do more
---Unless we have more people to volunteer.
We cannot have a strong presence in our community
---If other people are not willing to be that presence.
---Perhaps this is where your cup can best be used.
5. We need people who are willing to serve
---On the Reconciling in Christ Taskforce.
---These folks are essential if our church
---Is going to be strong and vibrant.
---They are going to help us
---Shape our identity as a congregation
---And move us forward into a new era
---Of growth in membership and ministry.
---Perhaps this is where your cup can best be used.
VIII. We are at an important crossroads as a congregation.
---Our success or failure depends upon
---Everyone's willingness to contribute their cup of cold water
---To the ministry and mission of Abiding Savior.
Each of us needs to move from maintenance mentality
---To mission mentality.
---If we can do this, I believe our future
---Will be bright, indeed.
I believe we CAN grow and we CAN prosper.
---I can see it. It's right in front of us.
---If everyone can contribute their cup of cold water,
---I know we can get there.
This morning I'd like you to seriously consider
---What your cup of cold water looks like.
---You may think your cup is small
---Or you may already be putting several cups
---Into the Abiding Savior jar.
But no matter what the case many be
---Each and every cup is important.
---Each and every cup counts.
During the two remaining hymns that we sing,
---As well as during communion,
---I'd like you to consider what your cup might be.
When you can identify your cup;
---When you are willing to offer your time and talent
---To serve others in the name of Christ;
---I'd like you to come up to the table
---In front of the church.
I'd like you to take a small Dixie cup of water
---And pour it into the big vessel on the table.
This big vessel is the cup of cold water
---Known as Abiding Savior.
---And it cannot be full
---Unless we all help to make it full.
Each and every cup counts.
---Each and every gift offered to God
---Will be blessed by God.
It will be used to help quench the thirst
---Of those who enter the doors of this church
---As well as those we serve out in the community.
Brothers and sisters in Christ,
---This is a voluntary and symbolic act
---I hope you'll seriously consider what your cup might be.
We all need to do something
---Beyond showing up on Sunday morning
---If our church is going to be strong and vibrant.
Give your cup of cold water today.
---Trust that God will use it
---To bless others in ways you never thought were possible.
AMEN
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