Sermon: July 2, 2023

“Welcome Wagon”

Matthew 10:40-42

Maybe you’ve heard the old story about the town drunk who was down on his hands and knees one night underneath the streetlight searching and searching for something. The preacher happened to be walking by and asked him, “Sam, what in the world are you doing out here on your hands and knees?”

Sam looked up and said, “Oh, hi Preacher, I’m hunting for my keys. I lost my keys.”
The preacher, being kindhearted, got down on his hands and knees to help him and said, “Show me where you were when you dropped them, and I’ll help you find them.”

Sam pointed off about 50 or 60 feet in the distance and said, “Oh, I lost them over there in the grass.”

That really got to the preacher, so he asked, “Well, if you lost them way over there in the grass, why are you looking for them over here on the sidewalk?” And Sam said, “Because this is where the light is.”

As old and dumb as that joke is, there is a semblance of truth to it. People look for things where the is light. And I have a feeling that a lot of people come to church because somewhere they have lost something.

They’re not sure what they’ve lost; maybe it’s themselves or their faith or their belief in life. They’re not sure what they’ve lost or even where they lost it. But, they are convinced that the Church is where the light is.

And we shouldn’t be surprised, because this is what we’ve been telling folks for years. This is the place of light. This is the place of Christ, the light of the world. This is the place where people come to find answers.

Here in our text for this morning, the last two verses of the 10th chapter of the Gospel according to Matthew, Jesus talks about those that receive us receives Him and also receives the one who sent Him, God the Father. And then He mentions something about rewards.

In our society today we are bombarded with the talk of rewards. Every motel or hotel—every airline—and even every credit card company dangles the word “rewards” in our face. Surely you remember the big, hairy Viking oaf who’s the spokesman for the Capital One Visa Card: “What’s in your wallet?” They all make us think that by racking up a pile of debt we will be rewarded in some way. And they all like to say, “You’ve earned it.”

Our reward for following Jesus and His teaching doesn’t come from this world; our reward for welcoming folks or for giving something as small or as seemingly insignificant as a cup of cold water comes from God! (Are you with me?).

You know, these cups of cold water can come in various forms. I’ve asked someone from the school board to identify the top three items, or school supplies, that our children seem to need the most. All during the month of August we will be collecting these items to be given out in all of our schools. A cup of cold water.
I know that several of you, me included, volunteered this past year as a reading buddy which is a program in our elementary schools designed to help kids read. And even more than that, they see people whom they don’t already know volunteering their time. A cup of cold water.

These “little ones” that Jesus mentions could have been the less prominent disciples, it may indicate that there were children standing nearby, or it could have meant the new converts who were less instructed than the apostles. Or showing kindness to those who may be new or novices in spiritual education. The point is: this kindness is the Spirit of Christ.

In conclusion (second wind)

Jim Somerville was once the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. Once one of the most prominent churches in our nation’s capital, it is still housed in a wonderful, ornate facility. However, there are few people who come to worship there anymore.

Washington has one of the highest populations of homeless people in America, if not the highest. They’re everywhere, and sometimes they take refuge near churches. Jim couldn’t help but notice that a group of homeless people were spending their night on the church’s property. In an effort to be hospitable, and to put a human face on homelessness, he and another young fellow from his church took their sleeping bags and spent the night with these people who had no roof over their heads.

They had to endure the initiation process, as if being homeless was a fraternity. First of all, if they were going to relate to these people, they would have to give up their sleeping bags. Nobody else had them. They were instructed as to how to make a good bed out of cardboard and to use other materials to insulate their “home.” In the course of questioning their new friends, the pastor and his idealistic deacon asked them what their greatest difficulties were. The answer was obvious…where to go to the bathroom. And since there were women in the ranks, it was especially difficult for them.

So, the next day, Jim ordered a portable toilet to be delivered to the church and placed nearby where this group slept. It did not—how shall I put this—go over well with some folks in the congregation. A day or two later, a padlock appeared on the outdoor facility—courtesy of the grounds committee or someone else who thought they were “in charge.” When someone asked Jim what he was going to do he responded sadly, “the toilet will have to go.”

But that’s not the end of the story. Here’s the interesting thing…One of those homeless men joined the church and has developed into one of its most active and committed members.

You never know, you just never know, what might happen when you extend a hand—a cup of cold water—or a port-o-john—to someone in the name of Jesus. You see, you never know who that stranger may be at your door.

Thanks be to God!