Are We Offering the Right Cup?
Matthew 9:35-38
Carl A. Boyle a sales representative, was driving home when he saw a group of young children selling Kool-Aid on a corner in his neighborhood. They had posted the typical hand-scrawled sign over their stand: "Kool-Aid, 25 cents."
Carl was intrigued. He pulled over to the curb. A young man approached and asked if he would like strawberry or grape Kool-Aid.
Carl placed his order and handed the boy a dollar. After much deliberation, the children determined he had some change coming and rifled through the cigar box until they finally came up with the correct amount. The boy returned with the change, then stood by the side of the road. He asked if Carl was finished drinking.
"Just about," said Carl. "Why?"
"That's the only cup we have," answered the boy, "and we need it to stay in business."
It's difficult to operate a Kool-Aid business if you only have one cup. I want to suggest to you this morning that we sometimes make that same mistake in the church.
This morning we are focusing our attention on the evangelistic task of the church. For many persons, the word "evangelism" brings to mind a few prominent "cups" from the past. Such cups include, perhaps, a televangelist with slick hair bringing in big bucks via electronic media. Or, if you're old enough to remember such things, it might be a tent revival on the edge of town where sinners were invited to walk the sawdust trail and offer their lives to Jesus. For those whose memories don't go back to tent revivals, how about a Billy Graham crusade... or a preacher on a street corner... or the person handing out tracts in the airport?
In some churches evangelism has traditionally meant a once-a-year special event or a particular strategy for incorporating newcomers in the life of the church. I want to suggest that, perhaps, by limiting our vision of the evangelistic enterprise to some of these rapidly disappearing methods, we may be stifling Christ's work on earth and cheating ourselves out of one of the most rewarding endeavors Christ offers us.
The one commandment that Jesus gave to his church besides "love one another" (John 13:34), was the commandment to go out and make disciples of all people (Matt. 28:19). Our failure to take that commandment seriously has resulted in a church that is no longer teaching people with the Good News of Jesus Christ. In fact, a case could be made that we are an enterprise that is rapidly going out of business.,
Even worse is the fact that helping a friend or neighbor find new life in Jesus gives our own life a huge spiritual lift. There are few things we can do in life that will make us feel better than having someone say to us, "My life is so much better because of you." That's what happens when you invite somebody to be a part of the family of Christ. So I would like to focus in the days ahead on Christ's call to be evangelists -- those who introduce their family and friends as well as strangers to Jesus Christ.
Questions to Ponder
How do you feel about Evangelism?
Have you ever led some one to Christ?
Would you like to?
In His Service
Terry Phillips
