Thursday, June 25, 2009

At Jesus' Feet

We carry many spiritual burdens in this life. Jesus is willing to help us with the load of those troubles if we will take them to him. What will it take before we bear our burdened soul with him? In this week’s sermon we will talk about a man who took his desperate situation to Jesus, and the lesson we are to learn from it.

Scripture: Mark 5:21-43
When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, "My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live." So Jesus went with him.

A large crowd followed and pressed around him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, "If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed." Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?"

"You see the people crowding against you," his disciples answered, "and yet you can ask, 'Who touched me?'"

But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."

While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is dead," they said. "Why bother the teacher any more?"

Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid; just believe."

He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. When they came to the home of the synagogue ruler, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. He went in and said to them, "Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep."
But they laughed at him.


After he put them all out, he took the child's father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum!" (which means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!"). Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Renewing Reflections
It is our prayer that Renewing Reflections will be a blessing in your life this coming week. This quote is taken from the sermon “A Voice in the Storm“ delivered on Christian Crusaders September 26, 2004.
Many people have asked the question – If God does not spare his children from these earthly difficulties, why should we bother with him? One answer to that common question is abundantly clear from our text: When our lives are tossed to and fro on the sea of life, we need an anchor that will not fail us. We need a voice speaking in the storm, assuring us that all is well. That voice must have an authoritative note. Only the voice of God is adequate in the storms.

About ChristianCrusaders.com
By scrolling to the bottom of our homepage, you can now see all the online tools we offer together in one location – from our news blog to RSS feeds to podcasts. You can even click on a page that describes each of these services and how they can be used.

On the Light Side
A cake decorator was once asked to inscribe I John 4:18 – “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out fear” – on a wedding cake. However, the decorator misread the verse, and when the cake arrived at the wedding reception, it was discovered that John 4:18 was inscribed on the cake: “For thou has had five husbands, and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband.”

Thursday, June 18, 2009

The Evening Faith Grew

As we live out our days on this earth, we can experience some very difficult hours. These storms can either destroy or make us a stronger person. In this week’s sermon, we will get a word from God regarding what we can do with these troublesome hours.

Scripture: Mark 4:35-41
That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.”
Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.
Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Renewing Reflections
It is our prayer that Renewing Reflections will be a blessing in your life this coming week. This quote is taken from the sermon “Simon, the Cross Bearer“ delivered on Christian Crusaders March 4, 2001.
Many crosses can be added to our life’s journey, but Jesus has promised, “Cast all of your cares on me, I care for you.” If you are a Christian, live with that promise. If you are not a Christian, receive Christ as your Savior and experience the joy of walking with Him each day. First, a peace that passes all understanding will fill your soul. Then, you will have a story to tell to the nations.

About ChristianCrusaders.com
Christian Crusaders is now on Twitter! Twitter.com is a free site that allows users to communicate with others by posting brief, frequent messages. By joining, you will directly receive Christian Crusaders’ updates on upcoming sermon topics and more from our ministry, though you need not be a member to view our page and updates.

By going to the bottom of our homepage and clicking Crusader Headlines, you will be able to view our Twitter updates.

On the Light Side
On the day Jodi received her learner’s permit, her father agreed to take her out for a driving lesson. With a big grin, he hopped in behind the driver’s seat. “Why aren’t you sitting up front on the passenger’s side?” she asked.

“Jodi, I’ve been waiting for this day ever since you were a little girl,” her dad replied. “Now it’s my turn to sit back here and kick the seat.”

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Planting the Seed

How did you first learn about Christ? Jesus told a story of a farmer planting seed, which He compared with planting the seed of God’s Word in the lives of people. This week’s sermon emphasizes the importance of this mission of the Church in order for the Holy Spirit to nourish this seed and thereby produce fruit. Check it out at www.ChristianCrusaders.org.

Sermon
“Planting the Seed”

Scripture: Mark 4:26-29
He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain – first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”

Hymns
“At the Cross”
“Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross”

Renewing Reflections
It is our prayer that Renewing Reflections will be a blessing in your life this coming week. This quote is taken from the sermon “Let God's Voice Be Heard“ delivered on Christian Crusaders December 3, 2006.
Are we faithful voices of God in our society? We should be agonizing over these questions in our churches. As one layman said, "Jesus told us to be the salt of the earth. Today our culture shapes the message of the church." It is not only the Law of God that the Church is to proclaim, but we are to also preach the Gospel clearly. Our hope is Christ Jesus. If we will come to him in repentance and faith, he will forgive us and bring us into a personal relationship with him so that we can be the light of the world.

A Great Father’s Day Gift Idea
Don’t forget to order your Father's Day gift sets! Remember a special father in your life with a unique, handsomely packaged set of five audio sermons on CD with special significance for fathers. Call our office to order these sets, which are available for a suggested donation of $10.

On the Light Side
Grandma was in the bathroom, putting on her makeup under the watchful eyes of Katie, her young granddaughter, as she had done many times before. After she applied her lipstick and started to leave, Katie said, “Wait Gramma! You forgot to kiss the toilet paper good-bye!”

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

And That Is What We Are!

We’ve all been given a title or two through the years. It may have been Mr. or Mrs.; Mom or Dad; doctor, pastor, or professor; or perhaps even Most Valuable Player. However, the Apostle John wrote to the Christians in the early Church of a title that makes the others pale in comparison. In this week’s sermon we will talk about the title Jesus Christ gives us.

Scripture: I John 3:1, 2
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made know. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

Hymns
“Come Christians, Join to Sing”
“This Is My Father’s World”
“Redeemed, How I Love to Proclaim It”

Renewing Reflections
It is our prayer that Renewing Reflections will bless your life this coming week. This quote is taken from the sermon “The Hand That Holds Me“ delivered on Christian Crusaders April 29, 2007.
Jesus said, “You are of more value than many sparrows. Even the hairs on your head are numbered.” Jesus pointed out that he cares about each of us. He knows us and wants to have a personal relationship with us. I heard someone say once that, if Jesus had a wallet, your picture would be in it. The writer of Hebrews tells us that we have a great high priest in Jesus who sympathizes with us because he has been there; he has gone through the things through which we go. We can turn to him confidently and call upon his name assured that he knows us and what we are going through.

Radio Station Broadcasting Change
Beginning Sunday, June 7 radio station WNAX in Yankton, South Dakota, will broadcast Christian Crusaders at 9:00 a.m. This is a change from the former time: 10:30 a.m.
If you are a regular listener on WNAX, please make a note to tune in 1½ hours earlier.

Christian Crusaders on Facebook!
Christian Crusaders is now on Facebook! If you are a member of this free social networking site, log on and search for the group, “Christian Crusaders – Broadcasting Biblical Truth Since 1936.” As a member of this group, you can view upcoming events, post discussion topics and leave comments, and view upcoming events.

On the Light Side
A church member rang the parsonage and a little voice answered very softly. “Hello.”
“May I speak to the pastor please?”
The little voice whispered, “I’m afraid he’s not at home just now.”
“Well, may I speak to your mother then please?”
“I’m afraid she’s not at home either.”
“Well, is there anyone else there?”
“There’s a policeman.”
“Could I speak to him then please?”
“No, I’m sorry; he’s rather busy.”
“Is there anyone else?”
“There’s a great big fireman.”
“My goodness it’s very strange that your mommy and daddy are out and there is a policeman and a fireman at your house. What is going on?”
The whispered voice replied with a little giggle. “They’re all looking for me.”