Wednesday, November 18, 2009

What is Truth?

Pilate once asked Jesus, “What is truth?” It is a question that has been asked for thousands of years. Today we believe truth is subjective – what is truth for you may not be truth for me. Will there ever be an answer we can depend on?

Scripture: John 18:33-37
Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”
“Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”
“Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.
Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
“What is truth?” Pilate asked.

Renewing Reflections
It is our prayer Renewing Reflections will be a blessing in your life this coming week. This quote is taken from the sermon “What Will It Take to Satisfy Me?" delivered on Christian Crusaders August 13, 2000.

The hunger and thirst of the soul can only be satisfied by Jesus. This is one of Jesus’ basic teachings. When he said, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry and he who believes in me will never be thirsty” (John 6:36), his meaning was very clear. Jesus alone can satisfy the deep needs of our souls. What is this bread and wine to which Jesus refers? It is his Word with the promises found therein which satisfies the soul’s needs.

On the Light Side
A fisherman was getting a terrible reputation for stretching the truth. So he decided to buy a pair of scales and thereafter insisted on weighing every fish he caught in front of a witness.

All went well until one day a doctor borrowed the scales to weigh a newborn baby. The baby weighed forty-seven pounds!

The program "What is Truth?" will air Sunday, November 22, 2009. Visit www.christiancrusaders.org for radio stations and times, or to listen online.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Wise Living Starts With a Right Relationship With God

We love our children and want them to be people of character who do what is right and just. So we impart them with wisdom and practical skills for living this life. In fact, we want this for ourselves as well! In this week’s sermon, we will look at where we can find such wisdom.

Scripture: Proverbs 1:1-7
The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
for attaining wisdom and discipline;
for understanding words of insight;
for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life,
doing what is right and just and fair;
for giving prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the young –
let the wise listen and add to their learning,
and let the discerning get guidance –
for understanding proverbs and parables,
the sayings and riddles of the wise.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Renewing Reflections
It is our prayer Renewing Reflections will be a blessing in your life this coming week. This quote is taken from the sermon “A Spiritual Checkup: How's the Diet? “ delivered on Christian Crusaders October 19, 2008.

(Jesus) told his disciples, “Seek first the kingdom of God and all these other things that you worry so much about shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). . . Some scholars believe that Jesus was referring to everything he ever said to his disciples, his whole message, about totally trusting him with their lives. Jesus said spiritual help comes to a person who not only reads and hears his commandments, but actually lives by them. . . Jesus said, “I’ve said all these things so that you can have joy!” He wants us to have joy – the sense of well-being in any and all circumstances.

Christian Crusaders' Blog
Find this e-newsletter online at http://crusaderweekly.blogspot.com/. You can read about the upcoming sermon, find past e-newsletters, and leave comments on aired or upcoming Christian Crusaders sermons.

On the Light Side

Words of Wisdom:

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and a leaky tire.

Never test the depth of the water with both feet.

If at first you don’t succeed, skydiving is not for you.

If you lend someone $20 and never see them again, it was probably worth it.

If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.

Good judgment comes from bad experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.

The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it in your pocket.

A closed mouth gathers no foot.

There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.

Always remember you’re unique. Just like everyone else.

The program "Wise Living Starts With a Right Relationship with God" will air Sunday, November 15, 2009. Visit www.christiancrusaders.org for radio stations and times, or to listen online.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Hypocrisy

In the eyes of this world, some sins – such as theft and murder – are punishable by a prison sentence. However, these are not the sins that received the sternest words from Jesus. In this week’s sermon, we will discuss the seriousness of living a lifestyle that contradicts what we believe and confess.

Scripture: Mark 12:38-40
As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely.”

Renewing Reflections
It is our prayer Renewing Reflections will be a blessing in your life this coming week. This quote is taken from the sermon “The Call to Faithfulness“ delivered on Christian Crusaders September 19, 2004.
I believe that as Christians we are reading the world wrong when we think they want us to adjust the teachings of God’s Word to be more palatable to their way of life. The unbeliever comes to the Christian for help with his or her way of life. At that point, we are tempted to condone the way they are living – a lifestyle very much contrary to God’s revealed will. Now they are hearing from me, a Christian, what they are hearing from some of their friends who are not Christians. I truly believe some of them cry out, “I need someone to tell me the truth about my lifestyle!” It is at this point that Christians have a marvelous opportunity to share what God’s Word has to say about the way this person is living and what he believes.

the Crusader Newsletter
The new issue of the Crusader, Christian Crusaders' quarterly newsletter, will soon be printed. The theme for this issue is “goodness,” a fruit of the Spirit. Contact Christian Crusaders by phone, email, or via the sign-up form on the website, to receive your copy of this special publication.

On the Light Side
A big, burly man visited the pastor's home and asked to see the minister's wife, a woman well known for her charitable impulses.

“Madam,” he said in a broken voice, “I wish to draw your attention to the terrible plight of a poor family in this district. The father is dead, the mother is too ill to work, and the nine children are starving. They are about to be turned into the cold, empty streets unless someone pays their rent, which amounts to $400.”

“How terrible!” exclaimed the preacher's wife. “May I ask who you are?”

The sympathetic visitor applied his handkerchief to his eyes. “I’m the landlord,” he sobbed.

The program "Hypocrisy" will air Sunday, November 8, 2009. Visit www.christiancrusaders.org for radio stations and times, or to listen online.