Jesus’ public ministry was three years in length – a very short time. Yet Scripture tells us that He invested many hours in prayer. Prayer was the foundation of all He did. His disciples seeing this practice, recognized the power of prayer and asked Jesus to teach them to pray. In this week’s sermon, we will talk about the power of prayer in the life of each of us today, as disciples of Christ.
Scripure: Luke 11:1-13
He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”
He said to them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial.’”
And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, "Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.'
And he answers from within, "Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.' I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.
"So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask 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 Questions Are Natural delivered on Christian Crusaders December 16, 2001:
How do I handle the problems of tomorrow? God’s Word says, “I will comfort you. I will strengthen you. I will uphold you with my glorious right hand. God is your refuge and strength. Be still, and know that I am God.” The problems of life are too big for any individual to handle alone.
Funding Christian Crusaders
Christian Crusaders is a nonprofit ministry dependent upon gifts from you, our listeners. Many people choose to contribute a $100 Broadcast Sponsor gift. ($100 is the average cost of one half-hour broadcast on one radio station.) Others provide a GEM Club (Gift-Every-Month). All gifts are tax-deductible. Christian Crusaders is thankful for the blessing of all gifts and your partnership in sharing the Gospel.
On the Light Side
A preacher went into the pulpit one Sunday morning wearing a pair of new bifocals. The reading portion of the glasses improved his vision considerably, but the top portion of the glasses didn’t work so well. In fact he was experiencing dizziness every time he looked through them. He explained to the congregation that the new glasses were causing problems. “I hope you will excuse my continually removing my glasses,” he said. “You see when I look down I can see fine, but when I look at you, it makes me sick.”
Friday, July 26, 2013
Friday, July 19, 2013
What Were They Talking About?
Do you have questions you would like to ask Jesus? Questions for which there seems to be no earthly answer? Most of us struggle with unresolved issues for which it seems only Jesus can explain. Please listen this Sunday when we will talk about a pair of sisters who hosted Jesus in their home, how they reacted to his visit, and how we can find answers right now.
Scripture: Luke 10:38-42
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
“Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
I have learned that I need to listen to and learn from the One who really knows what makes my life work, and his name is Jesus Christ. I find it interesting that a favorite quote people memorize is Jesus’ invitation to listen to him. “Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke.” The yoke back in those days sometimes referred to the teaching of the rabbis. Take my wise teaching upon you and learn from me, Jesus says, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. He wants us to be hearers of his Word. It is a choice we make.
Funding Christian Crusaders
Christian Crusaders is a nonprofit ministry dependent upon gifts from you, our listeners. Many people choose to contribute a $100 Broadcast Sponsor gift. ($100 is the average cost of one half-hour broadcast on one radio station.) Others provide a GEM Club (Gift-Every-Month). All gifts are tax-deductible. Christian Crusaders is thankful for the blessing of all gifts and your partnership in sharing the Gospel.
On the Light Side
Efficiency
An efficiency expert concluded his lecture with a note of caution. "You don't want to try these techniques at home."
"Why not?" asked somebody from the audience.
"I watched my wife's routine at breakfast for years," the expert explained. "She made lots of trips between the refrigerator, stove, table and cabinets, often carrying a single item at a time. One day I told her, 'Hon, why don't you try carrying several things at once?'”
"Did it save time?" the guy in the audience asked.
"Actually, yes," replied the expert. "It used to take her twenty minutes to make breakfast. Now I do it in seven."
Friday, July 5, 2013
Jesus' Evangelism Program
As we look back over our lives, most of us have fond memories of happy, prosperous days when life was good and times were plentiful. How much happier those memories would be if they include those with whom we shared the Gospel and helped lead to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. Join us this week as we talk sharing the way of salvation with others.
Scripture: Luke 10:1-12, 17
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.
“When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.' If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
“When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.' But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 'Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.' I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.”
The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
Now it is your commissioning service that Christ wants to preside over. As He challenged the early disciples, so today Jesus challenges us to tell others what He can do for them. All He asks you to do is to share with others what it means to live each day free of guilt because Christ has taken it away. Think of the encouragement it can be for a single mother to know that she has a Savior who will strengthen her to face the future. She will have brothers and sisters in Christ who will be there to help when the hours are long and difficult. I was visiting with such a mother recently. Her children were small, and her husband was sent to prison. “Had it not been for the Lord Jesus and my Christian friends, I would never have made it,” she told me. But what if those friends had not surrounded her with that redeeming love?
How to Help Christian Crusaders Grow
Do you have a person on your gift list who is difficult to buy for? Does this person have an upcoming special event? An Honorarium Gift given to Christian Crusaders is an excellent way to remember that friend or loved one. These gifts are most often given in honor of a birthday or anniversary. However, any special day in the life of a loved one can be remembered with a gift. If desired, our office will then send a card to the honoree(s) acknowledging the gift. Each of these gifts is published in our quarterly newsletter, the Crusader, which is mailed to listeners and friends of this ministry. We thank each of our listeners who remember Christian Crusaders with their gifts and prayers.
For your convenience, we are able to take credit card donations by phone or mail. You can also access our Web site on our Online Donations Page to make a donation on our secure site.
On the Light Side
A missionary working in Brazil was visiting a parishioner and was offered a beverage. Because caffeine had been causing him some health problems, he refused first her offer of coffee and then tea because it could have been made from any type of disparaging leaf. He also refused water because he wasn't sure it would be pure. Deciding he should not press his luck by refusing anything else, he accepted a glass of lukewarm milk with thick cream at the top.
As he began to drink, he noticed something swimming in the milk and underneath the cream discovered a large cockroach doing the backstroke. That was too much. He quickly threw the milk out a large, open window behind him, relieved to have been able to save face.
The problem wasn’t solved that easily, however, for in through the door came a little boy with milk running down his face and crying, “Mommy, mommy, that big man threw milk all over me.”
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