Are You Confused?

People seem to be very confused about life nowadays. This statement is also true about Christendom. Missionaries question their purpose; church members wonder what happened to their worship style. Will we ever find complete agreement in the Church? Jesus will help us learn the answer in this week’s sermon.

Scripture: Mark 8:27-38
Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”

Peter answered, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “You are the Christ.”

Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.

He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels."

Renewing Reflections
We hope Renewing Reflections will strengthen you in the week ahead. These quotes are taken from the sermon “Introduce Your Child to Jesus“ delivered on Christian Crusaders May 14, 2006.

“. . . let your children hear the basic teachings of the Christian faith from your lips. Field the questions regarding their relationship with Jesus Christ as they surface. Give them biblical answers. Who knows, these children you love may walk away from the faith, and this will be heartbreaking for you. Just remember God’s promise: “My Word will not return void.” It is not that you have failed if you have witnessed in your home by word and action that Jesus is your Lord. Where there is great concern is when our children venture out into a world filled with temptation and have not been taught what the Word of God has to say."

The Crusader Quarterly Newsletter
The latest issue of Christian Crusaders' quarterly newsletter is out now. The theme of this issue is perfection. To receive a copy of the Crusader newsletter, with a special article by Rev. Larsen, as well as news about the ministry, call our office.

On the Light Side
CHURCH SIGNS:

· Free Trip to heaven. Details Inside!

· Try our Sundays. They are better than Baskin-Robbins.

· Searching for a new look? Have your faith lifted here!

· An ad for a Church has a picture of two hands holding stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments are inscribed and a headline that reads, "For fast, fast, fast relief, take two tablets.

· When the restaurant next to the Church put out a big sign that said, "Open Sundays," the church reciprocated with its own message: "We are open on Sundays, too."

· Have trouble sleeping? We have sermons -- come hear one!

· Come in and pray today. Beat the Christmas rush!

· Sign broken. Message inside this Sunday.

· Come work for the Lord. The work is hard, the hours are long and the pay is low. But the retirement benefits are out of this world.

· If you're headed in the wrong direction, God allows U-turns.

The program "Are You Confused?" will air Sunday, September 13, 2009. Visit http://www.christiancrusaders.org/ for radio stations and times, or to listen online.