Friday, May 28, 2010

The New Man

Can a person be trustworthy, moral, and kind without first knowing Jesus Christ? When Jesus healed the man at the Pool of Bethesda, he later told him to stop sinning lest something worse happened to him. This week we will explor how living a good life differs between a Christian and a nonChristian. Join us Sunday at http://www.christiancrusaders.org.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

The Man is Healed

When Jesus said to the paralyzed man at the Pool of Bethesda, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk,” Jesus was asking him to respond in faith. The third sermon in this series will help us learn how we too can be healed when we respond to the gospel’s message. You won’t want to miss it!


Scripture: John 5:1-9a
Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie – the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked, “Do you want to get well?”

“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me."

Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.


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 Living Faith” delivered on Christian Crusaders February 13, 2005 by Rev. Larsen:

I appreciate what J. A. Motyer said, “To Paul, the question was, ‘How is salvation experienced?’ The answer is, ‘by faith in Christ alone.’ To James the question was, ‘How is faith recognized?’ The answer is, ‘by its fruits.’” We are saved by faith in Jesus Christ alone, but a living faith produces good works.


New Issue of The Crusader
The latest issue of the Crusader, Christian Crusaders’ quarterly newsletter, is out now. The theme for this issue is forgiveness. To receive a free copy of this special publication, which features an article by both Rev. Larsen and Rev. Kramer as well as news about the ministry, call or e-mail the Christian Crusaders office.


On the Light Side
It was graduation day, and everybody was going to get their diploma except Jeffrey. At the assembly, the entire senior class stood up and shouted, “Let Jeffrey graduate! Let Jeffrey graduate!”

So the principal agreed to give Jeffrey one last chance. “If I have five apples in my right hand and five in my left hand, Jeffrey, how many apples do I have?” he asked.

Jeffrey thought long and hard and then said, “Ten.”

The entire senior class stood up and shouted, “Give Jeffrey another chance. Give Jeffrey another chance!”

We Want to Hear From You!
Share a time when God has worked in your life to heal you by posting in the "Comments" section of this blog.

The program "The Man is Healed" will air Sunday, May 23, 2010. Visit www.christiancrusaders.org for radio stations and times, or to listen online.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

The Indifferent Crowd

As the paralyzed man lay at the Pool of Bethesda, no doubt he was ministered to by many good-hearted people passing by. What does one say to a friend who is ill, such as those at the Pool, or those in our care centers and hospitals today? We will continue this sermon series this week by talking about how to minister to those who are ill or dying.


Scripture: John 5:1-9a
Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie – the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked, “Do you want to get well?”

“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me."

Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.


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 “Servants” delivered on Christian Crusaders October 18, 2009 by Rev. Larsen:

We cannot have Christ without a cross. The Kingdom of God turns the world’s idea of power and glory upside down and inside out. There is no CEO in the Kingdom of God. The agenda is not how to refrain from being offensive to the culture in which we live. The agenda is how to tell the story of Christ, for without Him we are helpless. This is a message the humanist cannot stand to hear, and sooner or later our lives will sense the world’s displeasure with us.


Facebook Fan Page
Christian Crusaders now has a FAN PAGE on Facebook! Search for “Christian Crusaders” and select the page with “Non-Profit Organization” beneath the name. Then click the “LIKE” button – that’s all you have to do to become a fan and receive our latest news and updates. This fan page will eventually become Christian Crusaders' only presence on Facebook, so click over and join today.


On the Light Side
Mother's Dictionary of Meanings
Pastor Helgens invited the children to come forward around the altar for an object lesson using squirrels as an example of industry and planning ahead. He requested that the boys and girls raise their hands when they knew what he was describing.

“This thing lives in trees [pause] and eats nuts [pause].” No hands went up. “It is gray [pause] and has a long bushy tail [pause].” The children looked at each other, but no hands were raised. “And it jumps from branch to branch [pause] and chatters when it gets excited [pause].”

Finally a little boy tentatively raised his hand. Pastor Helgens breathed a sigh of relief and called on him. “Well,” he said, “I know the answer must be Jesus, but it sure sounds like a squirrel to me.”

We Want to Hear From You!
When have you provided a word of comfort to someone in their darkest hour - when they were seriously ill or dying? Please share your story by posting in the "Comments" section of this blog.

The program "The Indifferent Crowd" will air Sunday, May 16, 2010. Visit www.christiancrusaders.org for radio stations and times, or to listen online.

Friday, May 7, 2010

Do You Want to Be Healed?

Do you like the way you are, or would you like God to change you? Jesus asked that same question to a man who had been paralyzed for thirty-eight years. The answer would seem simple; however, the result could mean a huge change in one’s lifestyle. This week we begin a sermon series on the Pool of Bethesda and learn what can happen when we have the courage to allow God to heal our infirmities.


Scripture: John 5:1-9a
Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie – the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked, “Do you want to get well?”

“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me."

Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.


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 “We Need a Savior” delivered on Christian Crusaders July 19, 2000, by Rev. Larsen:

We can point to certain leaders in our own land who served our land as temporal shepherds: Abraham Lincoln and F.D.R .We do not overlook such leadership. However, beyond these earthly problems no human can answer our true problems. Without Christ no matter how much of the material we possess, we are like sheep without a shepherd. We do not know how to live abundantly or die victoriously.


Mother's Day Gift Suggestion
If you’re still searching for a meaningful Mother’s Day gift for a special woman in your life, consider a set of five motherhood-themed sermons on audio CD from Christian Crusaders. This CD set comes attractively packaged and ready for giving—it can even be mailed directly to your recipient. Call the Christian Crusaders office to order the classic Mother’s Day gift set for a suggested donation of any amount.


On the Light Side
Mother's Dictionary of Meanings

Dumbwaiter: One who asks if the kids would care to order dessert.

Feedback: The inevitable result when the baby doesn’t appreciate the strained carrots.

Full Name: What you call your child when you’re mad at him.

Grandparents: The people who think your children are wonderful even though they’re sure you’re not raising them right.

Hearsay: What toddlers do when anyone mutters a dirty word.

Independent: How we want our children to be for as long as they do everything we say.

Puddle: A small body of water that draws other small bodies wearing dry shoes into it.

Show Off: A child who is more talented than yours.

Sterilize: What you do to your first baby’s pacifier by boiling it, and to your last baby’s pacifier by blowing on it and wiping it with saliva.

Top Bunk: Where you should never put a child wearing Superman jammies.

Two-Minute Warning: When the baby’s face turns red and begins to make those familiar grunting noises.

Whodunit: None of the kids who live in your house.

We Want to Hear From You!
What is something God has helped you change for the better in your life? Share your story by posting in the "Comments" section of this blog.

The program "Do You Want to Be Healed?" will air Sunday, May 9, 2010. Visit www.christiancrusaders.org for radio stations and times, or to listen online.