During dark times in our lives, we may wonder how long we must endure the trial. As Christians, we ask that question with our eyes turned upward to God. In this week’s sermon, we will look at some words by King David who, in his hour of trial, asked some heart-wrenching questions of God, but learned to trust the Lord’s steadfast love.
Scripture: Psalm 13
How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and every day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?
Look on me and answer, O Lord my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;
my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
for he has been good to me.
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 Lord, I'm Struggling With the Blues delivered on Christian Crusaders December 14, 2008.
God does his best work in the darkness of caves. Much of this story takes place in a cave in the side of a mountain. This isn’t the only cave story in Scripture: the Savior was laid in another cave, and on the third day God rolled away the stone and raised him up. God does his best work in caves! Are you living in a cave these days – experiencing the blues – like Elijah did? You don’t have to sit alone in the darkness ever again. Call on him, open his word, and let a still, small voice speak to you. You are not alone.
Giving Clubs
Christian Crusaders is a nonprofit ministry dependent upon gifts from you, our listening audience. 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 (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
The short fortuneteller who escaped from prison: a small medium at large.
Those who get too big for their britches will be exposed in the end.
When you've seen one shopping center, you've seen a mall.
If you jump off a Paris bridge, you are in Seine.
When she saw her first strands of gray hair, she thought she'd dye.
Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead to know basis.
Santa's helpers are subordinate clauses.
Acupuncture: a jab well done.
Marathon runners with bad shoes suffer the agony of de feet.
The roundest knight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference. He acquired his size from too much pi.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011
Help Them Understand
The Gospel is so simple that a child can understand and yet so profound that the greatest mind cannot penetrate its truth. Our Lord Jesus explained the Kingdom of God by using parables. In this week’s sermon, we will talk about one of his more difficult parables explaining who will inherit the Kingdom of God.
Scripture: Matthew 13:47-51
“Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
“Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.
“Yes,” they replied.
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 We Shape Our Eternal Destiny delivered on Christian Crusaders August 8, 2010:
Jesus has spoken clearly to us when he says the end is coming. We are going to die. Be ready to meet him by receiving Jesus as our Savior. Then we will meet our Lord clothed in his righteousness as spotless and clean. Some of you might ask, “Is there nothing that I do in getting ready to die? All I need to do is to trust Jesus and claim him as my Savior and Lord.” That is true. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. However, when that faith is in our hearts, God will create a will and desire to free ourselves from those things that are contrary to his will.
About ChristianCrusaders.org
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
The guy who fell onto an upholstery machine was fully recovered.
A grenade fell onto a kitchen floor in France and resulted in Linoleum Blownapart.
You are stuck with your debt if you can't budge it.
Local Area Network in Australia : The LAN down under.
He broke into song because he couldn't find the key.
A calendar's days are numbered.
A lot of money is tainted: 'Taint yours, and 'taint mine.
A boiled egg is hard to beat.
He had a photographic memory which was never developed.
A plateau is a high form of flattery.
Scripture: Matthew 13:47-51
“Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
“Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.
“Yes,” they replied.
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 We Shape Our Eternal Destiny delivered on Christian Crusaders August 8, 2010:
Jesus has spoken clearly to us when he says the end is coming. We are going to die. Be ready to meet him by receiving Jesus as our Savior. Then we will meet our Lord clothed in his righteousness as spotless and clean. Some of you might ask, “Is there nothing that I do in getting ready to die? All I need to do is to trust Jesus and claim him as my Savior and Lord.” That is true. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. However, when that faith is in our hearts, God will create a will and desire to free ourselves from those things that are contrary to his will.
About ChristianCrusaders.org
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
The guy who fell onto an upholstery machine was fully recovered.
A grenade fell onto a kitchen floor in France and resulted in Linoleum Blownapart.
You are stuck with your debt if you can't budge it.
Local Area Network in Australia : The LAN down under.
He broke into song because he couldn't find the key.
A calendar's days are numbered.
A lot of money is tainted: 'Taint yours, and 'taint mine.
A boiled egg is hard to beat.
He had a photographic memory which was never developed.
A plateau is a high form of flattery.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
The Day of Grace Will End
We often call this day “the day of grace.” People are free to turn their backs on Jesus. God freely forgives them if they repent and accepts them into the Kingdom. However, Jesus told a parable about a day when His grace will end and the judgement will come. We will discuss that day in this week’s sermon.
Scripture: Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
“The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’
“‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.
“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
“‘No,’ he answered,’ because you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”
Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”
He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
“As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.”
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 Even the Righteous Fall delivered on Christian Crusaders June 1, 2003:
From the role of a saint, to the depth of an immoral murderer, to the height of a spiritual leader describes David’s life quite well. How could God use him? All I know is that He did. While we may not have lived in the same open sins, are we not also on some kind of spiritual roller coaster? One hour we can bring a strong witness for Jesus to some of our friends; the next hour we can be tyrants at home. One time we use our tongue to sing praises to God; and the next time the same tongue is used profanely or to speak ill of others. St. Paul writes, “There is no one righteous, no not even one.” Even the righteous fall. Yet then God, who is our Savior, is there, ready to pick us up and send us on our way again, not to condone our sins, but to forgive them. Does any other religion have a message such as this with which to confront our world?
Did You Know?
Christian Crusaders is a nonprofit ministry dependent upon gifts from you, our listening audience. 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 (Gift Every Month). All gifts are tax deductible.
On the Light Side
A bicycle can't stand alone; it is two tired.
A will is a dead giveaway.
Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.
A backward poet writes inverse.
In a democracy it's your vote that counts; in feudalism, it's your Count that votes.
A chicken crossing the road: poultry in motion.
If you don't pay your exorcist, you can get repossessed.
With her marriage she got a new name and a dress.
Show me a piano falling down a mine shaft and I'll show you A-flat miner.
When a clock is hungry, it goes back four seconds.
Scripture: Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
“The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’
“‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.
“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
“‘No,’ he answered,’ because you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”
Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”
He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
“As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.”
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 Even the Righteous Fall delivered on Christian Crusaders June 1, 2003:
From the role of a saint, to the depth of an immoral murderer, to the height of a spiritual leader describes David’s life quite well. How could God use him? All I know is that He did. While we may not have lived in the same open sins, are we not also on some kind of spiritual roller coaster? One hour we can bring a strong witness for Jesus to some of our friends; the next hour we can be tyrants at home. One time we use our tongue to sing praises to God; and the next time the same tongue is used profanely or to speak ill of others. St. Paul writes, “There is no one righteous, no not even one.” Even the righteous fall. Yet then God, who is our Savior, is there, ready to pick us up and send us on our way again, not to condone our sins, but to forgive them. Does any other religion have a message such as this with which to confront our world?
Did You Know?
Christian Crusaders is a nonprofit ministry dependent upon gifts from you, our listening audience. 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 (Gift Every Month). All gifts are tax deductible.
On the Light Side
A bicycle can't stand alone; it is two tired.
A will is a dead giveaway.
Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.
A backward poet writes inverse.
In a democracy it's your vote that counts; in feudalism, it's your Count that votes.
A chicken crossing the road: poultry in motion.
If you don't pay your exorcist, you can get repossessed.
With her marriage she got a new name and a dress.
Show me a piano falling down a mine shaft and I'll show you A-flat miner.
When a clock is hungry, it goes back four seconds.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Why Do We Go to Church?
We have numerous reasons for attending church. Some go because it is a habit; others want to visit with old friends. These are both good reasons. However, there is a more important reason, which we will talk about in this week’s sermon.
Scripture: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop – a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear.”
“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the words and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
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 Four Types of Ears delivered on Christian Crusaders February 24, 2002:
The Christian ear, which hears the message brought to Nicodemus, is the old story that never grows old. It brings us assurance and security. If you are old and shut-in and wonder if anyone cares anymore, Jesus says, “I love you. You are mine. I have bought you with a price.” If Satan is tempting you and making your life miserable, Jesus reminds us that God is our refuge and strength. Through Him we receive power to overcome even Satan. The glorious Gospel has a message for all types of ears. Let our prayer be simple and to the point: “Lord, wherever we are in our relationship with you, open our ears. For until you open them, we are deaf to the glorious message of God’s love in Christ.”
Did You Know?
In addition to broadcasting over traditional radio stations and the Internet, Christian Crusaders also beams its message across North America and much of Europe on shortwave radio. Through World Harvest Radio – WHRI – and their 100,000 watt, Angel 2, transmitter, we are able to reach many households that are otherwise unreachable.
World Harvest Radio’s parent company, LeSEA Broadcasting, has a long history of working in the mission field and with shortwave radio. Its founder, Dr. Lester Sumrall, had his first experience with shortwave radio in the 1940s. Since that time, LeSEA has expanded to three stations and five transmitters that reach the entire earth with the Gospel. Christian Crusaders is privileged to be a part of the World Harvest Radio network.
On the Light Side
Bob Hope once said, “Whenever I play golf with Gerald Ford, I usually try to make it a foursome – the President, myself, a paramedic, and a faith healer.”
Pity the man who told his boss he was going to church for a funeral, but went instead to the golf course and shot his first hole-in-one.
They say it’s no sin to play golf on Sunday, but the way some golfers play, it’s a crime.
You can always tell a golfer in church. He is the one who uses an interlocking grip when he puts his hands together to pray.
Scripture: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop – a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear.”
“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the words and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
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 Four Types of Ears delivered on Christian Crusaders February 24, 2002:
The Christian ear, which hears the message brought to Nicodemus, is the old story that never grows old. It brings us assurance and security. If you are old and shut-in and wonder if anyone cares anymore, Jesus says, “I love you. You are mine. I have bought you with a price.” If Satan is tempting you and making your life miserable, Jesus reminds us that God is our refuge and strength. Through Him we receive power to overcome even Satan. The glorious Gospel has a message for all types of ears. Let our prayer be simple and to the point: “Lord, wherever we are in our relationship with you, open our ears. For until you open them, we are deaf to the glorious message of God’s love in Christ.”
Did You Know?
In addition to broadcasting over traditional radio stations and the Internet, Christian Crusaders also beams its message across North America and much of Europe on shortwave radio. Through World Harvest Radio – WHRI – and their 100,000 watt, Angel 2, transmitter, we are able to reach many households that are otherwise unreachable.
World Harvest Radio’s parent company, LeSEA Broadcasting, has a long history of working in the mission field and with shortwave radio. Its founder, Dr. Lester Sumrall, had his first experience with shortwave radio in the 1940s. Since that time, LeSEA has expanded to three stations and five transmitters that reach the entire earth with the Gospel. Christian Crusaders is privileged to be a part of the World Harvest Radio network.
On the Light Side
Bob Hope once said, “Whenever I play golf with Gerald Ford, I usually try to make it a foursome – the President, myself, a paramedic, and a faith healer.”
Pity the man who told his boss he was going to church for a funeral, but went instead to the golf course and shot his first hole-in-one.
They say it’s no sin to play golf on Sunday, but the way some golfers play, it’s a crime.
You can always tell a golfer in church. He is the one who uses an interlocking grip when he puts his hands together to pray.
Friday, July 1, 2011
What's Going On Inside?
Do you ever wonder why we sometimes act in ways that later grieve our hearts? People have been asking themselves that question since the beginning of time. Beginning Sunday, July 3, we will attempt to understand the reasons we wrestle with those inner battles.
Scripture: Romans 7:21-25
So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!
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 You Will Be Free delivered on Christian Crusaders October 31, 1999.
Jesus is not looking for short term followers. Note Jesus' word, abiding. This means we faithfully read and obey the Bible for it is our authority in matters of faith and life. These quiet moments with God's Word are our daily visits with God through which He speaks to us. He will not only teach us the truth but will empower us to live according to the truth, which in turn will make us free. In Christ we become new people and a part of that newness is freedom.
GEM Club Members
Christian Crusaders is a nonprofit ministry dependent upon gifts from you, our listening audience. Some of you are members of our GEM Club “Gift Every Month.” No matter the size of the gift, this faithful, regular giving provides Christian Crusaders with a steady income to pay monthly radio expenses. We warmly thank each of our GEM donors. You are truly jewels in this important ministry.
On the Light Side
The Fourth of July weekend was approaching, and Miss Pelham, the nursery school teacher, took the opportunity to tell her class about patriotism. “We live in a great country,” she announced. “One of the things we should be happy about is that, in this country, we are all free.”
Trevor, a little boy in her class, came walking up to her from the back of the room. He stood with his hands on his hips and said loudly, “I'm not free. I'm four.”
Scripture: Romans 7:21-25
So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!
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 You Will Be Free delivered on Christian Crusaders October 31, 1999.
Jesus is not looking for short term followers. Note Jesus' word, abiding. This means we faithfully read and obey the Bible for it is our authority in matters of faith and life. These quiet moments with God's Word are our daily visits with God through which He speaks to us. He will not only teach us the truth but will empower us to live according to the truth, which in turn will make us free. In Christ we become new people and a part of that newness is freedom.
GEM Club Members
Christian Crusaders is a nonprofit ministry dependent upon gifts from you, our listening audience. Some of you are members of our GEM Club “Gift Every Month.” No matter the size of the gift, this faithful, regular giving provides Christian Crusaders with a steady income to pay monthly radio expenses. We warmly thank each of our GEM donors. You are truly jewels in this important ministry.
On the Light Side
The Fourth of July weekend was approaching, and Miss Pelham, the nursery school teacher, took the opportunity to tell her class about patriotism. “We live in a great country,” she announced. “One of the things we should be happy about is that, in this country, we are all free.”
Trevor, a little boy in her class, came walking up to her from the back of the room. He stood with his hands on his hips and said loudly, “I'm not free. I'm four.”
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