Who Is This?

For more than two thousand years, people have been asking who is Jesus. Was he a great, but misunderstood, teacher? Was he the King of Kings, a prophet, or just a fool who believed himself to be God’s Son? Even Jesus’ disciples pondered Jesus’ identity at times, and we will learn what they discovered about him in this week’s sermon.


Scripture: Mark 4:35-41

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey 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 The Hand That Holds Me delivered on Christian Crusaders April 29, 2007:


We hear Jesus say, “No one will snatch them out of my hand.” No matter what happens to me in this life, Jesus holds on. When I am sick, he is holding onto me. When I am facing adversity, Jesus holds on. As I face death, Jesus still holds on. The grave may come my way, and you can be certain that it will, but for those of us who trust in Jesus Christ, it is simply a graduation time. A place is prepared for us in our Father’s heaven, and nothing can snatch us away from the loving hand of Jesus Christ, not even death.


About Christian Crusaders.org

People are more likely to tune into a Christian radio program if it is suggested by a friend or relative. Perhaps you have an aunt in Phoenix, a granddaughter in Minneapolis, or a cousin in Portland who might enjoy listening to Christian Crusaders on their local radio station. A complete list where Christian Crusaders broadcasts its program is found on the Radio Station Listing page of our Web site. Simply click the Where to Listen link on the home page to find a station near you or someone you know, and suggest they listen.


On the Light Side

Harry was showing off again. He said to George, “I’ve just bought the best hearing aid money can buy. It cost me $3,000, but it is state of the art, so it’s worth every penny.”

“What kind is it?” asks George.


“A quarter to twelve,” replied Harry.

To Whom Am I Speaking?

The truths of God’s Word, when planted in our hearts early in life, have the ability to grow into a mighty faith as we mature. In today’s sermon, we will talk about how the power of God’s Word changed one man’s broken life in a dramatic fashion.

Scripture: Mark 4:26-34

He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”


Again he said, "What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade." With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.



 
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 Planting the Seed delivered on Christian Crusaders June 14, 2009:


What are we doing in the Church today? It is a question that needs to be asked by the Christian on a daily basis. Here we have Christ’s answer: the Church’s God-given task is to plant the seed of God’s Word in the lives of people. Then the Holy Spirit does His work of producing the fruit, which is to bring forth a person who is committed to Christ. At this particular time we are sowing the seed, which is the Word of God. Then we watch as the Holy Spirit works through the Word, producing fruit in our lives.




About ChristianCrusaders.com


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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


After a pretty hectic day with her four-year-old, Dee finally put down the law at bedtime. “We're putting on your pajamas, brushing your teeth, and reading ONE book. Then it's lights out!”


Little Sarah’s arms went around her neck in a gentle embrace, and she said, "We learned in Sunday school about little boys and girls who don't have mommies and daddies."


“Even after I'd been such a grouch,” Dee thought, “she was still grateful to have me.” And tears began to well up in her eyes. Then she heard little Sarah whisper, “Maybe you could go be THEIR mom?”

The Family of God

In the past, churches were built around large families and cultural similarities. Today, however, families are not so tight. When Jesus left his childhood home, he described a new family, and in this week’s sermon we will talk about what it means to be a part of the family of God.

Scripture: Mark 3:20-35

Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take care of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebub! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.”

So Jesus called them and spoke to them in parables; “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can rob his house. I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.

He said this because they were saying, “He has an evil spirit.”

Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.”

“Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.

Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”


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 In Your Hour of Trial, What Will You Do? delivered on Christian Crusaders March 21, 2010:

If you are experiencing some difficult times right now, have you shared them with your Heavenly Father? If the future is frightening as you realize no one can escape these tough hours, remember that Jesus is always there to walk with you. Open your Bible and read of your Savior’s love for you. Then call a Christian friend who can be your comforter. We need a few close friends who are committed to the Lord Jesus and will be there when we need them the most. Probably you will come to a time when twelve are too many and you get down to three and then to one – you, the Lord Jesus and your friend.


An Easy Way to Help Spread the Gospel
Christian Crusaders would like to thank all those who help carry out the mission of this ministry through their gifts and prayers. One way you can help Christian Crusaders reach out is to add a link to www.ChristianCrusaders.org on your church or organization’s Web site. This is a simple way you can introduce others to a source of biblical truth over the radio and Internet.


On the Light Side
• “Families are like fudge – mostly sweet with a few nuts.” - Unknown

• “A family is a unit composed not only of children but also of men, women, an occasional animal, and the common cold.” - Ogden Nash

• “The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another’s desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together.” - Erma Bombeck

• “Family: A social unit where the father is concerned with parking space, the children with outer space, and the mother with closet space.” - Evan Esar

• “Blood’s thicker than water, and when one’s in trouble, it’s best to seek out a relative’s open arms.” - Unknown

• “When our relatives are at home, we have to think of all their good points or it would be impossible to endure them.” - George Bernard Shaw

• “I don’t have to look up my family tree, because I know that I’m the sap.” - Fred Allen

Jesus Defines a Chrsitian

Who is a Christian? Many would describe him as a loving father and husband who is devoted to his church and community. But who does Jesus say is a Christian? Please join us beginning Sunday, June 3 as we learn, with Nicodemus, the meaning of a Christian.

Scripture: John 3:1-17
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”

“How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!”

Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.

“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven – the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through 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 Born Again delivered on Christian Crusaders February 18, 2007:

When we are born again, Jesus moves from our heads to our hearts. Our inward man is thoroughly cleansed, and our spirit is renewed. We live in a personal relationship with him. He walks through life with us. Our lives are changed, and we are a new creation. . . . How does this new birth take place in a person’s life? Millions of people struggle with whether or not to trust Christ as their Savior and Lord. I have had many tell me that they would love to believe in Christ, but they simply cannot. Of our own will, we cannot, but if we will live in His Word, he will create faith in our hearts and we will be converted – born again.


Sermon on the Go!
Download Christian Crusaders’ sermons to your iPod and listen anytime! Visit www.ChristianCrusaders.org and click on the help sheet explaining the ministry’s online services for directions on how to subscribe to sermon podcasts. Now you can listen on the go – while you walk, exercise, work in the yard, or are away on vacation.

On the Light Side
After a very long and boring sermon the parishioners filed out of the church saying nothing to the preacher. Toward the end of the line was a thoughtful person who always commented on the sermons. “Pastor, today your sermon reminded me of the peace and love of God!”

The pastor was thrilled. “No one has ever said anything like that about my preaching before. Tell me why.”

“Well, it reminded me of the peace of God because it passed all understanding and the love of God because it endured forever!”