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!”