A Weakened Gospel

Is it important to go to a church where the Law and Gospel is preached every Sunday, or can churches use that time to talk about the issues of the day? Join us as we talk about this subject and its effect on church membership.

Scripture: Romans 5:1-8

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.


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 Why Not Turn on the Light delivered on Christian Crusaders September 15, 2002: 

Pluralism has captured the minds of many people who often say, “We are all after the same thing. There are many ways to heaven.” Then comes the light from Jesus, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me.” (John 14:6) Suddenly we stand in the bright light of Jesus’ words. God’s Word is our revelation. He has given it to us so that we do not walk in darkness. Colin Smith has said it well, “The Bible is a revelation and not an explanation. It does not answer all of our questions. In fact, at times it can make us quite confused and frustrated. But God’s Word one day will be made clear for us, and our eyes will no longer be blinded.”


Did You Know?
In addition to this e-newsletter, Christian Crusaders also publishes a quarterly newsletter called the Crusader. Our speakers write the feature articles. It also has an interesting article written by our Executive Director along with current news about the ministry. Each issue centers around a specific theme that we feel would be useful to our readers/listeners. The next issue of the Crusader carries the theme, Trust. If you would like to receive our newsletter, email us at cc@naz.org.


On the Light Side
A retired pastor was visiting his 100 year-old mother in the care center one day. Since she suffered from some memory loss, she would ask the same questions about his life at each visit. This time was no different, and so he carefully explained that although he no longer works fulltime, he fills in for area pastors when they are out of town and need someone to lead the congregation on Sunday mornings. Therefore, he gets to travel around a bit, meet a lot of people, and do a lot of things. Not missing a beat, she turned to him and stated in a matter-of-fact manner, “You really don’t know what you do, do you?”

Start Praying

Our lives and our communities are filled with problems in need of being corrected. Do we sit around and complain about them or wait for someone else to take to do something about it? Nehemiah was a man who saw a problem and took action to fix it in spite of the many obstacles standing in his way. Learn how he accomplished this task and how we can do the same, in this week’s program.

Scripture: Nehemiah 6-15-16

So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem; for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.

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 Why I Keep On Praying delivered on Christian Crusaders July 30, 2006.

As you are constant in prayer, you discover in looking back, that, though you may not have felt it, you never were alone. God was there to carry you all along. It’s like that old story about the footprints in the sand. Looking back, we see only one set of prints. But God reminds us, “Those were the days when you weren’t alone; I was carrying you.” Sometimes, when we are constantly in prayer, God not only can change things, but change us in some wonderful ways. Mother Theresa said one time, “Prayer enlarges the heart until it is capable of containing God’s gift of himself.” Keep on praying. Keep on praying.


Happy Memorial Day
On this special weekend, we pause to remember and give thanks for those who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom while serving in our nation’s service.

The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us – that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion – that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain – that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom – and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

– Abraham Lincoln’s address at the dedication of the Gettysburg National Cemetery November 19, 1863.


On the Light Side
When Emilie Ann was about three years old, her mother took her to bed one night and asked what she would like to pray about. Promptly the child answered, onions. So they prayed about onions.

The next morning, when Emily’s mother asked why she wanted to pray about onions, she quickly answered, “Because our Sunday school teacher told us we should pray for things we don’t like.”

Show Us the Father

How well do you, as a Christian, know Jesus? We can be good, church-going Christians and still not know him as closely as he would like.  Please join us as we will look at how the lives of various people changed when they were drawn into a close relationship with Jesus Christ.  http://www.christiancrusaders.org/audiostream/ccr20130519.mp3

Scripture: John 14:1-11

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.”


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 God Moves in Mysterious Ways delivered on Christian Crusaders May 19, 2002.

God moves in mysterious ways. That’s exciting! And what’s even more exciting for His children is to observe that He uses us. Without the Holy Spirit’s presence, little will be accomplished for Christ in this world, but the Holy Spirit, speaking through His Word, which is often carried by His disciples, can change lives and make people new creatures in Jesus 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

Who is the Winner?
The father of five children had won the grand prize in a drawing at a toy store. Not knowing which child to give the toy to, he decided to play a game with them and let them decide which one should have the present. He called his children together and asked,

“Who is the most obedient?”

No response. He asked again,

“Who never talks back to mother?”

Five little faces just stared back at him with a blank look on their faces.

“Who does everything mother says?”

All of a sudden, five small voices replied in unison. “Okay Daddy! You get the toy."

I'll Be Praying for You

Jesus prayed for his disciples in his High Priestly Prayer. Two thousand years later, he is still praying for us, minute by minute, hour by hour. In this week’s sermon, we will learn what Jesus is asking for us, and what we should ask for others in prayer.


Scripture: John 17:20-26
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

“Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”


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 Persistent in Prayer delivered on Christian Crusaders October 21, 2001.

Any person, who has done a lot of praying during his or her lifetime, will agree that many mysteries surround our prayers. Satan doesn’t lose any time in tempting us to question the value of praying, since sometimes we do not get what we ask to receive. But our Heavenly Father has told us to pray, and today He says, “Be persistent in your prayer life. Continue to pray.” Your Heavenly Father is listening and will grant your prayer, if it is according to His will. Isn’t that reason enough to keep on praying?


Happy Mother's Day
As we grow older and more mature, we begin to better realize the sacrifices our mothers have made for us when we were children and as adults. A short verse in I Peter speaks volumes as we reflect on our mother’s love this Mother’s Day. In essence it says that love doesn’t make a mockery of our foolishness, immaturity, mistakes, bad decisions, or sin. Instead, love, without trying to hide the truth, gently puts issues to rest in the love and forgiveness of Christ.

We thank our mothers for letting go of the past and loving us through life using Peter’s words:

“Keep your love for one another at full strength,

because love covers a multitude of sins” (I Peter 4:8).

On the Light Side

An elderly gentleman passed his granddaughter’s room one night and overheard her repeating the alphabet in an oddly reverent way. “What on earth are you up to?” he asked.

“I’m saying my prayers,” explained the little girl. “But I can’t think of exactly the right words tonight, so I’m just saying all the letters. God will put them together for me, because he knows what I’m thinking.”

Peace to You

As we face the trials and failures that come with life, we long for peace to solve our problems. People through the centuries have looked for the same thing, even in Jesus’ day. However, his peace wasn’t what they expected. In this week’s message, we will talk about the peace of Jesus Christ and how it helps us face whatever comes our way.

Scripture: Luke 19:29-48

When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’“

So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”

They said, “The Lord needs it.”

Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road.

As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying,

“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!

Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!”

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.”

He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”

As he came near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. Indeed, the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up ramparts around you and surround you, and hem you in on every side. They will crush you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave within you one stone upon another; because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.”

Then he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling things there; and he said, “It is written, “My house shall be a house of prayer’; but you have made it a den of robbers.”

Every day he was teaching in the temple. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people kept looking for a way to kill him; but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were spellbound by what they heard.


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 Grace Has a Face delivered on Christian Crusaders December 31, 2006.
(John) uses the word we when he says: “From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace.” He seems to be making a proclamation, an announcement. Grace has been made available to everyone. It is offered to everyone. God invites us to come and hold out our empty hands so that he might pour his unmerited love and favor into our lives as we entrust ourselves to his care and leadership. He wants to give you a grace testimony like John’s. Grace is available and it has a face - the face of Jesus Christ.


Memorial Gifts
Christian Crusaders is a nonprofit ministry funded entirely through freewill gifts and donations from individuals and congregations. A memorial gift is a meaningful way to remember a loved one. Memorial gifts are sometimes given to remember a very special person on their birthday or some other occasion. For your convenience, we can take credit card donations by phone or mail. You can also access our Web site at http://www.christiancrusaders.org/onlinedonations.asp and make a donation on our secure site. We thank each of our listeners who have remembered Christian Crusaders with their gifts and prayers.


On the Light Side
Mitchell, who was in kindergarten, practiced spelling with magnetic letters on the refrigerator: cat, dog, dad, and mom. His parents proudly left them displayed there, undisturbed, for all to see.

One morning while getting ready for the day, Mitchell bounded into the living room with his arms outstretched. In his hands were three magnetic letters: G—O – D. “Look what I spelled, Mom!” Mitchell exclaimed with a proud smile on his face.

“That’s wonderful!” his mother praised. “Now put them on the fridge so Dad can see when he gets home tonight.”

Just then, a little voice called from the kitchen.

“Mom? How do you spell ‘zilla’?”