Their Complaint Is Our Good News

Is it possible to go beyond God’s help? What about drug dealers, child molesters, and murderers? We are happy when these types of people are taken off the street and get what they deserve. But how does Jesus feel about them? Join us this week as we learn Jesus’ thoughts regarding the lost sheep of our world.  Listen Now

Scripture: Luke 15:1-7

Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

So he told them this parable: “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”


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 Really Old Hymns: God Is With Us - Psalm 46 delivered on Christian Crusaders August 2, 2009.

In these first three verses (of Psalm 46) our writer describes God and why we do not fear with God. First, God is our – his people’s – refuge. A refuge is a shelter, a fortress for protection. He also describes God as our present “help” in trouble. He is present to help as we face the tight spots of life. The writer goes on to say, because he is our refuge and our help, we don’t fear. “Therefore we will not fear” even when life seems out of control or we’re under attack.


Sermons on YouTube Now Available

Log onto www.youtube.com, a free video sharing website where you can now view four full-length sermons on Christ’s death and resurrection by Rev. Larsen. Simply type “Rev. Larsen, Christian Crusaders” into the search box to find these sermon videos. You can also access YouTube videos on our homepage at www.Christian Crusaders.org. These videos are available to order on DVD by calling our office (1-888-My Faith).


On the Light Side

During the days of yesteryear when family doctors made house calls, a woman placed such a call for her ailing husband. When the doctor arrived, she profusely apologized for having brought him so far for a slight indisposition. “I’m very sorry to drag you out so late, doctor, but James seems so unwell.”

The doctor replied with polite consideration, “Don’t mention it, Mrs. Arnold. I had another patient to see in your neighborhood, so I’m merely killing two birds with one stone."

Learning From History

Why do people so often bring up the past? Even St. Paul talked to the Corinthians about their ancestors and how God dealt with them. In this week’s message we will talk about our unity with the Israelites of the Old Testament as we strive to reach our promised land.

Scripture: I Corinthians 10:1-6

For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert. Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.”

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 Day You Were Baptized delivered on Christian Crusaders June 21, 2009.

The day one is baptized is an important part of a Christian’s faith story. Christians have not always agreed on how baptism is to be done or when it should take place, but there is an agreement that it has an important part in our salvation. Whatever time and way in your life you were baptized, remember that day, but realize it was only the beginning of a glorious relationship with Jesus. That relationship will continue to grow as you walk with him in word and prayer through the good and bad days of your entire life’s journey.

Christian Crusaders on Facebook

Want a regular reminder about Christian Crusaders’ upcoming sermons? By joining the ministry’s Facebook page, you will receive a weekly email reminder about the upcoming sermon. You can also use the page to connect with other Christian Crusaders listeners and post messages about other events or information that interest them.

On the Light Side

Little Johnny, Moses, and the Professor
An atheist professor was walking in the local park when he noticed little Johnny proclaiming his belief in God. Standing on a park bench, little Johnny was shouting, “GOD IS ALMIGHTY! HE GAVE MOSES THE ABILITY TO PART THE RED SEA!!!”

The professor walked up to him and asked, “Do you truly believe in that statement little boy?"

“Of course I do. God is that powerful!” retorted Johnny.

“I can disprove your theory by using geographical science.”

“How?”

“Did you know that the Red Sea was only about 10 inches deep when Moses crossed it?”

Little Johnny fell silent and the Professor walked away pleased with himself. He walked for about 10 feet when he heard Johnny proclaiming even louder how almighty God is. The professor looked at the boy again and asked him “How can you keep proclaiming after I disproved your all-powerful God?”

Little Johnny looked at the professor and said, “God is still all powerful because he was able to drown the entire Egyptian Army in only 10 inches of water!”

The Shrinking Church

A recent magazine article, entitled The Shrinking Church, asks the questions, Where is everybody going? What can we do about it? In this week’s message, we will talk about some reasons why some of our congregations are dying, and what Jesus tells us we can do about the problem.


Scripture: John 4:33-38
So the disciples said to one another, “Surely no one has brought him something to eat?”

Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work. Do you not say, ‘Four months more, then comes the harvest’? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting. The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”


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 What Makes a Church Grow delivered on Christian Crusaders January 21, 2007.

The primary way that God builds his Church is to have the believer share his or her faith with someone else. Is your church growing? We are not talking about a number game. We are talking about winning the unbeliever for Christ. Are those in your congregation who personally know Jesus inviting others to Christ on a regular basis? If they are, your congregation is growing. If it is not growing, you have learned the reason from the Bible.


About Christian Crusaders
Christian Crusaders publishes a quarterly newsletter called the Crusader. The theme of the upcoming issue about to be published is Contentment.

The Crusader is sent free of charge to all friends of the ministry who desire to learn more about the ministry and receive spiritual inspiration. If you are not currently receiving this mailing and would like to, contact our office at cc@naz.org. You may also call the office toll-free at 1-888 My Faith (1-888-693-2484).'


On the Light Side
A minister was walking down the sidewalk when he came upon a group of about a dozen boys, all of them between 10 and 12 years of age. The group had surrounded a dog. Concerned the boys were hurting the dog, he went over and asked "What are you doing with that dog?"

One of the boys replied, "This dog is just an old neighborhood stray. We all want him, but only one of us can take him home. So we’ve decided that whoever can tell the biggest lie will get to keep the dog."

Of course, the minister was taken aback. "You boys shouldn't be having a contest telling lies!" he exclaimed. He then launched into a ten minute sermon against lying, beginning with, “Don’t you boys know it's a sin to lie,” and ending with, “Why, when I was your age, I never told a lie.”

There was dead silence for about a minute. Just as the minster was beginning to think he’d gotten through to them, the smallest boy gave a deep sigh and said, “All right, give the reverend the dog.”

Confirmation Day

Jesus once warned his disciples of the tough days that lay ahead for them as his followers, and it must have shook their loyalty to him. We, too, experience days of discouragement when we dedicate ourselves to serving God in his kingdom. But God has a powerful Word for those disciples and for us that can change the mood and direction of our lives.


Scripture: Luke 9:28-36
Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah"—not knowing what he said.

While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!" When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.


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 Let Your Weight Down delivered on Christian Crusaders June 26, 2011.
A life story is behind this song (Psalm 131). Somewhere along the way, (the author of this Psalm) learned to trust God with his life. Perhaps he had learned along the way . . . that, even though he thought he had life by the tail and he thought he was the master of his own destiny, nothing could be further from the truth. Perhaps he even learned the hard way, as he crashed and burned, then tasted failure, humiliation, and perhaps some embarrassment and pain along the way in life. Perhaps he learned early on as a boy about the destructiveness of being haughty, which means arrogant, prideful. After all, in the Hebrew proverbs he’d been taught as a child that a haughty heart goes before destruction, but humility goes before honor.


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 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, World Harvest has expanded to six transmitters that reach every continent with the Gospel. Christian Crusaders is privileged to be a part of the World Harvest Radio network.

On the Light Side
The Sunday school teacher was carefully explaining the story of Elijah the Prophet and the false prophets of Baal. She explained how Elijah built the altar, put wood upon it, cut the steer in pieces and laid it upon the altar. And then Elijah commanded the people of God to fill four barrels of water and pour it over the altar. He had them do this four times.

"Now, said the teacher, "can anyone in the class tell me why the Lord would have Elijah pour water over the steer on the altar?"

A little girl in the back of the room raised her hand with great enthusiasm: “To make the gravy.”

No Longer Welcome

When Jesus announced that he was the promised Messiah to the people of his hometown, they became angry and tried to kill him. Their reaction sounds extremely harsh, but we also renounce Jesus when we honor him as little more than a great, moral teacher. Join us as we talk about all that Jesus offers in this week’s sermon.

Scripture: Luke 4:16-30

He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked.

Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself! Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’”

“I tell you the truth,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown. I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed – only Naaman the Syrian.”

All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff. But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.


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 What Is Jesus' Mission? delivered on Christian Crusaders September 14, 2003.

We want to remain healthy so we can have an abundant life. We visit our doctors regularly, take their pills, and submit to their treatments of one kind or another to improve our health. God wants us to care for our bodies, which He calls the temple of the Holy Spirit. However, many people enjoy the best of health and yet are restless and looking for something more. I believe we should give ourselves an A+ for the effort. Yet, having done these good things, something is still lacking. That newness comes in Jesus Christ. Happiness, which brings the abundant life, comes from within. Life may be hard, and we may cry through our tears, but deep in our soul there is happiness when Christ is our Savior.


News 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 our Radio Station Listing page of ChristianCrusaders.org. Follow the link to find a station near you or someone you know, and suggest they listen.


On the Light Side
One day the zookeeper noticed that the orangutan was reading two books: the Bible and Darwin’s Origin of Species. Surprised, he asked the ape, “Why are you reading both those books?”

“Well,” said the orangutan, “I just wanted to know if I was my brother’s keeper or my keeper’s brother.”

Love Came Down to Give UsLife

What makes you happy? We are all born with a need for happiness, and so we search for that one thing that will satisfy this craving in our soul. What we find, however, often leads to a path of danger and destruction. Listen as we learn what can fill our lives with true, lasting joy, excitement, and purpose even during tragic circumstances. www.christiancrusaders.org/audiostream/ccr20130127.mp3


Scripture: John 10:1-10
“I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.

Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”


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.

I heard it said once that sheep spend the summer in the high country. On their way back to the shepherd’s fold, they eagerly anticipate their homecoming, although they have to go through difficult terrain and storms that make them cold and wet. You can sense in the flock an excitement and enthusiasm as they come nearer and nearer to the shepherd’s fold. The same goes for Christians in the flock of Jesus Christ who know that we will dwell forever in the house of the Lord. Yes, life does have its question marks and scary moments that can cause us anxiety and make us feel insecure. However, we have a wonderful Shepherd who laid down his life for us, rose again, and lives to walk with us. He knows you and wants to hold you close in all circumstances. He promises that no one and nothing will snatch you from his nail-pierced, loving, strong hands.


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
A guy took his girlfriend to her first football game. They had great seats right behind their team’s bench. After the game, he asked her how she liked the experience.

“Oh, I really liked it,” she replied. “I just couldn’t understand why they were killing each other over 25 cents.”

Dumbfounded, her date asked, “What do you mean?”

“Well, they flipped a coin. One team got it, and then for the rest of the game, all they kept screaming was, ‘Get the quarter back! Get the quarter back!’ I’m like, Hello-o-o? It’s only 25 cents!”

http://www.christiancrusaders.org/details_web.asp?ID=753

Jesus Changes People

Do you ever find yourself doing or saying something that you later regret? We all have things in our lives that we wish we could change about ourselves, but find it impossible to do. Yet, real change is possible and in this week’s message we’ll talk about where to find the power to make those changes.


Scripture: John 2:1-11
On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

“Dear woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”

His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.

Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in 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 "He Will Change My Lifestyle. I’m Not Interested" delivered on Christian Crusaders July 15, 2012.

What if I am one of those people who doesn’t want to change my lifestyle? I want to go to church on Sunday, be considered a religious person and all the rest, but I don’t want to risk persecution. Jesus was crucified, John the Baptist was beheaded, and many others in lesser ways along the way have had to pay the price when they identified themselves with Jesus Christ. I pray to God that we will have the courage to really look into our lifestyle, as individuals, as a congregation, and as a Church at large and ask what needs to be done. Then, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we may see that it is done.


About Christian Crusaders
Christian Crusaders is governed by a policy-making board of directors. This eighteen-member panel makes many of the decisions of Christian Crusaders, including our yearly budget, where we broadcast the program, future plans of the ministry, and personnel issues. This year we welcome five new members to our Board of Directors: Rev. Mark Decker of Hudson, Iowa; Fred Morris of Evansdale, Iowa; Jim Potts of Hudson, Wisconsin; and Jan Reisetter and Richard Vande Kieft of Cedar Falls, Iowa. These persons, along with our remaining board members, represent a broad spectrum of business backgrounds.

We are thankful for all our board members and ask that you help us pray for them as they direct Christian Crusaders to better serve our listening audience.


On the Light Side
Those Were the Days – This Date in History, January 20

1885 - The roller coaster was patented by La Marcus Thompson of Coney Island, New York. His coaster was 450 feet long with the highest drop being 30 feet.

1929 – In Old Arizona was released. The movie was the first full-length talkie to be filmed outdoors – mainly the great outdoors of Utah and California.

1937 - Franklin Delano Roosevelt became the first U.S. President to be inaugurated on January 20th. The 20th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution officially set the date for the swearing in of the President and Vice President. The amendment was ratified by Congress in 1933.

1942 - Harry Babbitt sang as Kay Kyser and his orchestra recorded, “Who Wouldn’t Love You,” on Columbia Records. The record went on to be a big hit for Kyser.

1953 - A television show was transmitted from the United States to Canada for the first time. The CBS Television production of Studio One was transmitted to CBLT-TV in Canada.

1958 - Elvis Presley got a little U.S. mail this day with greetings from Uncle Sam. The draft board in Memphis, TN ordered the King to report for duty, but allowed a 60-day deferment for him to finish the film, King Creole.

1964 - This was a big day in U.S. record stores as the first album by The Beatles was released. The LP, Meet the Beatles, became a huge success and was #1 on the charts by February 15, 1964. The British Invasion had begun.

1965 - Alan Freed, “the Father of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” died in Palm Springs, CA. Freed was one of the first radio disc jockeys to program black music, or race music, as it was termed, for white audiences. In the 1950s, Freed – called Moon Doggy at WJW Radio in Cleveland – coined the phrase, “Rock ‘n’ Roll.”

1986 - New footage of the 1931 horror classic, Frankenstein, was found. It depicted the monster, played by Boris Karloff, throwing a girl into a lake and showed a hypodermic needle in the monster’s arm! The scenes had been cut because they were considered too shocking for the 1930’s theatre crowd. They have since been put back in and the film has been rereleased.