“Take Up Your Cross”

1. “Take Up Your Cross” Text: Luke 9:23/ Isaiah 53:5-7

2. Headlines That Communicate? Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers  Miners Refuse to Work after Death Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant 

3. Headlines: • War Dims Hope for Peace  •  If Strike Isn't Settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile • Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures  •  Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges 

4. Headlines: Man Struck By Lightning: Faces Battery Charge  New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group  Kids Make Nutritious Snacks  Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half 

5. Things Are Getting Serious Around Here In these last days, we must get SERIOUS about our call as disciples and our position in Christ

6. Setting the Tone! Easter season--more than any other time-- declares our freedom and our unique identity as Christ’s very own people Focus on the call of Christ to be a disciple To take seriously the call to be a DISCIPLE MAKER….

7. Luke 9:23-26 NLT 23 Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 25 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?

8. Luke 9:26-27 26 If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels. 27 I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God.”

9. The Big Idea Immediately after Peter’s confession, Christ began to talk of death…both His own and that of His followers The only way to life and resurrection was through death (to self)

10. The Message Luke 9:23-27 Then he told them what they could expect for themselves: “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat—I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it.

11. The Message Luke 9 Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you?

12. The Message … Luke 9 If any of you is embarrassed with me and the way I’m leading you, know that the Son of Man will be far more embarrassed with you when he arrives in all his splendor in company with the Father and the holy angels.

13. The Message … Luke 9 This isn’t, you realize, pie in the sky by and by. Some who have taken their stand right here are going to see it happen, see with their own eyes the kingdom of God.”

14. The Call to Cross Bearing Deny yourself … Death to one’s own agenda … Voluntary submission … Obedience …

15. Insert the Jesus carry the cross photo… from file Slide 11

16. The Heart of True Discipleship Any one who determines to pursue the perfect will of God for his/her life and, because of that, gladly accepts the discipline to accomplish it

17. The Heart of True Discipleship No one can force you to be a disciple…. Discipleship is volunteering to take up His life and living

18. The Heart of True Discipleship • Deep love for Christ… a tremendous desire to give it all to Jesus! • A deep trust in Christ … “If I get on the cross, He’ll raise me up.” • A deep desire to glorify Him with our lives….

19. The Difference Between Civilians and Soldiers… A disciple is one who is willing to lose this world in order to gain the next … A disciple is one who is NOT ashamed of Christ, His work, or His Word…

20. The Difference between civilians and soldiers… A disciple is one of whom the Father will not be ashamed….but His glory will cover that one… A disciple is one who will see Him in glory and will inherit His kingdom… A disciple is one who is disciplingothers…

21. The Impact of Cross Bearing People…. Vs. 26-27 The promise out of this passage … “not taste of death until you see the Kingdom of God manifested...” His glory through disciples impacts our world…

22. HOW is This Accomplished? This life begins with deliverance from sin and progresses to deliverance from self … the process of discipleship is accomplished by the application of the cross of Christ through the Word of God, the Holy Spirit, and the love of mature believers.

23. His Work on the Cross is the Exact Antidote for ALL Sin and Self … We must daily discover His freedom from the old ways and our own sin nature through the cross

24. This morning I want to PICK UP the cross--His cross and ours--and look at it in a fresh way…

25. Isaiah 53:5-6 NLT But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. 6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.

26. Four Core Battles the Cross Resolves For Us…. • Rebellion … vs. 5 • Insecurities … vs. 5 • Ambition … vs. 6 • Personal will … vs. 7

27. After Crucifixion Comes Resurrection Isaiah 54:2-3 “Enlarge your house; build an addition. Spread out your home, and spare no expense! 3For you will soon be bursting at the seams. Your descendants will occupy other nations and resettle the ruined cities.