A Daily Sacrifice

Intro: New Years Resolutions

We all have set them.

Get students to tell you some of their resolutions for this coming New Year.

Some of us have set resolutions to: Read our bible more, pray more, have a daily devotion, etc.

What must you do to follow Christ?

Deny Yourself (VS. 23)

Willingly renounce yourself (“I am nothing!)

Reconize Jesus’ Lordship in every area of your life.

Giving up your right to plan or choose what you want for your life.

You no longer call the shots, Jesus does anymore Jesus does.

IF HE’S NOT LORD OF ALL, HE’S NOT LORD AT ALL.

Take up your cross DAILY!

“What is my Cross?”

The cross is the ultimate expression of God’s will.

It was God’s will that Jesus die on a cross.

Taking up your cross, (your own will) means:

Denying yourself.

Giving up your wants, desires, passions, plans, and goals.

“I want what God wants for me, not what I want for myself.”

Living in obediance to the Holy Spirit.

Forsaking family, house, possessions and comforts of this life.

Are you trying to save yourself?

We try to save our lives with earthly things. (VS. 24)

We exchange our talents for money to secure ourselves.

We live selfishly.

We indulge in pleasures.

We get so caught up in trying to save ourselves we loose focus on what really matters, JESUS!

We take our eyes off of the cross.

Whoever is willing to give it all up for Jesus will find true life, true peace, and true joy.

Is it worth it?

Is spending your whole life on momentary pleasures trying to find peace, love, joy, etc. worth giving up your eternal peace, love, and joy? ETERNAL SALVATION (VS 25)

THIS IS HARD!

Jesus knew that what He was asking these people to do was hard. (VS 26)

He knew some people would not believe, they would turn away in rebellion.

Those who turned away and did not believe will not go to heaven, not inherit eternal life.

UP IN THE AIR

Scholars believe different things about this verse (VS 27)

Transfiguration

Second Coming