Pick up your Cross

Bearing the Cross: The Cost of Discipleship

Bible Passage: Matthew 16:24-26, Luke 14:27

Summary: In these passages, Jesus invites His followers to pick up their cross and follow Him, highlighting the cost of discipleship and the necessity of self-denial for those who seek to truly follow Him.

Application: This sermon encourages Christians to embrace their struggles by understanding that the path of discipleship requires sacrifice. By picking up their cross, believers are reminded that their pain and trials can be transformed into a source of strength and purpose. It empowers them to view their challenges as opportunities to grow in faith and to serve others.

Teaching: The teaching from this sermon emphasizes that true discipleship involves a willingness to endure hardship and make sacrifices for Christ. It challenges the audience to reconsider their understanding of comfort, success, and commitment in their faith journey.

How this passage could point to Christ: Christ is the ultimate example of sacrificial love, as He bore the cross for our sins. In the context of the Bible, picking up one's cross denotes a participation in Christ's suffering and a commitment to live out His love and mission, reflecting His image to the world.

Big Idea: Following Christ involves a radical reorientation of our lives, demanding that we willingly carry our crosses and embrace the pain and purpose found in self-denial and service.

Recommended Study: As you prepare this sermon, consider exploring the cultural implications of the cross in the Greco-Roman world using Logos' historical resources. Examine commentaries that discuss Matthew 16 and Luke 14, focusing on the context of Roman execution as a form of humiliation. Also, assess various translations of key terms like 'deny' and 'take up', and their implications in contemporary Christian living.

1. Self-Denial's Demand

Matthew 16:24

You could emphasize the call for radical self-denial, as Jesus instructs His followers to deny themselves. By focusing on the need for this profound humility, highlight how believers are invited to lay down their own desires and prioritize Christ's will. Self-denial is essential in the journey towards embodying Jesus' sacrificial nature, helping Christians to realign their priorities and find strength in His example.

2. Sacrificial Living's Paradox

Matthew 16:25

Perhaps explore the paradoxical statement of losing one's life to find it. This counterintuitive concept challenges conventional views of success and fulfillment. By embracing vulnerability and surrender in following Christ, believers can access true life, as modeled by Jesus' own sacrifice. It encourages the audience to redefine what it means to live meaningfully, focusing on eternal values rather than temporary gains.

3. Soul's Supreme Value

Matthew 16:26

Maybe discuss the valuation of the soul over worldly pursuits. Jesus presents a challenging question about the worth of human souls compared to material gains. This poses an invitation to invest in eternal treasures by living out Christ's mission. By reorienting priorities towards spiritual riches, Christians are reminded of the eternal significance of their choices and the call to live for God's kingdom.

4. Strength in Suffering

Luke 14:27

Perhaps emphasize the necessity of purposeful endurance in carrying one's cross as a true disciple. This passage underscores the cost of commitment in discipleship, illustrating the need for perseverance amidst hardships. Reflect on how bearing the cross connects believers to Christ's suffering and empowers them to be agents of His love and mission, turning trials into testimony.