Become like Jesus

Introduction

Good morning, church family!

Update on Cuba trip:

Mission Esperanza

Resilient people group

Over 50 new churches within the last three years

Their church plants are called “missions” and the mission groups are way more than the 60 new churches

Building the new church in September

Today we're continuing our series on being “More to the Story.” A couple of weeks ago, we explored what it means to "be with Jesus" through the Holy Spirit, our advocate. Today, we're diving into what might be the most countercultural aspect of following Jesus: the cross-shaped life.

The cross is more than just a symbol we wear around our necks or hang on our walls. It represents a radical inversion of the world's values - where to win, you must lose; to live, you must die; to be first, you must be last.

The central theme of this series - More to the Story is:

The Cross-Shaped Life: Choosing to Lose the World's Way to Win God's Way

Let's Pray

The Paradigm Shift

In Luke, Jesus says:

Luke 6:39–40 NLT

Then Jesus gave the following illustration: “Can one blind person lead another? Won’t they both fall into a ditch? Students are not greater than their teacher. But the student who is fully trained will become like the teacher.

Jesus is calling us to become like Him - fully trained, fully transformed. No toe-dipping, but full immersion!

People who are not fully trained means that they are partially trained.

Partially trained means that we have opportunties to grow.

What do you sense God is calling you to grow in?

But what does Jesus look like? If we're becoming like our teacher, we need to understand His nature.

Philippians tells us:

Philippians 2:5–8 NLT

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Paul encourages the Philippians to continue practicing love and humility among one another.

The World's Way vs. God's Way

Let's be honest - the world has been discipling us far longer than Jesus has. And the world's message is clear:

World’s Way

Accumulate more

Look out for yourself first

Climb the ladder

Build your platform

Protect your reputation

Avoid suffering at all costs

But Jesus shows us a different way:

God’s Way

Give generously

Put others first

Descend to serve

Lift others up

Embrace humility

Find purpose in suffering

2 Corinthians 3:18 NLT

So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

This is metamorphosis - not just changing our external behavior, but being transformed from the inside out.

The Myth of Easy Transformation

There are two myths about spiritual formation we need to address:

The first myth is that "all you need to do is know the Bible."

Information transfer alone doesn't always yield transformation. You can know the right things without doing them, and you can do the right things without wanting them.

The second myth is that "you don't need to do anything; it's all God."

As J.I. Packer said,

"Sanctification is not mystical passivity, as our slogan 'let go and let God' has too often implied, but it is active moral effort energized by prayerful and expectant faith."

J.I. Packer

The truth is: Without Him, we can't. Without us, He won't. Transformation is a partnership.

The Cross at the Center of Transformation

Here's where the cross comes in. The cross-shaped life is not just about suffering - it's about a complete reorientation of values and identity.

I have a question for you this morning:

What do you expect from the church?

For some of us we said things…list out on the screen:

Good kids program

Great coffee

Clean bathrooms

Plenty of parking

Quality teaching / brilliant / not boring sermon

Dynamic Worship

Excellent youth program

Pastoral care - pastor comes to the hospital

Here is my second question:

What does Jesus command from the church?

“love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12),

“visit orphans and widows in their affliction” (James 1:27),

“make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19),

“bear one another’s burdens” (Gal. 6:2), etc.

What would upset you more? If the church didn’t provide the things from the first list or if the church didn’t obey the commands in the second list.

Mark 8:34–35 NLT

Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.

The Cross-Shaped Paradox

Dying to self-sufficiency → Finding true dependence on God

Surrendering comfort → Embracing purposeful discomfort

Releasing control → Discovering God's better plan

Letting go of worldly status → Receiving heavenly honor

Abandoning self-protection → Experiencing authentic community

Commands vs. Expectations

What people expect: Services, ministries, conveniences, entertainment

What God commands: Love one another, care for the vulnerable, make disciples, bear burdens

The challenging question: Which would upset us more - missing expectations or disobeying commands?

The Danger of Tradition Over Obedience

The Pharisees' focus on hand-washing rather than God's commands (Mark 7)

Jesus' rebuke: "You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men"

Our modern equivalent: Prioritizing church traditions and comforts over biblical obedience

The Call to Transformation

Evaluating our priorities: Do we exist to please God or please people?

Embracing discomfort for the sake of true discipleship

Finding true life by surrendering our expectations at the cross

Intentional Formation into Cross-Shaped Living

How do we counter the world's discipleship and embrace the cross-shaped life? Through intentional spiritual formation:

Teaching:

Let God's Word challenge and uproot worldly thinking.

Romans 12:2 NLT

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Practice:

Galatians 6:9 NLT

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

It's not that you can't live a cross-shaped life; it's that you can't—yet. Like a basketball player developing from amateur to professional, spiritual disciplines develop our capacity to follow Jesus.

Think about it: When Jesus faced the ultimate cross in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:39-51), His response was peace and submission to God's will. The disciples, who hadn't been practicing prayer as Jesus instructed, reacted with violence and fear.

Community:

We can't follow Jesus alone.

1 John 1:7 NLT

But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

The cross-shaped life is lived out among others who can both support us and hold us accountable.

Holy Spirit:

Galatians 5:25 NLT

Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

The Holy Spirit empowers us to live in ways that defy human logic and strength.

Time and Life's Challenges:

James 1:2–3 NLT

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

The moments we want to run from are often the moments that grow us the most.

Is Cross-Shaped Transformation Really Possible?

Some of you may be wondering: "Is this kind of transformation really possible for me?"

Maybe you've experienced divorce

Perhaps you've suffered abuse

You might feel like a failure in life

You could have a difficult personality type

The answer is YES. Transformation is possible, but it isn't inevitable. The stories we believe, the scripts we follow, our family backgrounds - these all take time and intentionality to overcome and redirect.

Every day, you're becoming someone. Looking ahead 10, 20, or 30 years, who do you see on the horizon?

The Counterintuitive Victory of the Cross

The most beautiful thing about the cross-shaped life is that what looks like loss to the world is actually victory in God's kingdom.

When Jesus died on the cross, it looked like defeat. The disciples thought the game was over. But what seemed like the greatest loss became the greatest victory in history.

Similarly, when we choose the cross-shaped life:

Our sacrifices become investments in eternal rewards

Our humility becomes the path to true honor

Our service becomes the route to genuine fulfillment

Our suffering becomes the soil for authentic joy

Practical Take-Home Assignment: The Daily Cross Journal

This week, I want to challenge you with a simple but powerful practice: The Daily Cross Journal.

Each day this week:

Morning Reflection

Ask yourself, "Where might God be inviting me to choose the cross-shaped way today?" Write down one specific area where you sense God calling you to die to self (maybe it's pride, comfort, control, or reputation).

Evening Review

Reflect on your day and answer these three questions:

Where did I choose the cross-shaped way today? Celebrate these moments with gratitude.

Where did I resist the cross-shaped way today? Confess these moments without shame.

What did I learn about myself and God through these choices?

Weekly Gathering

Find at least one other person to share your journey with. Meet for coffee, call each other, or send texts sharing what you're learning.

Remember, transformation happens through intention and attention over time. This simple practice helps us become more intentional about choosing God's upside-down kingdom and more attentive to how God is working through these choices.

Conclusion

The cross-shaped life is not easy. It goes against everything our self-preservation instincts tell us to do. But it's the way of Jesus, and therefore the way of true life.

In a world that constantly tells us to climb higher, Jesus invites us to descend lower. In a culture that celebrates self-promotion, Jesus models self-emptying love. In a society that avoids suffering at all costs, Jesus embraces suffering for the sake of others.

As apprentices of Jesus, we're learning to live this cross-shaped way. It's not about white-knuckling our way through sacrifice. It's about being so transformed by the love shown on the cross that we naturally begin to love what Jesus loves and value what Jesus values.

The cross-shaped life isn't just about what we give up—it's about what we gain: true freedom, authentic joy, and life to the fullest.

So I ask you today: Who are you becoming? And will you choose the cross-shaped life?

Let's pray.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, the cross confronts us with a choice: your way or the world's way. Give us the courage to choose the cross-shaped life—to lose what the world values in order to gain what you value. Transform us from the inside out so that we become people who naturally love what you love. Help us to practice the cross-shaped way this week through our Daily Cross Journal. We pray this in the name of Jesus, who showed us the way of the cross. Amen.