Sermon - Luke Chapter 9

Title: Discipleship is Daily

The transition between Luke chapter 8 and 9 is abrupt and jarring as the book moves from act 1 to act 2. In act 1 Jesus is busy communicating that the Kingdom of God has arrived and in act 2 Jesus begins his journey toward Jerusalem. The chapter begins with Jesus delegating authority to his disciples and sending them as out to proclaim the Kingdom of God as his representatives.

There comes a time in every Christian’s life where we also have to change from hearers of the word to doers of the word.

In Luke 9 we have the following highlights:

The sending of the 12 disciples and Herod’s curiosity (1-9).

Life Application: God equips those He sends. When we step out in faith, even with limited resources, we learn to rely on God’s provision and presence rather than our own preparedness.

The feeding of the 5,000 (10-17).

[This is the only miracle of Jesus that appears in all four gospels]

Life Application: God multiplies what we surrender. Even when our resources seem small, offering them to God can lead to abundance beyond imagination.

Peter declaring that Jesus is the Messiah (18-20).

Life Application: Knowing who Jesus is changes everything. Our identity and purpose become clearer when we recognize Christ as Lord. In Matthew’s version of this verse we learn that it was God who revealed this truth to Peter and God often reveals deeper truths to us as we follow him.

Jesus predicting his death and the cost of discipleship (21-27).

[This is the first time that Jesus reveals to his disciples that he would die]

Life Application: God’s plan may include pain, but it leads to glory. Trusting His purpose—even when it’s hard—brings eternal perspective. Discipleship is a daily decision. True following means surrendering comfort, ego, and control for the sake of Christ.

The transfiguration (28-36).

Life Application: Sometimes God gives glimpses of glory to strengthen our faith. We must take care how we incorporate these revelations in our ministry.

Jesus healing a demon possessed boy (37-43a).

Life Application: Faith and prayer are essential in spiritual battles. When we feel powerless, it’s a call to deeper dependence on God.

Jesus predicting his death again and lessons in humility and tolerance (43b-50).

Life Application: We don’t always grasp God’s timing or methods. But we’re called to trust even when we don’t fully understand. True greatness is found in serving others and unity in Christ often means embracing those who follow Him differently than we do.

The Samaritan opposition (51-56). [Show scene from The Chosen]

Life Application: We often want judgement for others and mercy for ourselves. Whenever we feel it is our duty to be agents of God’s justice, that is when we should be most suspicious of our motivations.

The high bar of following Jesus (57-62).

Life Application: Following Jesus requires full commitment. There’s no room for half-hearted devotion when the road leads to the cross.

There is so much material here that it is hard to cover it all. Any one of these sections would be worthy of a message or even several.

[Refer to Life Application notes in the list above]

The thing that most stood out to me as I read this chapter was the well known passage in Luke 9:23-25:

New International Version (2011) Chapter 9

23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?

The part in there that stood out the most was really the word “daily”.

I know that for me I often think in terms of transformation as if it is a one time event or an irreversible process. And to be fair, the Bible does use this kind of language: For example, the well known passage in 2 Corinthians 5:17

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

However, it is also true that we need to continue abiding in Christ in order to experience life in God’s kingdom. Jesus speaks about this in John 15:4–5

“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches… apart from Me you can do nothing”

I have noticed over the past couple of years that my daily rhythms have changed a lot. I have held on to some of them but other ones came as part of the ministries I was involved in. I am really feeling the loss of those rhythms and the life they brought. Granted, I have found some new ones as well but I realize that I have to be even more disciplined and intentional to ensure that I am taking up my cross daily.

[Group discussion - What do you think the statement “my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” means?]

[Group exercise - Have each person write their answer to the following on a 3x5 card: What one thing is most preventing me from taking up my cross daily? Then put the cards in a basket and mix them up and pass one out to each person making sure no one get’s their own card. Then, have each person read the card aloud and commit to praying for that person throughout the week.]

[Close in prayer]