Sermon Tone Analysis

Following Christ begins in sacrifice .

I. Following Christ begins in denial.

All followers of God are called to sacrifice.

Illus: At this point in the story Jesus had not yet gone to the cross.

This was simply Jesus speaking about the reality the disciples knew.

The cross was the ultimate way Romans forced their will on the people.

They placed crucifixes outside the city gates to scare people into obedience.

For us we make so little out of the cross.

We have a difficult day at work and say it is our cross to bear.

No.

That is not our cross to bear it is a tough day at work.

We need to realize how great a commitment following Christ is.

Following Christ is more than placing religious language around our normal struggles.

Following Christ is surrendering everything to him.

All followers of Christ are called to submission.

Illus: Think about the vows you make when you get married.

I, ___, take thee, ___, to be my wedded husband/wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God's holy ordinance;

What you are saying is that you are going to stick with your spouse no matter what comes your way, That your love will not be conditional, and that you are making a life choice to be with them forever.

Just as marriage should be a radical shift in your life, so should following Jesus.

Faith in Christ is going all in with him.

It is more than trying to live morally.

It is making him the first priority and dependence of your life.

Following Christ changes your priorities.

Most of our lives are spent is selfish pursuits.

(Lovers of self, proud arrogant)

Illus: Most of our lives are lived around convenience, comfort, and pleasure.

Think about the way you make decisions 1.

Is is convienient.

2. Is it comfortable.

3. does it bring you pleasure?

Think about the way we approach church.

I will go if it convenient for my schedule.

I can serve as long as it doesn't interfere to much in my life.

I sure hope church is comfortable for me.

They need to play songs that appeal to my ears.

It is not just church, but instead all of our lives are built around convenience, comfort and pleasure.

God is not convenient.

God does not always bring worldly comfort to your life.

He may turn it upside down.

And his call is to take up your cross, hardly a pleasurable experience.

When you follow Christ, He becomes the prize of your life.

Illus: Let’s go back to the marriage illustration.

When I was single I hung out with my buddies every Friday night.

We would go out to eat, see a movie, or lock ourselves up and have halo tournaments till 3am in the morning.

Then I met my wife.

When I met her, I didn’t care as much to hang out with guys and play halo.

Instead I would go watch chick flick movies and walk around bed bath and beyond.

My affections didn't change because i thought Hugh Grant, Ben Afleck and Mathew McConahay were cute.

I wanted to spend time with Jenn more than sit with a bunch of guys and play the XBOX.

That is the truth of the Christian life.

When you trust Jesus, he becomes the most important thing to you.

Your affections change because you want Him more than anything else.

You gladly take up your cross, not because the cross is convenient or pleasurable, but instead because Jesus is worth it.

Following Jesus genuinely will cost you.

It is possible to say you follow Jesus but still live ashamed of Him.

(The way is narrow)

You may profess Christ, go to church, but your affections may say otherwise.

In fact you may come to church more to worship yourself than God.

Are you driven by your own convenience, or driven by Christ?

Are you driven by your own comfort, or by Christ?

Do you seek worldly pleasure, or Christ?