Take Up Your Cross

Corey Sharpe

Be a Better Taker • Sermon • Submitted 6 years ago

Matthew 16:21–23

Matthew 16:24–28

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Matthew 16:21–28 NIV

From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

Series Review

It’s easier to focus on our dissatisfaction and wants than to be grateful. To see the empty and not the full. It’s easier to ask than to to see the world from a scarcity and want than of abundance. Be thankful. Be a giver.

In November I’ve been preaching no being a taker: God does have good things for us: we just need to take them.

e.g. having the benefits right there, but not knowing it

This morning we are taking something that might not seem like a benefit: a heavy, painful cross. And he says, if you won’t do that, you’re not my disciple. This message is not a feel good message. Christ offers us spiritual benefits (e.g.), but they come by taking up a cross.

here we are taking something that might not seem like a benefit

What does it mean? Imagine: receiving a cross at baptism, conversion, membership

where is your cross? are you carrying it, or is it sitting off to the side?

Sermon Intro

Part of the inspiration behind this sermon is an argument between a pastor and his congregation over the physical appearance of the worship space. This seems to be common among clergy (e.g. lawn mower, clock). This one was over a cross.

(e.g. Passion Week, Easter week: ugly, embarrassed because of guests; not seasonably appropriate; Ongoing: Gets in the way [ushers, worship team] ; but he wouldn’t take it down

where is your cross? are you carrying it, or is it sitting off to the side?

Jesus said we cant be a disciple unless we take up your cross; not just use it as a decoration; what would disciples think about taking up a cross? humiliation, pain and even death

deny himself - put yourself at a disadvantage (a business that gives away profit; popular being made unpopular;

Humiliation

Taking up the cross v. use it as a decoration;

Repeat, where is your cross

Humiliation

What sets Christianity apart from other religions? Bruce Shelley begins his book church history in plain language:

Christianity is the only religion to have at its central event the humiliation of its God.

Our God lost His dignity for us. Crucifixion was the most humiliating form

Crucifixion was the most humiliating form

of death; but Jesus constantly faced embarrassment. Mocked by crowds. Followers one day, deserters the next. To take up a cross is to be willing to face embarrassment at worst, social discomfort at least.(e.g. Harford Family House; sponsor a family was such a blessing, awkward times) How do we avoid embarrassment?Avoid missionary situation. Project Echo, Shirley’s Place, Farming 4 Hunger; great ministry partners; Nicaragua; risk discomfort

Like that dirty cross in the sanctuary; following Jesus isn’t always pretty

where is your cross?

Avoid it by avoiding missionary situation

pain

Project echo, harford family house, middle school

Delightful, also embarrassed, not wanting the gospel,

Ugly, embarrassed for guests

School district remove cross

lose dignity

embarrassment

pain

I don’t need to explain to you the pain of the cross, but Jesus isn’t the best recruiter by modern standards.

Isn’t it natural to avoid pain?

Invite people into ministry by sharing life giving stories. The more you follow Christ’s leading, the greater the risk of pain.

Pain of rejection by those we serve; pain of failure; pain of conflict on a ministry team;

Assaulted,

Pain of rejection by those we serve injury while serving

Pain of failure

Pain of conflict

Offensive?

it is truly possible to understand Jesus only by following him in suffering.

where is your cross?

death

disciples weren’t naive: taking up a cross meant death;

In the early church, martyrdom (which means being dying as a result of proclaiming Christ) was considered a gif to be desired;

Taking up your cross may not mean physical death, but it definitely mean putting to death the old ways; the old desires; the old priorities.

loss of life; watching his kids grow up; depriving his kids of a father;

some things must die: pursuit of the temporary: only what’s done for Christ will last; pursuit of self gratification (you can do these IN the church) - churches that make their members comfortable; not too inconvenient, not too costly

quote: he is no fool who gives what he cannot keep

Taking up your cross may not mean physical death, but it definitely mean putting to death the old ways; the old desires; the old priorities.

committing yourself to ministry: whether it be a ministry team at HUMC,

Like the cross in sanctuary: had to change old ways

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-45) was a German theologian and pastor who spoke out against the Nazi regime during World War II. His resistance against Hitler’s regime culminated with him being hung in a concentration camp at Flossenbürg.

In the way

Repeat, where is your cross

Ugly covered the pretty

conclusion

Made a mess

Risky mission, through Gates of splendor, Jim Elliot, tribe of eastern Ecuador

loss of life; watching his kids grow up; depriving his kids of a father;

quote: he is no fool who gives what he cannot keep

Our lives are not ours to keep: if you want to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, it means your life is no longer yours;

Repeat, where is your cross

I was carrying it - life to the fullest

I stuffed it away - pain

humiliation; pain, death - life to the fullest, healing, wholeness

why don’t we grow? what we win them with is what he have to keep them with (e.g. parties)

a church that puts its energy into maintaining of the comfort of its members will not grow

you can’t have long term, sustained growth

Gain—lose (κερδήσῃ—ζημιωθῇ). Note that both words are in the past (aorist) tense: “if he may have gained or lost. The Lord looks back to the details of each life as the factors of the final sum of gain or loss