Sermon Tone Analysis
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From very early on … we are taught by example.
Consider … how examples are pivotal to our life experience and growth.
> My youngest child … baby Abby
learned to drink from a cup by example.
> My two oldest children learned to make their bed by mom and dad showing them how how to put covers on, and fold their blankets.
> I champion missionaries like David Livingston and Jim Elliot, or men of Character like, George Washington and Teddy Roosevelt … because there is something about their example that I want my kids to learn and follow.
> In seminary … it was often said … ministry is caught, not taught.
- As important as theology is … our greatest lessons are often learned by example, not by books and sermons.
- I am the Chaplain I am today not because of extensive reading, but because I watched others minister through the love of Christ.
I did not grow up in a Christian home or going to church … so I learned what it means to be a Christian by watching others.
- By watching others pray,
- worship,
- read their Bibles,
- pray through difficult decisions,
- have family devotions
… and I am the Christian I am today because of the examples many other Christians gave me.
But there is one example by which all others are compared.
There is none greater … than the example of Jesus Christ.
Jesus is the greatest example we could ever know.
To set ourselves according to Jesus … is to imitate perfection.
- There is no greater example of humanity, than the example of Jesus.
- There is no greater submission, than the example of Jesus.
- There is no greater humility, than the example of Jesus.
- There is no greater suffering, than the suffering of Jesus.
- There is no greater love, than the love of Jesus Christ.
Jesus is the greatest example we could ever know.
And what if I told you,
that the greatest example we could know, Jesus, … told us how we should follow him.
And this is precisely what Jesus has done in Mark 8:34.
And it’s fitting to look at this example, the week after good Friday.
If you recall, before Easter I preached to you Mark 8:31.
In Mark 8:31, Jesus predicted his death and resurrection.
From that text I taught that Jesus death and resurrection was no accident.
That the cross was intentional, necessary, costly, and victorious.
And right after Jesus, predicted his death,
he turned to the crowd and said this.
Your see … according to Jesus … we are not only to believe in his death and resurrection,
but to follow his example on the cross.
According to Mark 8:34 -
We must follow the example of the Cross.
And this text gives us 3 ways for how to follow the example of the Cross.
This morning .... we will follow the Words of Jesus as our outline.
Mark 8:34 (ESV)
“let him deny himself”
“take up his cross”
“and follow me”
What Jesus is saying in the text
is that he is going to give us such an example … that it will become the standard by which we measure obedience to God.
It is such an example … that it becomes the blue print for how we are to follow Christ.
So lets look at the first way Jesus tells us how to follow his example on the Cross.
The first way we follow Jesus is to -
(1) Deny our own dreams and comforts.
“Deny himself”
Mark 8:34 (ESV)
And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
The first part of following Jesus is to deny yourself.
EXHORTATION:
To deny yourself - is tell your self - NO.
Now that is a counter intuitive thought.
Our culture is built on saying yes, not saying no.
We live in a culture where
the banking system empowers us to say yes - with credit and debt.
Business’s are all about telling us how we should say yes.
We live in a culture where indulgence … is the sign of the good life.
This can be said about -
Food
cars
houses
vacations
And how do we as Americans act when were are told no?
We become angry and disgruntle.
You want to create a riot in America … all you have to do is tell us no … and we become angry.
Much of American politics in the last few decades have been about people being angry they were told no.
CAVEAT:
I am not making a political statement about any particular issue or party.
I am just saying … in general politics have been about people becoming angry over the word No.
> It doesn’t matter if it hurts the country.
> It doesn’t matter if it hurts people.
> It doesn’t matter if it is evil and wicked.
Just don’t tell me no.
Because it is not about logic … or what is wise and good.
Because indulgence is the name of the game.
But Jesus says -
Mark 8:34 (ESV)
And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
Jesus says - if you are going to follow me … then you are going to have to tell yourself NO
And this is more than just saying I will practice self-control.
This is to say that I am going to give up what personally gratifies me.
And dreams and comforts … are generally what gratifies us.
Jesus is saying that we should deny our dreams, comforts .... ourselves.
And instead … follow him.
ILLUSTRATION:
I can’t help … but think about how missionaries deny themselves …
their dreams and comforts … to go to foreign country and share the Gospel.
David Livingston had a term for Christians who weren’t willing to deny themselves their dreams and comforts …
He called them veranda Christians ...
because they were willing to serve Jesus so long as they didn’t have to give up their dreams and comforts.
They were Christians who went to the missions field … but would never leave the comforts of the mission house porch.
Let me ask you … when you reflect on your own life …
do you live a life in which following Jesus Christ matters so much - you will deny yourself....your own comforts and dreams.
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