TAKE UP/ DENY/ FOLLOW

Date: 10.18.09 Speaker: Kristian Martens Texts: Matt 10:38, 16:17-28, Mark 8:30-38, John 12:24, Luke 9:18-27, Rom 12:1-2, 1 Cor 3:11, 2 Cor 4:11, 12:8-10, Gal 6:14, Heb 12:1-3 TAKE UP/ DENY/ FOLLOW If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save him life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. Jesus (Luke 9:23-24 niv) One day, after Jesus had spent time with His Father praying, he asked his followers some tough questions: Who do the crowds say I am, and what about you? He knows they dont fully understand His identity yet, but like a good teacher He reveals in clarifying terms the path He is on. Notably, on His way to suffer & die on the cross- and then rise to live on the third day. His brothers dont take too kindly to Jesus hard words. Thats not what they were expecting thats not the role of the Messiah... right? He then challenges his brothers (& us) with a call to suffering. A call to take up our cross, deny our selfish ambition, and follow Jesus wholeheartedly. It is on this reality of suffering & cross-bearing that this sermon will focus. Specifically on the reality that our spiritual journey will come at a great cost & likely with much pain. Its the way of Jesus its the way of the cross it is the way. Death comes before life. Life comes through death. Jesus for us. This is a radically & ridiculously counter-cultural idea and one worth deeply reflecting upon. In a city that appears to have gained the whole world but has lost itself... are your expectations lined up with the world, or with Jesus? What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? Jesus (Luke 9:25 niv) Suffer well.