Introduction

Good morning, family! Today we're diving into some of the meatier stuff in the Gospel of Matthew. We'll be looking at a passage that is as challenging as it is comforting, as it speaks to the cost of following Christ, Peter's unwillingness to suffer, and the trust we can have in Christ's promises.

In the words of John Stott, "The Christian landscape is strewn with the wreckage of derelict, half-built towers - the ruins of those who began to build and were unable to finish. For thousands of people still ignore Christ's warning and undertake to follow him without first pausing to reflect on the cost of doing so."

The Cost of Following Christ

The cost of following Christ is profound because it calls us to a life of self-denial and sacrifice, and paradoxical because in losing our lives for Christ, we find true life. This is the paradox at the heart of the Christian faith, and it is one that we must grapple with if we are to truly understand what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.

Verse 24: When Jesus says, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me," He is not speaking metaphorically. He is speaking of a literal, physical cross, a symbol of suffering and death. This is a stark contrast to the prosperity gospel that is often preached today, which promises health, wealth, and happiness to those who follow Christ. But Jesus makes it clear that following Him will not be easy. It will require sacrifice and suffering. It will require us to deny our own desires and ambitions, to put aside our own plans and dreams, and to follow Him, even if it leads to a cross.

Not a call to a life of misery and despair: On the contrary, it is a call to a life of joy and fulfillment. For in losing our lives for Christ, we find true life. This is the paradox of the Christian faith. The world tells us that to find life, we must pursue our own desires and ambitions, that we must seek our own happiness and fulfillment. But Jesus tells us that true life is found not in pursuing our own desires, but in denying them for the sake of Christ.

The cost is high, but the rewards are infinitely greater: For in losing our lives for Christ, we find true life. In denying ourselves, we find true fulfillment. In taking up our cross, we find true joy. This is the paradox of the Christian faith, and it is one that we must embrace if we are to truly follow Christ.

Peter's Unwillingness to Suffer

Peter's unwillingness to suffer is a profound aspect of this passage that we must grapple with ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO