TAKE UP THE CROSS
INTRO: THE WORDS OF CHRIST
1: LUKE 9:23
A) IF ANY MAN WILL COME AFTER ME
B) THAT DOESN’T EXCLUDE ANYBODY
C) THE WORDS OF CHRIST ARE CLEAR
D) THE DOOR IS OPEN
POINT: IF JESUS WOULD HAVE PUT A FANCY NAME ON HIS MINISTRY LIKE A LOT OF US DO TODAY IT WOULD MOST LIKELY BE CALLED THE WHOSOEVER MINISTRY.
2: CAN’T SAVE YOURSELF
A) ANYONE WHO THINKS THEY CAN BE GOOD ENOUGH IS DECEIVED
B) ANYONE WHO TRUST JESUS TO ALLOW HIM TO RULE THEIR LIFE SHALL BE SAVED
C) WE HAVE STANDARDS AND RANKINGS FOR THINGS CLASSES AND CATEGORIES
POINT: GOD HAS A STANDARD OR A CLASS IT’S CALLED SAVED OR UNSAVED. BORN AGAIN OR DEAD IN YOUR SINS.
BODY: COME AFTER ME
1: HOW MANY PEOPLE WANT TO FOLLOW JESUS?
A) MANY PROFESS TO LOVE HIM
B) MANY DEVOTE SONGS AND AWARDS TO HIM
C) HOW MANY PEOPLE TRULY WANT TO TAKE UP A CROSS AND TRAVEL DOWN THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW PATH?
POINT: BEING SAVED AND BEING A DISCIPLE IS TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. SALVATION IS AN EVENT WE EXPERIENCE WHEN WE SK GOD TO SAVE US FROM OUR SINS AND ASK JESUS TO BE THE LORD OF OUR LIFE. DISCIPLESHIP IS WHEN WE DECIDE TO GORW UP IN THE GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS CHRIST.
2: IF
A) BIGGEST LITTLE WORD IN THE BIBLE
B) IF PUTS THE BALL IN OUR COURT
C) IF GIVES US THE CHANCE TO CHOSE
D) IF WE COME AFTER CHRIST
POINT: IF CAN CHANGE A PERSON’S LIFE, IF THEY CHOSE THE LORD, IF THEY DON’T IT CAN CHANGE THEIR LIFE IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION. IF IS UP TO US IN THIS INSTANCE.
3: DENY HIMSELF, TAKE UP
A) FOLLOWING CHRIST REQUIRES US QUITTING SOMETHINGS
B) CHRISTIAN PEOPLE SOMETIMES LIVE TO CLOSE TO SIN
C) SOEMTIMES WE HAVE TO DENY OURSELVES THINGS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE UP WHAT GOD HAD FOR US.
POINT: WHAT ARE YOU CARRYING AROUND THAT YOU SHOULDN’T BE?
CLOSING: DAILY
1: DAILY DEVOTION
A) HOW MANY OF GOD’S PEOPLE HAVE IT?
B) DAILY TIME SPENT WITH GOD IS IMPORTANT
C) TAKE UP HIS CROSS DAILY
POINT: LUKE ADDS THE WORD DAILY TO THE LORD’S REQUIREMENT OF CROSS BEARING, INDICATING A PROGRESSIVE AND CONTINOUS EFFORT ON THE BELEIVER’S PART TO BECOME MORE CHRISTLIKE.
CONCLUSION: THE CHURCH SHOULD BEAR THE CROSS OF CHRIST IN A JOINED EFFORT. THE CHURCH IS TO HELP GOD’S CHILDREN GROW AND HELP THE LOST COME UNTO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH AND BE SAVED. IT TAKES EVERYONE GRABBING HOLD OF THE CROSS TO ACCOMPLISH THE GREAT COMMANDMENT AND THE GREAT COMMISSION.
