Sermons on Cleaning Up Your Mess:

Take Up Your Cross

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Apr 7, 2019

Following Christ means following him to the cross.

There are basically two kinds of sermons on the Christian life. The first type of sermon views the Christian life as a kind of puzzle to be solved, with the message going something like this: Life is full of hardships, and frustrations, and obstacles. But if you do this one thing; if you ...read more

Scripture: John 12:23-33, Matthew 10:38-39, Luke 17:32-33, Mark 8:34-37

Denomination: Baptist

Step Up Your Believe

Contributed by Ed Lu on Feb 9, 2022

A New Year message to encourage, edify, and empower.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XqoJ9KilKw Well each New Year persuades us to leave behind the old stubborn stains of yesteryear and look forward to the new unvarnished canvas with anticipation. Like a new brush with fresh oil in hand, we are ready to paint a future with brighter outlook and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:17-29

Denomination: Baptist

Take Up Your Cross Series

Contributed by Lanny Smith on Mar 14, 2022

What does it look like to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Jesus?

[IMAGE] Philippine Passion Play - practice of literally crucifying people (voluntarily). The practice began in 1962 after a popular play about Jesus’ death. One man, Ruben Enaje, (as of 2019) had been hung on a cross 33 times. Many men and women have voluntarily submitted to temporary crucifixion ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:31-38

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Take Up Your Cross

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Mar 22, 2021

This expository message from Mark 8:31-38 is about Jesus' call to discipleship - to take up our cross and follow him.

Title: Take up Your Cross Text: Mark 8:31-38 Subject; How does Jesus define discipleship? Complement; Jesus says it means that you too take up your cross. Big idea: “True disciples don’t just wear a cross around their necks - they put it on their shoulders.” Introduction – we are moving toward ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:31-38, Galatians 2:20, Acts 20:22-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Keep Up With Your God

Contributed by Donato Solano on Feb 14, 2021

Starting the New Year With God.

INTRODUCTION Last year’s NBA season was also a season of Moving up with the powerful! Everybody wants a championship ring. Many superstars have move-in into powerhouse teams despite their fans’ disappointment. In the political scene in the country also, after Duterte’s win in the ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Take Up Your Cross

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Feb 23, 2021

As people run headlong into a world going nowhere, escaping reality in their hedonistic lifestyles, are we ashamed of Jesus and His words? Are we ashamed of suffering as Christians? Let’s look at Jesus’ countercultural instructions in Mark 8:31-38.

Prelude As people run headlong into a world going nowhere, escaping reality in their hedonistic lifestyles, are we ashamed of Jesus and His words? Are we ashamed of suffering as Christians? Purpose Let’s see the value of taking up our cross and denying ourselves. Plan Let’s look at Jesus’ ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:31-38

Denomination: Baptist

Make Up Your Mind

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Oct 10, 2018

A study in the book of 1 Kings 18: 1 – 46

1 Kings 18: 1 – 46 Make up your mind 18 And it came to pass after many days that the word of the LORD came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the earth.” 2 So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab; and there was a severe famine in Samaria. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 18:1

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Hold Your Head Up!

Contributed by James H Boyd on Dec 24, 2023

What do you think when you hear the word rejoice?

Herman Lange, a German Christian was to be executed by the Nazis during WWII. In his cell on the night before he was to be killed, Lange wrote a note to his parents. He said two feelings occupied his mind: "I am, first, in a joyous mood, and second filled with great anticipation." Then he ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:19, Romans 5:1-11

Denomination: Charismatic

Give Up Your Rights Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Jul 20, 2022

To gain a hearing for the gospel, know your rights and give up your rights.

Dr. Seuss’s Horton Hears a Who! centers around two characters: Horton, an elephant living in the Jungle of Nool, and the tiny mayor of Whoville, which is an extremely small world, which resides as a speck on a clover that Horton carries around. Vlad, an evil vulture, chases Horton to grab the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:1-18, 1 Timothy 5:17-18, Philippians 2:5-9

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Take Up Your Cross

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 12, 2025

Jesus wasn’t offering comfort or bling, but blood — a cross that kills self and births love, the heartbeat of true discipleship.

Prologue — The Little Athens of Palestine They had followed Him north — away from the dust and clamor of Galilee, away from the familiar crowds pressing for healing — into a region strange and foreign. The road climbed toward the foothills of Mount Hermon, where the air cooled and new sounds ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:27-34, Matthew 16:24-26, Luke 9:23-26, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 3:7-10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Take Up Your Cross Youth Sermon

Contributed by Youth Sermons on Sep 4, 2023

Jesus calls us to take up our cross, which means embracing the pain, loneliness, and partnership that comes with following Him. The journey may be difficult, but the reward is worth it.

Today, we're gonna talk about something taking up our crosses, and I've got a cool object lesson to help us understand it better. But first, let's dive into the message. You know, life can be pretty hard sometimes, right? Jesus actually told us that we'd face some tough times. Check out what He ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24, John 16:33

Topics: Discipleship, Spiritual Sacrifice, Divine Love, Redemption

Pick Up Your Shovel PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 28, 2023

Highlight the importance of obedience and faith in God, emphasizing that His blessings often come in unexpected ways and His plans are infinitely greater than ours.

Good morning, family. I'm so glad you're here with us today as we dive into God's word together. Today, we’re going to explore a fascinating passage from 2 Kings, which is a perfect reminder that God's blessings often come in unexpected ways, and just how crucial obedience and faith are in our walk ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 3:16-19

Topics: Unexpected Blessings

Take Up Your Cross PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Feb 20, 2024

Explores the depth of commitment to Christ, emphasizing self-denial, divine direction, and determined discipleship as paths to true life.

Beloved congregation, I stand before you today, warmed by the familiar faces of my brothers and sisters in Christ, and I am filled with a profound sense of joy and anticipation. We are gathered here, united in faith, bound by love, and driven by a shared desire to draw closer to our Heavenly ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24-26

Topics: Following Jesus

Take Up Your Cross Premium Sermon

Contributed by PRO Premium on Oct 8, 2023

This sermon explores the concept of metaphorically taking up our cross as Jesus did, understanding that it signifies enduring difficulties in life, and seeking strength from God to persevere.

Good morning church, it’s great to see you all again as we continue in our series ALL-IN. Last week we kicked things off talking about the first of Jesus’ 3 commandments in our main passage from Matthew 16:24. To “deny yourselves” is the first command. And today, we’re going to take it one step ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24, John 16:33

Topics: Cross Bearing, Perseverance, Self-Denial

Sermon Series: All In

A Wake-Up Call

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Nov 27, 2016

(Appropriate for Watchnight or New Year's Eve service as well.) As Christians we live in the certainty that Jesus is coming again. It could be today, tomorrow, or any moment. We need to wake up, clean up, and grow up.

Romans 13:11-14 A Wake-up Call A priest and pastor were standing by the side of the road holding up a sign that read, "The End is near! Turn around before it's too late!" One speeding motorist yelled out his window, “Leave us alone, you religious nuts!” as he flew by. From around the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 25:1-13, Romans 7:18-25

Denomination: Baptist