Sermons on Gird Up Your Loins:

Take Up Your Cross

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Feb 24, 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

Power Up Your Discipleship Series

Contributed by John Dobbs on Feb 16, 2023

Jesus once asked a question about identity: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” Interestingly, he got several responses.

Introduction An estimated 113 million viewers watched the Super Bowl. What do people always talk about after a Super Bowl? Ads! Most expensive ever - at $7 million per 30 seconds.  The most memorable ad I saw? Tubi - the one where everyone scrambled to find their remote control.  ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-27

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

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 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

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

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

Take Up Your Cross Series

Contributed by Steve Pearman on Feb 25, 2026

In a world that tells us to put ourselves first, Jesus calls us to something deeper — a life of surrender, courage, and true freedom. What does it really mean to take up your cross today? Let’s explore that together

Introduction: Following Gets Real Up until this point in Mark’s Gospel, following Jesus has felt exciting. Crowds. Miracles. Teaching that stirs hearts. People are curious. Hopeful. Drawn in. But right here (Chapter 8) — everything changes. This is the moment where Jesus stops talking ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:31-38

Take Up Your Cross Youth Sermon

Contributed by Youth Sermons on Sep 5, 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

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 Premium Sermon

Contributed by PRO Premium on Oct 9, 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

Pick Up Your Shovel PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 29, 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 21, 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

Give Up Or Get Up?

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 8, 2009

Never consider anyone hopeless. Pray intensely, watch out for the naysayers or for your own negativity, and then participate in the redemption Christ wants to bring.

He’s just hopeless! She is beyond redemption! I am never going to make it! They have no future whatsoever! They are hopeless! Are you ever tempted to speak like that? Do you ever feel that way about somebody, maybe even about yourself? Hopeless? Watch out. Because there is nothing more ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:40-56

Denomination: Baptist

Wake Up And Come To Your Sense

Contributed by Nolan Albert on Aug 9, 2005

This semon is generally addressing the notion that we as Christians do not always act and react as a child of God should.

Many people do not look at things realistically. They often act before they think and therefore their actions are often irrational. When we act without God’s guidance and the Holy Spirit, we often regret our actions. It is often said, "When one does something or says something that does not make ...read more

Scripture: Job 2:9-10, Job 2:1

Denomination: Baptist

Sufferings Invitation Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Mar 5, 2011

Adam and Eve invited suffering into the world. By disobeying God's direct command to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they asked for discipline from God. The discipline "I will greatly multiply your pain." Both for woman and man.

Intro: Gianna Jensen is a survivor of a later term abortion. Her mother was in the third trimester of pregnancy when a saline abortion was performed. Through the grace of God she survived and was taken at 2lbs to a hospital and an incubator. Because of this botched abortion she was not supposed ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-17

Denomination: Baptist