Sermons on It Takes Guts:

Take Up Your Cross

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 11, 2025

Jim Eliot, once famously wrote in his diary on 28th October 1949: “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep, to gain that which he cannot lose” . And Jesus says something similar in this morning's Gospel reading

Lk 14:25-33 Take up your cross and follow me Jim Eliot, an American missionary who was killed on 8th January 1956 taking the Gospel to the Waodani people in Ecuador - once famously wrote in his diary on 28th October 1949: “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep To gain that which he ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-33

Denomination: Anglican

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

When Gratitude Takes Over

Contributed by Brian Williams on Oct 20, 2025

How is it possible in an over-stressed, over-busy, and over-distracted society, to be overtaken with gratitude? How does that change our outlook on life?

We live in an over-stressed, over-busy, and over-distracted society, which have overtaken our daily lives, as a result we often forget what truly matters. There are some things we want to forget — the painful, the awkward, the disappointing — but there are also things we want to remember: the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:1-5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Taking Up Our Cross

Contributed by Kelvin Mckisic on Oct 14, 2024

The sixth church that Jesus addressed received no words of rebuke or chastisement. It was faithful to the Gospel, open to opportunities, and will be delivered from its enemies at the coming hour of trial upon the world. Take up your cross and do the same.

Good morning, dear friends. It's a joy to welcome you to this moment of shared faith, a time of communion in the Word of God. We gather here, not merely as individuals, but as a community united by the love of Christ, a love that transcends our differences and binds us together as one family ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:7-13, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Galatians 6:2, John 16:33, James 1:2-4  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Take Every Thought Captive Series

Contributed by Shaila Touchton on Nov 24, 2024

As Christians, we are called to live a life that is surrendered to Christ, including our thoughts and imaginations.

As Christians, we are called to live a life that is surrendered to Christ, including our thoughts and imaginations. Our minds are a battlefield, and the enemy seeks to control our thoughts and lead us astray. However, we have the power to take every thought captive and make it obedient to ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:5, Romans 12:2

Why Is Revenge For The Lord To Take?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Nov 6, 2025

Is it right for us to take revenge on something or is it the Lord's job to deal with it?

Why Is Revenge for the Lord to Take? Romans 12:19 Why is this such a difficult idea for Christians to do, let alone from the rest of the people in the world? This sounds so impossible for anyone to do, with all the constant cries for legal rights and lawsuits that are continually spreading ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:19

Denomination: Independent/Bible

When Love Takes The Stand

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 11, 2025

(A Reflection on the Father’s Heart in the Final Judgment.) God’s judgment reveals His heart — justice fulfilled. Of

Introduction — The Courtroom of Grace Picture it quietly. The courtroom of heaven is not built of marble or gold but of light — pure, living light that exposes everything yet shames nothing. There is no jury box, no polished oak bench, no clatter of papers. Just a throne, and from it, a presence ...read more

Scripture: John 5:22, Revelation 5:12, 1 John 2:1, Romans 8:1, John 8:10-12  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Taking Action Through Faith SermonCentral

Contributed by SermonCentral on Sep 12, 2023

Trust is Faith in ACTION!!! It is the manifestation of our faith in our thoughts and actions. It is far easier to have faith in God; there are unbelievers who have this. It is a lot harder to exercise trust in Him...

Today, we will explore the topic of trust and how it relates to our faith in God. Trust is not the same as faith; it is the active expression of our faith through our thoughts and actions. While it may be easier to have faith in God, it is much harder to exercise trust in Him. Trust requires us to ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Topics: Faith, Trust In God

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

Why I Take The Mark

Contributed by Gerald Roberts on Feb 22, 2026

Ash Wednesday

“Why I Take the Mark” Genesis 3:19 • Today we gather at the beginning of Lent, a season of repentance, reflection, and renewal. • And on this day, Christians around the world willingly receive a mark on their foreheads — a smudge of ashes in the shape of a cross. • Christians will walk around ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:19

Denomination: Methodist

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 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

Taking Responsibility And Being Accountable PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 11, 2025

God sees and cares about our daily choices, offering grace and accountability, inviting us to live honestly and confidently in His love.

If you’ve ever stood at the kitchen sink late at night, staring through the window while the day slowly settles, you know that tug inside—the whisper that asks, How did I do today? Did I choose well? Did I honor God with what I said, with how I acted, with what I allowed into my thoughts? Every ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:12, Hebrews 4:13, James 4:17

Topics: Responsibility, Accountability

Following God Takes Courage…

Contributed by Gina Krause on Jan 12, 2026

A few months ago, I preached from 1 Samuel about the prophet, Samuel and then the first king in Israel, Saul. And Saul, he started off as a good King, full of the Holy Spirit and humble…but by chapter 15, he drifted far from God.

I Samuel 16:1-11 Following God takes courage… . A few months ago, I preached from 1 Samuel about the prophet, Samuel and then the first king in Israel, Saul. And Saul, he started off as a good King, full of the Holy Spirit, HUMBLE…but by ch 13, he drifted far away from God. In ch ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1-11

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