Sermons on Take Up Your Cross:

Take Up The Cross

Contributed by Jeff Pearce on Oct 26, 2008

HOW TO TAKE UP YOUR CROSS.

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 ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23-26

Denomination: Other

Take Up Your Cross Series

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Jun 7, 2016

What are we projecting to other people about our service to the Lord if we are complaining about it instead of having fun while we are doing it? We get hung up when people in the world try to trip us up and slow down our walk to a crawl.

Take Up your cross Matthew 16:24-27 Years ago I remember hearing a radio broadcast of Dr. James Dobson from Focus on the Family. He was retelling a story about his son Ryan who was about three years old at the time. Little Ryan had gotten up early one morning before his Dad and Mom. He managed ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24-27

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

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 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

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

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

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

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

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 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

Contributed by Shawn Ragan on Mar 30, 2001

We need to take up our cross and follow Jesus

Take Up Your Cross Meridian Church of God Seventh Day March 3, 2001 INTRODUCTION Good Morning… Story: Abraham and Isaac from Genesis 22:1-12 “We see what Abraham was willing to do for God” List of what God has done for me today/this week TAKE UP YOUR CROSS What God has done for us: We have ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24-26

Denomination: Independent/Bible

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

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 Melvin Newland on Jan 10, 2001

What does it mean to "take up" or "bear a cross? What does it mean when someone says, "I want to take up my cross and follow Jesus"?

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK This morning I want us to look at a passage of Scripture found in Mark 8:34-35. "Then Jesus called the crowd to Him along with His disciples & said: ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself & take up ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:34-35

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Take Up Your Cross

Contributed by Phillip Wright on Jul 22, 2006

Just what does the Lord expect of us?

Take Up Your Cross Luke 9:23-26 Rev. Phillip A. Wright Introduction: This morning we are going to look at one of the better known verses in Scripture. “Take Up your Cross.” Today we will look at the entire passage and dig out just what Jesus is saying and not saying. Attention: Jesus used this ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23-26

Denomination: Baptist