Sermons on Take Up:

Denying Yourself

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Apr 24, 2024

Revival revolves around this very notion and directly balances on the denial of ourselves and the cross we carry. Are we ready to take it on? Are we ready to carry our cross?

Illustration: Passion Season - Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey. What is He denying himself? Jesus is in the garden of gethsemane. What is He denying himself? What cup does He choose? Jesus is put on the cross. What is He denying himself? The path is different because it is the path of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

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

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

Oh, We Mean Well!

Contributed by Gregory Mc Donald on Sep 6, 2011

The Christian life is the best possible life anyone could ever live...but it's not an easy road.

OH, WE MEAN WELL! LUKE 14:25 35 Read Luke 14:25 35...............PRAY There is a story about 2 men from New York who had never been out of the city. And they got so fed up with city life that they bought a ranch down in Texas so they could live off the land like their ancestors had done. The ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-35

Love Not The World

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Jul 30, 2021

It is a curious thing to live IN the world yet not be OF the world.

Love Not the World We are Just Passing Through Down Here We all know that we are not going to be in this world all that much longer. The end is fast approaching and, knowing the signs, no one knows that better than Christians who walk closely with the Lord. Many of us have emailed back and ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:15, Romans 12:2

Denomination: Charismatic

True Follower Of Christ Series

Contributed by Fred Sigle on May 17, 2024

This is a study of the gospel of Mark regarding the life of Jesus. It is based on my personal study and research of Scripture and many books and sermons I have read over the years.

GOSPEL OF MARK: GOD’S SERVANT IN ACTION TRUE FOLLOWER OF CHRIST A. Last May I began a sermon series on the Gospel of Mark—studying the life of Jesus from His BAPTISM to his CRUCIFIXION and RESURRECTION, and ultimate ASCENSION into HEAVEN. 1. The verse in Mark’s gospel that summarizes ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:31-38

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Deny Oneself & Take Up The Cross

Contributed by Saumiman Saud on Feb 18, 2025

What is the most important decision that you have ever made in your life? Maybe your answer is similar to others‟. Some would answer: going to college, choosing jobs, getting married and applying for green card. Of those listed, which is the most important?

DENY ONESELF & TAKE UP THE CROSS Matthew 16:21-28 What is the most important decision that you have ever made in your life? Maybe your answer is similar to others. Some would answer: going to college, choosing jobs, getting married and applying for green card. Of those listed, which is ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:21-28

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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 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!

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jun 20, 2005

When Jesus talks about us denying ourselves, taking up a cross & following Him – what does He mean? What does the Bible teach about "cross-bearing?"

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK (Revised: 2011) 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 ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:34-35, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

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

Take Up Your Cross Series

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Aug 21, 2005

Be willing to make sacrifices so that the will of God can be accomplished through your life. We are called to carry our own cross and to renew such a commitment every day.

Crosses are everywhere these days. You see them on buildings, stationery, jewelry shops… • You noticed now that crosses seem to be a chief feature of punk style and the outfits of young celebrities, even rock band members. • Crosses have become a standard fashion accessory. Crosses didn’t have ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:31-34, Mark 8:34-38

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Take Up Your Cross

Contributed by Helen Allen on Mar 12, 2006

The storms and trials of life are part of the process of God building us into his kingdom.

Imagine a situation where a homeless man is begging on the streets of London. A well-dressed man in a stretch limo pulls up next to him and offers him a job as vice-president of his company. You might think that sounds like a fairy tale; but that is exactly what God has done for us. We don’t ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:31-38

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Taking Up The Isaiah Paradigm Series

Contributed by Darryl Klassen on Nov 27, 2007

In the vision Isaiah received of the Lord upon his throne there is a model of how we can approach God and what the results could be.

TAKING UP THE ISAIAH PARADIGM Towering like a majestic peak above the other great moments in Isaiah is this passage in Isaiah 6:1-13. It was this event that formalized Isaiah’s understanding of God and his mission. If this passage were missing from the book the impact of its message would be ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-13

Denomination: Mennonite