Introduction

Good morning, beloved family of God. It is indeed a blessing to gather here with you today, to stand firm on the solid ground of our faith, and to lift our hearts and voices in praise of our heavenly Father. As we stand on the precipice of a new week, we find ourselves drawn once again to the wellspring of wisdom that is the Holy Scripture, eager to drink from its life-giving waters.

In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it's easy to lose sight of the essence of our faith. We're often caught up in the whirlwind of our own ambitions, desires, and self-interests. But today, dear brothers and sisters, we are called to pause, to reflect, and to realign our hearts and minds with the divine calling that has been placed upon our lives.

Surrendering Self for Service

The revered Christian author, J.I. Packer, once wrote, "Once you become aware that the main business that you are here for is to know God, most of life's problems fall into place of their own accord." What a profound truth this is! And yet, how often do we forget it? How often do we allow the cares of this world to distract us from this main business of knowing God?

Today, we turn our attention to the Gospel of Mark, chapter 8, verses 31-38, where we find Jesus teaching His disciples about the cost of discipleship:

"He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. 'Get behind me, Satan!' he said. 'You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.'

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.'

Sacrifice as a Sign of Devotion

As we continue to reflect on the teachings of Jesus in Mark 8:31-38, we find ourselves confronted with the stark reality of sacrifice ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO