I am really excited to be celebrating our TENTH ANNIVERSARY this weekend together at Super Sunday! Tap the image below for details.
Dealing with Death… To Self
What is the most difficult decision you have ever made? Why was it so hard?
What has been the most challenging part about the decision you made to follow Christ?
To follow Christ in obedience may require hard choices. When we choose to follow Jesus, we choose sacrifice over selfishness, the cross over comfort, and God’s mission over maintaining the status quo. That’s the nature of the kingdom of God.
Luke 9:18–20 (NLT)
One day Jesus left the crowds to pray alone. Only his disciples were with him, and he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”
“Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other ancient prophets risen from the dead.”
Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”
Peter replied, “You are the Messiah sent from God!”
What is Peter saying here about Jesus? Why is this so significant? What does this mean?
“Christ” is the Greek word for “Messiah,” which means “Annointed One.” The Messiah was the promised deliverer of God’s people, commonly thought to be a militaristic overthrower of the Roman opression and take over as king of Israel in Jerusalem. Peter’s declaration is, in that sense, a kingly declaration, isn’t it?
This is the critical moment for the disciples. For the very first time, a declaration is being made about Jesus’ identity. Up until this point, a year and a half into Jesus’ ministry with his disciples, nobody has dared uttered these words that Peter seems to just blurt right out. I’m sure they had all thought… Hoped… That Jesus might, in fact be the chosen one… That this man who had chosen them was going to be the history-maker, the life-changer that their hopes were pinned on. But nobody was bold enough to ask it out loud. I bet this was a HUGE moment for these guys. As Peter said this, I am sure each disciple was wide-eyed and looking at Jesus to see how he might respond.
At this moment, these disciples have connected all the dots on their own… They have put it together without Jesus having to point it out to them specifically. They know his secret identity! So, Jesus responds… But Jesus’ response is NOT what you might think!
Luke 9:21–22 (NLT)
Jesus warned his disciples not to tell anyone who he was. “The Son of Man must suffer many terrible things,” he said. “He will be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.”
Wait.. What?
Jesus acknowleges being the Messiah, but that they should keep it secret? He tells them that he will be killed? Can the Messiah even BE killed? Why did Jesus take their newfound understanding and immediately shut them down?
Knowing what you know about the disciples’ understanding of Jesus mission and purpose… Watching how they scattered the way they did after he was taken by the Romans… Do you think they could even hear what he was saying about being “raised from the dead?”
Jesus, obviously to us now, would not establish his kingdom by military overthrow. Instead, how did he begin his movement? How does what he actually did contrast with what had been expected of the Messiah?
Jesus shows us that the only path to power is the cross. (that was one of the fill-ins from Sunday!) In what ways do modern disciples misunderstand the path to power? How does that misunderstanding mark the difference between “christian,” and “disciple?”
What does it mean for us when we misunderstand Jesus’ singular purpose in our lives to lead us to the cross?
RIGHT AFTER Jesus tells the disciples to “keep it down that I am the messiah…” he makes these key statements for us:
Luke 9:23–27 (NLT)
Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed? If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels.”
So, according to Jesus, what is the key activity or attitude of a follower of Christ?
What does it mean to “take up his cross?” Why is this necessary for a disciple?
How is this the opposite of what our culture tells us about achieving greatness in life?
How do you think our ideas about “greatness” might need to change as we follow Christ? (hint: John the Baptist had it right when he said, “He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.” -John 3:30)
Jesus specifically commanded we take this action how often? Why do you think that is?
How does carrying a cross through life affect the decisions we make and the priorities we have?
Does denying ourselves mean to have a low opinion of ourselves? What does it mean?
Do you think we have the tendency to water down the requirements of Jesus? Why or why not?
Does it cost us a lot to be willing to follow Jesus? (how?)
What is the actual value of that cost, compared the the cost Jesus paid for us?
How might you decrease this week so that Christ might increase?
Is someone in your life suffering in some way for the sake of the kingdom? How can you encourage them?
In what ways can we help each other take up our crosses and grow in humility?