1. Luke 9:21-26

2.  News of Christ’s approaching death was not easily accepted by the apostles  Satan would try, but would not prevent, his redemptive work, Matthew 16:21-23  Luke 9:21-26: Suffering and death of Jesus teaches us what it means to follow Him 2

3.  Universal application of the gospel, Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:18-20  Anyone, Romans 1:16; Acts 10:34- 35  Sinners of every sort, 1 Cor. 6:9-11; Luke 5:31-32 3

4.  Desire, John 8:44; Galatians 5:24  Time to make up your mind! Luke 9:24; 1 John 2:15-17; Romans 13:11-14  God chooses to save you in Christ, but you must choose to be saved, Acts 2:21, 37-41 4

5.  Acknowledge, Romans 10:9-10  Come after: Full submission, Luke 9:57-62; 14:25-27, 33  Trailblazer of our salvation, Heb. 2:10  Must obey Jesus to be saved, Hebrews 5:8-9; Matthew 7:21 5

6.  Self-denial, 2 Timothy 3:1-5  Deny sin’s lusts, Eph. 4:17-19; 1 Peter 4:3  Deny personal advantages, Phil. 3:7-8  Deny approval from others, Matt. 5:10-12  Many refuse to pay this price, Mark 10:22 6

7.  Bear your cross  Look at Jesus, Luke 9:22  Take you where you prefer not to go  Sacrifice, submission and steadfastness Matthew 26:39, 42, 44  Bear reproach of Christ, Heb. 13:12-13  Despise the shame, Hebrews 12:2  Daily endurance, Hebrews 12:3, 1 7

8.  Follow Jesus His way, not ours, John 14:6  Light of the world, John 8:12  Darkness of sin, doubt and death, John 12:35 8

9.  What you desire determines whether you follow Jesus, Luke 9:24-25 (Matt. 6:24)  Finding (saving) or losing your life “By sparing himself this painful denial, this awful cross, he may enjoy every earthly delight and think himself safe, he has thereby really destroyed his very psyche, in which his person dwells: he shall lose it, it is doomed.” (Lenski) 9

10.  Losing your life for Christ saves it, Luke 9:24; Mark 8:35  Choice: Temporary gain with eternal loss, or temporary pain with eternal gain  Your value system is on display, Luke 9:25 10

11.  Bearing your cross demands courageous faith  Not shameful shrinking, Luke 9:26  Stand fast…be brave and be strong with love, 1 Cor. 16:13-14 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2 Tim. 1:7) 11

12.  Self-denial  Daily cross-bearing  Following Jesus (obey His word) For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels. (Luke 9:26) 12