Sermon Outline  Nov 25, 2007 Morning Service

Topic: Take It 

Text: Mark 8:34-35    

Introduction

I.        At first glance at least two things stand out about Jesus in our text (vs. 34).

A.       First of all, there is the startling honesty of Jesus.

B.       Secondly, Jesus never calls upon men to do or face anything that He was not prepared to do and face Himself.

C.      This all goes against the grain of worldly teaching, doesn’t it?

D.      The modern church has adopted some of these worldly attitudes.

E.       And yet, Jesus said, “…take up his cross, and follow Me.”

II.       What did Jesus mean?

A.       What does it mean to “take up” or “bear a cross?”

B.       What does it mean when someone says, “I want to take up my cross and follow Jesus?”

C.      What does the Bible teach about “cross-bearing?”

Text

I.        Cross-Bearing Is Always Voluntary.

A.       “Taking up our cross” is something that we choose to do.

B.       Sometimes we are pretty careless in the way that we talk about “cross-bearing.”

C.      If I’m going to bear a cross I have to voluntarily take it up for Jesus and it has to have something to do with the fact that I am a Christian.

II.       Cross-Bearing Is An Act Of Love.

A.       Cross-bearing is an act of love that we freely choose.

B.       For Jesus it meant going to a cross to die because He loved us so much He could do nothing else.

C.      Paul defines the character of one who is a cross-bearer (1 Corinthians 13 (the “love chapter”)).

III.      Cross-Bearing Is Hard.

A.       Have we lost sight of the literal image of cross bearing (Luke 23:24-26)?

B.       Jesus’ talk about His impending death on a cross bothered His apostles.

C.      Jesus’ talk about bearing a cross bothers us too, doesn’t it?

D.      Jesus is setting crosses all around us, waiting for us to pick one up.

E.       We seem to want a life without sacrifice in a realm that is built upon the highest sacrifice.

Conclusion

I.        What kind of world would it be if we just had the courage to put into practice what Jesus taught?

II.       We run around frantically piecing together our lives, trying to build homes and buy possessions.

III.      This morning we offer you a cross.

A.       We are not offering you a life of ease, or a church that is perfect with all the solutions to your problems.

B.       We can’t guarantee you success on your job.

C.      We can’t promise that your marriage won’t fail.

D.      We can’t promise that you’ll stop having problems at home.

E.       All we really have to offer is Jesus Christ and his cross.