Pastor Dale: "Take Up Your Cross" (May 30th, 2010)

Pastor Dale delivered today's sermon, the theme of which was "Take Up Your Cross"

scripture

"Take Up Your Cross" doesn't fit with prosperity gospel. Many mistakenly assume that since Jesus suffered for us, we don't need to suffer. Why is this wrong?

Matthew 10:38-39
He who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

POINT: Everyone has his own "cross"
In the world, there are many things that you lose if you pursue them.

If you live for yourself, you lose your life. If you want love, you should learn to love. Analogy: priming the pump (put water in to get water out).

Matthew 16:24-25
If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Paul's example
Philippians 3:7-9
 7But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.

2Cor 5:4
The love of God compels me ...
[= that love compels me to do what I'm doing]
4For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

2Cor:11:23-30
[Paul boasts about his suffering]

Mark 8:34
If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

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Transformation
What Christ did FOR you --> What C. is doing THROUGH you

Did we die to sin? Did we die to the things of the world?

The outworking of the life of C. is sth that happens DAILY, not sth that happens ONCE

WW II analogy: The UK and US had to pay a price (lives lost) so that others could enjoy the blessings of freedom.

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Mark 10:20-21
Teacher, all these I have kept since I was a boy. J. looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack. Go, sell everything you have  and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, and follow me.

Luke 9:23-25

23Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. 25What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?

Luke 14:27
And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. [STRONGEST FORM of the message]

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