Take Up Your Cross And Follow Me
This week we are looking at what it means to truly come and follow Jesus. The call to be a disciple is a call to die to yourself and live for Jesus. This is not deny yourself for 40 days or giving up chocolate. This is a daily call to put Christ first in your life. This week, let us pray that we as a church would put God above ourselves and we would all be transformed into the likeness of Jesus because of that.
Monday – Luke 6:40
Today’s verse comes from a conversation that Jesus had with his disciples. While talking about judging others, Jesus explains to them what it means to be a disciple. Every Christian is a disciple, plain and simple. When we begin to understand that and our identity in Christ, it will change the way that we live our lives. The goal is not behavioral modification, the goal is Christlikeness.
Questions To Consider:
- Where should a disciple be in relation to his or her teacher?
- Do you put yourself above Jesus? Why is this not a good thing?
- What is the action that a disciple is doing?
- What happens when a disciple is trained?
- Do you look more or less like Jesus than you did a year ago?
- What are some things that stop us from progressing spiritually?
- How can this verse help us reorient our lives back to a trajectory of Christlikeness?
Prayer Prompts:
- Pray that Salem as a church would allow Jesus to be over every ministry.
- Pray that you as an individual would submit to his Lordship in your life.
- Pray that Jesus would continue to change by the power of the Holy Spirit.
- Pray that you would begin to look like Jesus not only in your heart and mind, but your actions as well.
Tuesday – 2 Corinthians 3:16-18
Today’s verse come from a passage which talks about disciples of Jesus being ministers of the new covenant. No longer do people have a veil over their faces when it comes to God. Nothing separates them because of Jesus. Now that the veil is gone, we can pursue after Jesus with all of our hearts.
Questions To Consider:
- What should our eyes be focused on?
- Why is it so important to focus on the glory of the Lord?
- What happens when we see how beautiful Jesus is and pursue after him?
- Are we all on the same journey? Are we all at the same part of the path?
- How can you help others move from one degree of glory to another? Are you doing that? Who are the people in your life that you need to start help follow Jesus?
- Where does this all come from? Where is our boasting?
Prayer Prompts:
- Pray that we would behold the glory of God and chase after it.
- Pray that you truly understand the value and worth of Jesus.
- Pray for those that are on the same spiritual journey of being transformed into the image of the Son.
- Pray for God to reveal to you those that you can encourage in the faith.
- Pray that you would yield to the Spirit at work in your life.
Wednesday – Matthew 16:24-26
In today’s passage, Jesus explains to his disciples what it will cost them if they are to truly follow him. Peter has just made the Good Confession of Jesus being the Messiah and Jesus begins to tell them what he is about to go through on the cross. Peter doesn’t like that at all and tells Jesus that will never happen. Can you believe that? Someone telling God what is or isn’t going to happen! We probably do that all of the time. Jesus rebukes Peter and then explains to them that it is required of anyone who is going to be his disciple. Death to self and live for Christ.
Questions To Consider:
- What are the three things that Jesus requires of those who would come after him?
- What are the areas of your life where you are not denying self, but Jesus?
- Where are the places you are afraid to follow Jesus?
- Read 1 John 4:8 and 4:18. How can these verses help you go where you are called?
- How do you save your life? Does your day to day life reflect that you are saving or losing your life?
- What good are the things of this world? What about eternal things? Where do you spend more of your time and energy focusing?
- What changes do you need to make in your life because of these verses?
Prayer Prompts:
- Pray that God would reveal the areas where you are denying him.
- Pray that you would be willing to take the cross to the places that you live and work every day.
- Pray that you would allow God’s perfect love to cast out all fear.
- Pray that your heart would not be overtaken by the things of this world and the culture around you.
Thursday – Philippians 2:5-11
Today’s passage is the beautiful hymn of Christ. This is quite possibly one of the earliest Christian writings that we have. Many believe it is a creed or hymn of the early church recited or sung during worship services. What a statement of faith it is. It tells of the incredible act of humility that gave us life – and the incredible life that we are to emulate in Christ.
Questions To Consider:
- How should we live in regards to other believers?
- Who is the example of that? What did he do?
- What was Jesus willing to give up for us to have life?
- What should we be willing to give up for others to know the life they have in Christ?
- What was the result of Christ humbling himself?
- What happens when we do that?
- What happens in verse 11? What are you doing to make sure that comes to fruition?
Prayer Prompts:
- Pray that we will consider others more important than ourselves.
- Pray that we will see others the way that Christ sees them.
- Pray for the people that you can share the gospel with because all of creation is moving towards acknowledging Christ as Lord.
Friday –