Boldly Identifying with Christ in a Hostile World

 

Summary

The question, “Are you ashamed of Jesus?” is not just a theoretical one, but a deeply personal and practical challenge for every believer. It’s easy to claim allegiance to Christ within the safety of the church, but the real test comes in the everyday moments—at the grocery store, at work, among friends and family—when the opportunity arises to speak of Jesus, and fear or embarrassment tempts us to remain silent. The reasons for this shame are many: fear of rejection, ridicule, loss of opportunities, or simply the desire to fit in with a world that is hostile to Christ. Yet, Jesus’ words in Mark 8:38 are sobering: “For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Standing before the King of Glory, the question will not be how often we attended church, but whether we were willing to be identified with Him in a world that despises Him. The call to follow Jesus is radical: deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him. This is not a call to shallow, crowd-pleasing discipleship, but to a life that is willing to lose everything for Christ’s sake. The free gift of salvation cost Jesus everything, and it calls us to surrender our lives in return.

It’s important to distinguish between momentary failure and a lifestyle of denial. Peter’s denial of Jesus was a moment of weakness, met with deep repentance and ultimately restoration by Christ. In contrast, the warning in Mark 8:38 is directed at those whose lives are marked by ongoing shame and refusal to publicly identify with Jesus. This is not about a single lapse, but a settled rejection that reveals the true state of the heart.

Our actions matter. The world is watching, and our witness is either strengthened or undermined by how we live and speak. When we fail, repentance and humility can restore our testimony, but persistent denial is a sign of a heart aligned with the world, not with Christ. The challenge is to live boldly for Jesus, confessing Him before others, knowing that He will confess us before the Father. May we never be ashamed of the One who was not ashamed to die for us.

Key Takeaways

- True allegiance to Jesus is tested outside the church, in the ordinary moments of life. It’s easy to claim faith among believers, but the real measure is whether we speak of Christ when it may cost us—socially, professionally, or relationally. Silence in these moments often reveals a deeper struggle with fear or a desire for acceptance by the world. [00:58]

- The warning of Mark 8:38 is not about a single moment of weakness, but about a persistent, unrepentant refusal to identify with Jesus. A lifestyle of ongoing shame and denial is evidence of a heart that has not truly surrendered to Christ. This is a call to examine whether our faith is merely professed or genuinely possessed. [14:41]

- Peter’s denial of Jesus shows that even true believers can fail under pressure, but the difference is in the response. Peter’s bitter weeping and ultimate restoration by Jesus demonstrate that repentance leads to forgiveness and renewed purpose. God’s grace is sufficient for those who turn back to Him, no matter how deeply they have failed. [28:22]

- The world is described as an “adulterous and sinful generation,” and it is precisely in this context that our witness matters most. Our actions and words are observed by unbelievers, and our failures can either be stumbling blocks or opportunities for humility and restoration. The call is to live transparently, acknowledging our failures and seeking to honor Christ in all things. [42:18]

- Spiritual leaders are not immune to failure, and their public falls can deeply wound the faith of others. This reality should humble us and drive us to pray for one another, recognizing that any of us could fall if we do not remain vigilant. Our greatest fear should be to spend years standing for Christ, only to deny Him by our actions in a moment of weakness. [46:18]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:18] - Are You Ashamed of Jesus?
[01:33] - Reasons for Shame and Silence
[04:34] - Turning to Mark 8:38
[05:18] - The Sobering Warning of Jesus
[08:12] - The Radical Call to Discipleship
[10:23] - The Cost and Gift of Salvation
[11:44] - Will You Stand with Jesus Now?
[14:41] - Ongoing Shame vs. Momentary Failure
[17:07] - The Universal Challenge: Believer and Unbeliever
[20:35] - What Does It Mean to Be Ashamed?
[22:03] - Jesus’ Warnings in Other Gospels
[26:55] - Peter’s Denial: A Case Study
[32:48] - Peter’s Restoration by Jesus
[37:00] - The Heart Behind Denial
[41:57] - Where Shame Takes Place
[46:18] - The Impact of Public Failure
[48:31] - A Prayer for Faithfulness
[49:17] - Preparing for the Lord’s Supper

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Are You Ashamed of Jesus?

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### Bible Reading

- Mark 8:34-38
*34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”*

- Matthew 26:69-75 (Peter’s Denial)

- John 21:15-19 (Peter’s Restoration)

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### Observation Questions

1. In Mark 8:34-38, what does Jesus say is required of anyone who wants to follow Him? What does it mean to “deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me”?
2. According to Mark 8:38, what is the consequence for being ashamed of Jesus and His words in this generation?
3. In Matthew 26:69-75, how many times did Peter deny Jesus, and what was his reaction after realizing what he had done?
4. In John 21:15-19, how does Jesus restore Peter after his denial? What does Jesus ask Peter, and how does Peter respond?

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### Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus connects being ashamed of Him with being disowned by Him when He returns in glory? What does this reveal about the seriousness of public allegiance to Christ? ([05:18])
2. The sermon distinguishes between a momentary failure (like Peter’s denial) and a lifestyle of ongoing denial. Why is this distinction important for understanding Mark 8:38? ([14:41])
3. What does Peter’s story teach us about repentance and restoration after failing to stand for Jesus? How does God’s grace play a role in this process? ([28:22])
4. The sermon mentions that our actions and words are observed by unbelievers. How does this reality affect the way we live out our faith in daily life? ([42:18])

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### Application Questions

1. The sermon says it’s easy to claim allegiance to Jesus at church, but the real test comes in everyday moments—at work, at the store, with friends and family. Can you recall a recent situation where you felt tempted to stay silent about your faith? What held you back? ([00:58])
2. Fear of rejection, ridicule, or loss of opportunities are common reasons for being ashamed of Jesus. Which of these do you struggle with most, and how does it affect your willingness to speak about Christ? ([01:33])
3. The warning in Mark 8:38 is directed at those whose lives are marked by ongoing shame and refusal to identify with Jesus. How can you examine your own life to see if your faith is merely professed or genuinely possessed? ([14:41])
4. When you have failed to stand for Jesus, what has your response been? Have you experienced repentance and restoration like Peter, or have you struggled with ongoing guilt or shame? ([28:22])
5. The world is described as an “adulterous and sinful generation.” How does this description help you understand the challenge of living boldly for Christ today? What specific steps can you take to be a faithful witness in your context? ([42:18])
6. The sermon shared examples of spiritual leaders who fell publicly and the impact it had on others. How can we pray for and support one another to remain faithful, and what safeguards can you put in place to avoid a similar fall? ([46:18])
7. Jesus was not ashamed to die for us. What is one practical way you can show this week that you are not ashamed of Him—whether through words, actions, or decisions? ([26:39])

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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Ask God for courage to stand for Jesus in everyday situations, for a heart of repentance when you fail, and for the strength to live boldly and transparently for Christ in a world that often rejects Him.

Devotional

Day 1: The Cost of Being Ashamed of Jesus
To be ashamed of Jesus is not merely a fleeting feeling of embarrassment, but a serious, ongoing refusal to publicly identify with Him and His words. This shame is rooted in fear—fear of rejection, ridicule, or loss of status—and ultimately reflects a heart that is more aligned with the world than with Christ. Jesus warns that those who are ashamed of Him in this sinful generation will find Him ashamed of them when He returns in glory. This is a sobering call to examine whether your life and actions truly confess Christ, or if silence and compromise have become your pattern. [05:18]

Mark 8:38 (ESV)
“For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Reflection: In what situations do you find yourself tempted to hide your faith in Jesus, and what would it look like to boldly identify with Him the next time you face that temptation?


Day 2: The Call to Deny Yourself and Follow Christ
Following Jesus is not a matter of mere words or shallow discipleship; it is a radical call to deny yourself, take up your cross, and lose your life for His sake. This means forsaking worldly gain and self-interest, surrendering control, and allowing the Holy Spirit to empower you to live for Christ. The true disciple is marked by a willingness to stand with Jesus now, even if it means loss or suffering, trusting that what is gained in Him far outweighs anything the world can offer. [09:30]

Mark 8:34-37 (ESV)
“And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul?’”

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to surrender control to Jesus today, and how can you take a concrete step of obedience in that area?


Day 3: Confessing Christ Before Others
Jesus makes it clear that confessing Him before others is essential; public allegiance to Christ is not optional for the believer. To deny Him before men is to be denied before the Father, but to confess Him is to be acknowledged by Christ in glory. This confession is not just with words, but with a life that consistently points to Jesus, even when it is costly or unpopular. The assurance of being confessed by Christ before the Father should embolden you to speak and live for Him without fear. [22:19]

Matthew 10:32-33 (ESV)
“So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”

Reflection: Who is one person you can intentionally share your faith with this week, trusting Jesus to give you the courage and words?


Day 4: The Difference Between Momentary Failure and Persistent Denial
There is a crucial distinction between a momentary failure, like Peter’s denial, and a persistent, unrepentant rejection of Christ. Peter’s denial was brief and followed by deep remorse and repentance, leading to restoration by Jesus. In contrast, ongoing shame and denial of Christ reflect a hardened heart and result in being disowned by Him. If you have failed in the past, remember that repentance and restoration are possible; what matters is the direction of your heart and your willingness to return to Jesus. [31:13]

John 21:15-17 (ESV)
“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ He said to him a second time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.’”

Reflection: Is there a past failure or denial of Christ that you need to bring to Him in repentance today, trusting Him for forgiveness and restoration?


Day 5: Living Unashamed in a Watching World
Your witness for Christ is not only in your words but also in your actions, especially when you fail and how you respond afterward. The world is watching to see if your life matches your profession of faith, and your humility in repentance can be as powerful a testimony as your boldness in confession. Even when you stumble, do not let shame silence you; instead, let your response point others to the grace and truth of Jesus, who restores the repentant and empowers His people to stand firm. [45:29]

Romans 8:13-14 (ESV)
“For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”

Reflection: When you fall short in your witness, how can you humbly make things right and use even your failures to point others to Christ’s grace?

Quotes

Are you afraid of them rejecting you? It's not so much that they reject Christ, but they reject you and maybe even ridicule you because of it. And what type of shame are we talking about here? Because it's obviously several types or I should say several reasons. Are we talking about fear of rejection? [00:01:43]
Sometimes the reason why many are not persecuted for their faith in Jesus because they just don't say anything about Jesus. So does it bring about any type of persecution? Well, as you can see by my questions and see by the title on the screen behind me that I just changed that our topic this morning is about being ashamed of Christ. [00:03:55]
For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the son of man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his father with his holy angels. Take a moment and just kind of look at that and let that sink in. [00:05:23]
Those are words that should haunt you. And I say that only by the previous questions I asked. If you never talk about Jesus to people, you're never persecuted because you talk don't talk about Jesus. What would he say in this verse? This is one of the most sobering warnings in all of scripture. [00:07:24]
If anyone wishes to come after me," that is a statement and a call to salvation. If you wish to be saved, if you wish to follow Jesus, you must deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it. [00:09:25]
You have the power and ability to do this if you truly are saved. You have the Holy Spirit who is making you holy, who is empowering you to put to death the deeds of the body according to Romans chapter 8. And all you have to do is surrender to him. [00:12:26]
And the only way I knew to keep from being tempted with it is just to eradicate myself from it. So, will you stand with Jesus now so that you're not disowned by him later? [00:14:23]
This verse is not about a momentary failure. It's about an ongoing shame, a life that refuses to publicly identify with Jesus Christ. And it's really especially relevant in our day and age when truth is mocked and silence about Jesus is actually easier than standing for him. [00:14:41]
This is a test of your profession. It's also a test of your claim of possessing Jesus. It goes beyond your words. It focuses on your actions. It's like James saying, "You say you have faith. Show it to me. Let me see your faith." The only way you're going to see faith is see it in works. [00:18:51]
The phrase ashamed of me when we talk about the word ashamed it it means to feel shame. It means to feel embarrassment. It means to be unwilling to associate with Jesus. And in this context it's implying disowning Jesus. It's implying rejecting his identity and his teaching and his mission. [00:20:45]
To be ashamed is to reject Jesus. Now, this is not the only time Jesus gives this kind of statement. And over in John 12:48, he says, "He who rejects me and does not receive my sayings has one who judges him. The word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day." [00:21:50]
Whoever denies the son does not have the father. The one who confesses the son has the father also. You see how important this is? And like I said, if this describes you, you're not saved. You're not a Christian. Doesn't matter your claim. [00:23:48]
But in Mark 8:38, that denial there, that being ashamed is because you're embarrassed. It's prideful. It's allegiance to a sinful world rather than to Christ. And let's think about even the duration, how long this lasted, because in the account we just read about Peter, it only happened within hours. [00:30:41]
So we would say in the account with Peter that was a temporal denial and that may be really what you've done. And maybe you've done it more than once. And your denial might not be I do not know the man like Peter said, but it may be just silence. [00:38:28]
If you proclaim to anybody that you're a Christian, they're going to watch you. They're going to see how you act. And when you mess up, they're really going to watch you. What are you going to do when you mess up? [00:45:00]
And it turned out for five years he had had a a sensual relationship with a college student. Five years that shattered me. I mean, not to the point where I want to run away from the faith, but it it just really really discouraged me. [00:46:41]

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