A Call To Discipleship | Sunday Service | 10.04.2026

Luke 9 shows Jesus sending His disciples out with power and authority over devils and sickness, telling them to preach the kingdom of God wherever they go. Jesus also shows that some people will receive the Word and some people will say, “Leave me alone. I don’t need Jesus.” The call is not to fight with people who reject Christ, but to move on, pray for them, and keep on trucking.

Jesus takes His disciples to a secluded place because they are tired and need strength. The desert place becomes a picture of getting alone with God, away from all the noise, so that hearts can hear Him clearly. God wants to fill the reservoir again. Jesus does not only call people to work for Him. Jesus calls people to spend time with Him.

Jesus feeds the multitude with two fish and five loaves because what looks small becomes enough in His hands. Jesus prays before the food is multiplied, and the miracle leaves twelve baskets of leftovers. Prayer at the table matters because food, family, and daily provision belong under the blessing of God.

Peter’s confession names Jesus as the Son of God, the Savior, the living bread, and the reason to live. Christ changes lives, but that change can be a long process. Jesus takes away the old French, the lying, the anger, the reckless ways, and the things that once controlled a person. Jesus does not always change everything overnight, but He keeps changing a surrendered life.

Luke 9:23 gives the challenge plainly: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Coming after Jesus means seeking Him, spending time with Him, talking to Him, and making Him number one. Denying self means saying no even to things that pull hard on the flesh, whether it is a Pepsi, food during a fast, comfort, sleep, or another desire that tries to take God’s place.

The cross was not a pretty symbol in the Roman world. The cross meant suffering, torture, persecution, and death. Following Jesus can be difficult when finances are hard, families struggle, or hardships come, but Christ gives strength to carry what must be carried. Jesus calls His people to follow His teachings through faithfulness, kindness, love, prayer, fasting, the Word of God, and full surrender. Jesus is still knocking at the door of hearts, calling people to get right with God before it is too late.

##

---

Key Takeaways

• 1. Get alone with God regularly [07:46] Jesus went to a secluded place with His disciples because ministry had left them tired. The quiet place is not escaping responsibility. The quiet place is where God fills the reservoir and clears out the noise. A life that never gets alone with God can stay busy for Jesus while becoming empty inside. [07:46]
• 2. Small things become enough in Jesus’ hands [10:24] Jesus did not reject the two fish and five loaves because they looked too small. Jesus prayed over what was available, and provision came with leftovers. Faith does not wait until resources look impressive. Faith brings the little thing to Christ and trusts Him to do what only He can do. [10:24]
• 3. Jesus changes people through a process [13:54] Christ takes away old language, anger, lies, and reckless living, but some changes take time. A surrendered life should not make peace with sin, yet it should not lose heart when growth is slow. Jesus keeps working on the things that once had a grip on the heart. [13:54]
• 4. Denying self makes Jesus number one [20:53] Denying self is not just refusing something evil. Denying self means refusing to let appetites, comfort, cravings, or personal plans run the life. Every small surrender trains the heart to say that Jesus is greater than whatever is pulling it toward the refrigerator, the couch, or the old way. [20:53]
• 5. The cross includes hardship and obedience [23:28] The cross meant real suffering in the first century, not a light burden or a decoration. Following Jesus can bring hard seasons, family pressure, financial trouble, and costly obedience. Christ does not promise an easy road, but He gives strength for the road and remains faithful through the fire.
  
  ## [23:28]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:43] - Jesus Sends Out the Disciples
• [03:36] - Herod Hears About Jesus
• [07:16] - The Secluded Place and Quiet With God
• [08:37] - Jesus Feeds the Multitude
• [11:43] - Praying Over Food and Family
• [12:53] - Peter Confesses Christ
• [15:55] - The Challenge of Luke 9:23
• [18:08] - Going After Jesus in Surrender
• [20:24] - Deny Yourself
• [23:03] - Take Up Your Cross
• [26:33] - Follow the Teachings of Jesus
• [28:24] - Call to Rededication and the Altar

Bible Reading

Luke 9:23
“And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” [15:55]

Luke 9:10-17
“On their return the apostles told him all that they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida. When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing. Now the day began to wear away, and the twelve came and said to him, 'Send the crowd away to go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find lodging and get provisions, for we are here in a desolate place.' But he said to them, 'You give them something to eat.' They said, 'We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.' For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, 'Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.' And they did so, and had them all sit down. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing over them. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. And they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.” [07:16]

Luke 9:1-6
“And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. And he said to them, 'Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.' And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.” [01:43]

Observation questions

1. In Luke 9:1-6, what were the disciples sent out to do, and how were they told to respond when a town would not receive them? [02:06]
2. In Luke 9:10-17, what need did the crowd have, what resources were available, and what happened after Jesus prayed over them? [10:24]
3. What reasons were given for Jesus and the disciples going to a secluded or desert place? [07:16]
4. What three parts of following Jesus are named in Luke 9:23? [16:24]

Interpretation questions

1. Why might Jesus send His disciples out with both power and authority, while also telling them not to keep arguing with people who reject the message? What does this show about both boldness and humility in sharing Christ? [03:11]
2. The disciples saw only a small amount of food, but Jesus began with what was available. What does this reveal about how God meets needs that seem too big for people to handle? [10:52]
3. Why is time alone with God necessary for people who are busy serving, working, caring for family, or facing pressure? What might happen when a person keeps giving out but never lets God refill the reservoir? [08:05]
4. In the first-century Roman world, the cross meant suffering and death, not comfort or decoration. How does that background help explain why Jesus connects following Him with denying self and carrying a cross? [23:15]

Application questions

1. What noise has been making it hard for you to hear God clearly lately—your phone, schedule, worries, entertainment, or something else? What would a real “secluded place” with God look like for you this week? [08:05]
2. Is there a need in your life, home, or family that feels bigger than what you have available? What is the “two fish and five loaves” you can place in Jesus’ hands instead of waiting until you have more? [10:24]
3. How could praying over a meal become more than a quick habit? Is there a meal this week where you could gather family, friends, or roommates and thank God for His provision? [11:43]
4. When someone rejects a conversation about Jesus or pushes back against your faith, how do you usually respond inside? What would it look like to leave the argument behind, keep loving them, and pray for them? [03:16]
5. What is one appetite, comfort, habit, or personal plan that may be trying to take first place in your life? What small act of denying yourself could help Jesus become number one again? [20:53]
6. Where do you see Jesus changing you slowly—perhaps in words, anger, honesty, relationships, or another old pattern? How can you keep surrendering that area to Him without giving up when growth takes time? [13:48]
7. What hardship are you carrying right now in finances, family, health, or another area? How can the group support you as you ask Christ for strength to stay faithful through that hard season? [23:40]