Embracing True Discipleship: The Call to Self-Denial
Summary
In today's sermon, we explored the profound call to discipleship that Jesus extends to each of us—a call that demands self-denial and the taking up of our cross. This is not a journey for the faint-hearted; it is a pilgrimage that requires the renunciation of self and a commitment to follow Christ in all aspects of life. As we navigate the season of Lent, we are reminded of the gravity of this call and the transformative power it holds.
We began by acknowledging the distractions and temptations that often pull our focus away from God. In this season of self-denial, we become acutely aware of our weaknesses. Yet, we are covered by God's grace, which is as sure as the sunrise. We are called to wade through our temptations with the strength and hope that come from God's promise of deliverance.
The scripture passage from Mark 8:31-38 served as the foundation for our reflection. It is a stark reminder that to follow Jesus means to die to ourselves—to crucify the self. The Apostle Paul understood this when he said, "I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me." Taking up our cross means reaching a point of self-denial, where we are emptied of selfish ambition and focus solely on the welfare of others, just as Jesus did.
However, we live in a world where cultural appropriation and hypocrisy are rampant. Non-believers and even believers sometimes wear the image of the cross without understanding its true meaning. Jesus taught that what comes out of our mouths proceeds from the heart, and it is the heart that defines who we are. We must transcend the phoniness of this age and strive for a life that is authentically aligned with the teachings of Jesus.
Being a disciple of Jesus is not about self-advancement or self-aggrandizement. It is about the dismemberment of the self. We must be wary of the pretending problem within our culture and even within the church. True discipleship involves self-denial and cross-bearing, and it is not something that can be faked or appropriated without genuine commitment.
As we consider the call to discipleship, we must ask ourselves what kind of disciple we will be. Lent is a time for self-assessment and growth. It is a time to drop the pretense and strive to live as faithfully as possible. Being a disciple is a journey with Jesus, one that involves both death and denial.
Key Takeaways:
- True discipleship requires a profound level of self-denial, where we are called to die to ourselves and live for Christ. This self-denial is not a mere outward show but a deep transformation of the heart, aligning our desires and actions with the will of God. It is a journey that demands our whole being and leads to a life of service and love. [49:33]
- Cultural appropriation within the church is a symptom of a deeper issue—the reluctance to embrace the full implications of following Jesus. We must resist the temptation to reduce our faith to mere symbols or fashion statements and instead commit to living out the radical teachings of Jesus in every aspect of our lives. [42:30]
- Hypocrisy is a challenge that the church must continually confront. As followers of Christ, we are called to live authentically, not hiding behind masks or pretending to be something we are not. Our authenticity as Christians is measured by our actions and the condition of our hearts, not by our words alone. [43:30]
- The call to pick up our cross is not optional for those who wish to follow Jesus. It is a central aspect of our faith that requires us to embrace suffering and sacrifice as part of our spiritual journey. This call challenges us to look beyond our own interests and to serve others with the same love and compassion that Jesus showed. [50:34]
- Lent is an opportune time for self-reflection and reassessment of our discipleship. It invites us to consider the depth of our commitment to Christ and to make the necessary changes to align our lives with His teachings. This season of introspection can lead to spiritual growth and a renewed sense of purpose in our walk with the Lord. [48:32]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Mark 8:31-38: "He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. 'Get behind me, Satan!' he said. 'You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.' Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.'"
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Jesus say is required to be His disciple according to Mark 8:34?
2. How does Jesus respond to Peter when Peter rebukes Him in Mark 8:33?
3. What does Jesus mean when He says, "For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it" (Mark 8:35)?
4. In the sermon, what examples were given to illustrate cultural appropriation within the church? ([33:00])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Jesus emphasize self-denial and taking up one's cross as essential to discipleship? How does this contrast with cultural norms? ([36:00])
2. How does the concept of "dying to oneself" align with the Apostle Paul's statement in Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me"? ([49:00])
3. What are the dangers of cultural appropriation and hypocrisy within the church, as discussed in the sermon? How do these issues affect the authenticity of one's faith? ([33:00])
4. How does the season of Lent provide an opportunity for self-reflection and reassessment of one's discipleship journey? ([48:32])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you struggled with self-denial. What steps can you take to better align your actions with Jesus' call to take up your cross? ([36:00])
2. Identify a specific area in your life where you might be tempted to "pretend" or put on a facade. How can you work towards greater authenticity in your faith? ([33:00])
3. During this season of Lent, what specific distractions or temptations are pulling your focus away from God? How can you address these distractions to strengthen your commitment to Christ? ([22:30])
4. Consider the ways in which you might have reduced your faith to mere symbols or outward appearances. What practical steps can you take to live out the radical teachings of Jesus more fully? ([42:30])
5. How can you engage in self-assessment and growth during Lent to deepen your discipleship? What changes do you need to make to align your life more closely with Jesus' teachings? ([48:32])
6. Think of a person or group in your life that you have judged or condemned. How can you shift your focus from judgment to service and love, following Jesus' example? ([40:00])
7. What specific actions can you take this week to serve others with the same love and compassion that Jesus showed? How can you make this a regular part of your spiritual journey? ([50:34])
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Self-Denial in Discipleship
True discipleship is not a superficial commitment but a profound surrender of the self to live for Christ. This level of self-denial is not about putting on a show of piety or making grand gestures. Instead, it is a deep, inward transformation that aligns one's desires and actions with the will of God. It is a journey that demands the whole being, leading to a life of service and love. This transformation is not instantaneous; it is a continuous process of becoming less so that Christ may become more within us. It requires daily choices that prioritize God's will over personal desires, and it manifests in acts of love, service, and sacrifice for others. [49:33]
"For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." - Matthew 16:25 ESV
Reflection: In what ways are you holding onto your life that might be preventing you from fully embracing the life Christ has for you? How can you practice letting go today?
Day 2: Resisting Cultural Appropriation of Faith
The appropriation of Christian symbols and language without understanding or commitment undermines the essence of faith. This symptom of a deeper issue—the reluctance to embrace the full implications of following Jesus—calls for a resistance to reducing faith to mere symbols or fashion statements. Instead, there is a need for a genuine commitment to living out the radical teachings of Jesus in every aspect of life. This commitment goes beyond attending services or wearing crosses; it involves engaging with the world in a way that reflects the transformative power of the gospel in one's life. [42:30]
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." - Romans 12:2 ESV
Reflection: What are some ways you might be conforming to the world's appropriation of Christian symbols or language? How can you more authentically live out your faith in daily actions?
Day 3: Authenticity Over Hypocrisy
The challenge of hypocrisy is not to be taken lightly within the church. As followers of Christ, living authentically means our actions and the condition of our hearts should reflect our faith, not just our words. Authenticity requires honesty with oneself and with others, acknowledging our flaws and striving for continuous growth. It is about removing the masks we wear and being genuine in our walk with God, which in turn, becomes evident in how we treat others and engage with the world around us. [43:30]
"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." - James 1:22 ESV
Reflection: Consider a recent situation where you may have worn a 'mask' to appear more spiritual or faithful than you felt. What steps can you take to be more authentic in your faith journey?
Day 4: The Necessity of Cross-Bearing
Picking up our cross is a central aspect of our faith that cannot be ignored. It involves embracing suffering and sacrifice as part of our spiritual journey. This call to cross-bearing challenges us to look beyond our own interests and to serve others with the same love and compassion that Jesus showed. It is a reminder that our comfort is not the goal of our faith, but rather, our transformation and the well-being of others are paramount. [50:34]
"Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus." - 2 Timothy 2:3 ESV
Reflection: What are some comforts or conveniences you might be clinging to that hinder your ability to bear your cross and follow Jesus? How can you begin to let go of these?
Day 5: Lent as a Time for Self-Reflection
Lent is an opportune time for self-reflection and reassessment of our discipleship. It invites us to consider the depth of our commitment to Christ and to make the necessary changes to align our lives with His teachings. This season of introspection can lead to spiritual growth and a renewed sense of purpose in our walk with the Lord. It is a time to drop the pretense and strive to live as faithfully as possible, examining areas of our lives that need transformation and seeking God's guidance for change. [48:32]
"Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!" - Psalm 139:23 ESV
Reflection: What is one area of your life that you have not fully surrendered to God? How can you use this season of Lent to begin addressing this area with honesty and a willingness to change?
Quotes
- "We ought rather transcend the rampant phoniness of this age and strive for a life that is authentically true to the teachings of Jesus Christ." [45:02] (Download | )
- "It's not about our preference. It's about our death. Jesus gives us two choices: Death and denial. And denial ain't a river in Africa." [47:02] (Download | )
- "It's not about self advancement, self enhancement, or self aggrandization, or even getting that free pass to heaven. It's not about us. It's about the dismemberment of the self." [47:02] (Download | )
- "When we take up our cross, we've reached that destination where we're ready for self-denial, or the death of the self, where we are ready to be emptied of our selfish ambition and look solely on the welfare of the other." [50:04] (Download | )
- "We are empowered to forgive and to love, to be kind, and to turn away anger with gentleness, to look out for the interests of others just as Jesus did. Just as Jesus does." [50:34] (Download | )
- "When Jesus asks us to deny ourselves, He's talking about self abandonment. And this is tough because not many of us are really up for that." [47:32] (Download | )
- "Lent can be a time for you to, a calling for this self-assessment or reassessment. What kind of disciple are you going to be?" [48:32] (Download | )
- "Can we just drop the pretense and get rid of the pretense and be honest with ourselves and with our God and strive just strive to live as faithfully as possible in any given moment?" [48:32] (Download | )
- "Being a disciple, my friends, is a journey. It's a pilgrimage with Jesus. But what about that whole thing, you know, death and denial, what about death?" [49:04] (Download | )
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