Living a Crucified Life: Embracing True Discipleship

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing the Crucified Life

The call to discipleship is a profound invitation to live a crucified life, where personal desires are set aside to follow Christ wholeheartedly. This journey requires a daily commitment to deny oneself and embrace the purposes of God. It is not about seeking personal comfort or recognition but about living a life that mirrors the sacrificial love of Jesus. By choosing to live for Christ, believers find true fulfillment and purpose, as their lives become a testament to the transformative power of the cross. [37:48]

Galatians 5:24-25 (ESV): "And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit."

Reflection: What is one specific desire or habit you need to crucify today to better align your life with Christ's purposes?

Day 2: The Church as a Community of Service

The local church is not merely a building or a weekly gathering; it is the living body of Christ, where believers come together to serve selflessly and grow in faith. This community plays a vital role in the discipleship journey, providing opportunities to learn from others and to give of oneself for the sake of the gospel. Commitment to the church reflects one's commitment to Christ, as it requires setting aside personal preferences for the greater good of God's kingdom. Through active participation in the church, believers experience the joy of serving and the strength of communal faith. [36:25]

1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV): "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ."

Reflection: How can you use your unique gifts to serve your church community this week?

Day 3: Taking Ownership of Your Faith Journey

Personal ownership in the discipleship journey is crucial for spiritual growth. Believers are called to take responsibility for their faith, not relying on others to dictate their spiritual path. This involves living by faith and trusting in the power of the resurrected Christ to guide and sustain them. By actively engaging in their spiritual development, believers can remain true to the gospel and avoid distorting the message of Christ. This ownership empowers them to navigate challenges and grow in their relationship with God. [50:24]

Colossians 2:6-7 (ESV): "Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving."

Reflection: What is one step you can take today to deepen your personal relationship with Christ and take ownership of your faith journey?

Day 4: The Transformative Power of the Cross

The cross is not just a symbol of suffering but a source of power and transformation. It is through the cross that believers find the strength to serve, to love, and to live a life that honors God. The journey of faith is not a one-time decision but a daily commitment to live in the light of Christ's sacrifice. By embracing the power of the cross, believers are empowered to overcome challenges and to live a life that reflects the love and grace of Jesus. [54:35]

1 Corinthians 1:18 (ESV): "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."

Reflection: How can you draw strength from the cross today to face a specific challenge in your life?

Day 5: Living for the Glory of God

Believers are reminded that their lives are not their own; they belong to Christ. This means that everything they do should be for the glory of God and the service of others. By living by faith and trusting in God's provision and guidance, believers can navigate life's challenges with confidence and purpose. This call to live for God's glory is a daily commitment, requiring believers to continually align their actions and decisions with the teachings of Christ. [55:53]

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (ESV): "For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised."

Reflection: In what specific ways can you live for the glory of God today, especially in your interactions with others?

Sermon Summary

In today's reflection, we delve into the profound call of discipleship as articulated in Galatians 2:20. This passage challenges us to embrace a crucified life, a life where we no longer live for ourselves but for Christ who lives within us. The essence of this call is to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Jesus, recognizing that our lives are not our own but are meant to serve God and others. This journey of faith is not about achieving personal comfort or accolades but about living a life that reflects the sacrificial love of Christ.

The local church plays a pivotal role in this journey. It is a community where we learn to serve selflessly, inspired by the examples of those who give their time, talents, and treasures for the sake of the gospel. The church is not just a building or a gathering; it is the living body of Christ, called to carry out the Great Commission. Our commitment to the church is a reflection of our commitment to Christ, and it requires us to put aside our preferences and desires for the greater good of God's kingdom.

Paul's letter to the Galatians serves as a reminder of the importance of staying true to the gospel. He warns against distorting the message of Christ and emphasizes the need for personal ownership in our discipleship journey. This ownership means that we must take responsibility for our spiritual growth and not rely on others to dictate our faith journey. It is a call to live by faith, trusting in the power of the resurrected Christ to guide and sustain us.

As we navigate the challenges of denying ourselves and living a crucified life, we are reminded that our strength comes from the cross. The cross is not just a symbol of suffering but a source of power and transformation. It is through the cross that we find the strength to serve, to love, and to live a life that honors God. Our faith is not a one-time decision but a daily commitment to live in the light of Christ's sacrifice.

Key Takeaways

1. The call to discipleship is a call to live a crucified life, where we deny ourselves and follow Christ. This requires a daily commitment to put aside our desires and live for God's purposes. [37:48]
2. The local church is a vital part of our discipleship journey. It is a community where we learn to serve selflessly and grow in our faith. Our commitment to the church reflects our commitment to Christ. [36:25]
3. Personal ownership in our discipleship journey is crucial. We must take responsibility for our spiritual growth and not rely on others to dictate our faith journey. This involves living by faith and trusting in the power of the resurrected Christ. [50:24]
4. The cross is a source of power and transformation. It is through the cross that we find the strength to serve, to love, and to live a life that honors God. Our faith is not a one-time decision but a daily commitment to live in the light of Christ's sacrifice. [54:35]
5. Our lives are not our own; they belong to Christ. This means that everything we do should be for the glory of God and the service of others. We are called to live by faith, trusting in God's provision and guidance. [55:53]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[34:21] - Love for the Church
[36:25] - The Call to Discipleship
[37:48] - The Challenge of Self-Denial
[39:33] - The Power of the Cross
[40:57] - Galatians 2:20 Explained
[42:58] - Context of Galatians
[45:39] - Paul's Confrontation with Peter
[46:55] - The Difficulty of Denying Self
[49:05] - Personal Ownership in Discipleship
[50:24] - The Crucified Life
[51:10] - Serving One Another
[52:31] - The Power of Personal Faith
[54:35] - Living by Faith
[55:53] - Our Lives Belong to Christ
[57:07] - The Call to Live by Faith

Sermon Clips

"I love the church. I do. What I think of, one of the hardest things about being a pastor is that you get to, when God moves you from church to church, you can't be around some of the people that you really want to be around because God has moved you to another group of people to shepherd." [00:33:34] (21 seconds)

"Sometimes this call to discipleship, as we're in our third week of looking at this, come, deny, follow, this could be the hanging point for many of us. I wrote that last week, that there were points that when the teachings of Jesus got harder and harder and harder." [00:36:25] (19 seconds)

"The call is too great. All of us have to deal with this as we follow Jesus. When does the call become too great? When is the place where we say, I've sacrificed enough, I've done enough, I'm tired, I'm tired of denying myself." [00:37:48] (18 seconds)

"My friends, God never called us into retirement. God just redeploys us in the kingdom for what he wants to do. When we come to this place, sometimes we may be very grateful for those people who serve. We may be very grateful for those people who give their time, talents, and treasures." [00:38:07] (21 seconds)

"My friend, the call to walk and follow after Christ will have a cross in it, my friend. Matthew 16. 24, as we've been looking at, anyone who wants to come after me, let him take up his cross, deny himself, and follow after me. The words of Jesus is what it means to come out." [00:39:03] (21 seconds)

"Paul just didn't get up and grit his teeth and look in the mirror and say, Paul, you are loved. Paul, you are powerful. Paul, just look inside yourself and you're going to be able to do it. He didn't self -will his way through an apostle's life. No, he got up every day and said, I am crucified in Christ." [00:53:39] (19 seconds)

"Our basis, our basis is not on what we've done. It is not on what we have seen. Our basis going forward is on the cross of Christ because that's all we need. The power of the resurrected Jesus Christ living in us. That's the crucified life." [00:54:35] (18 seconds)

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