Living the Cross-Shaped Life: True Discipleship

Devotional

Day 1: The Call to Deny Yourself and Follow Jesus

To follow Jesus is to embrace a radical call to self-denial, not merely giving up small comforts but surrendering your own will, desires, and ambitions in order to pursue God’s will above all else. This is not a command for a select few, but an invitation to anyone who would come after Christ, requiring a daily, wholehearted commitment to say “no” to self and “yes” to Jesus. In the everyday moments—whether it’s rising early to seek God, putting aside distractions to love others, or making choices that honor Christ—this call shapes your character and actions, forming you into a cross-shaped person who lives for God’s glory. [34:20]

Mark 8:34 (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.”

Reflection: What is one specific desire or comfort you can surrender today in order to say “yes” to following Jesus more fully?

Day 2: True Freedom Is Found in Surrender to Christ

The world promises freedom through self-expression and autonomy, but Jesus reveals that true freedom is found in denying yourself and entrusting your life to Him. When you follow your own desires, you become enslaved to them, but when you align your will with God’s, you experience the liberating power of living for what is true, good, and beautiful. This paradox means that by dying to self, you are set free to live the life God intended, shaped by the cross and empowered by Christ’s Spirit. [47:52]

John 8:34-36 (ESV)
Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Reflection: In what area of your life do you most feel the pull of self-will, and how might surrendering it to Jesus bring you greater freedom?

Day 3: The Eternal Value of Your Soul

Jesus challenges you to consider the true worth of your soul compared to all the world’s temporary gains, reminding you that nothing is more valuable than your eternal life with God. The pursuit of worldly success or comfort at the expense of your soul leads only to loss, but trusting and following Jesus secures what is truly lasting. This eternal perspective fuels your passion to be a faithful disciple, to love others, and to live on mission, knowing that this life is not all there is. [51:07]

Mark 8:36-37 (ESV)
“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 worldly pursuit or ambition that threatens to distract you from the eternal value of your soul, and how can you reorient your priorities today?

Day 4: Unashamed Discipleship in a Challenging World

Jesus warns that being ashamed of Him and His words in this world leads to eternal loss, but boldly identifying with Christ—even when it’s costly—brings honor in God’s kingdom. In a culture that often opposes or misunderstands the gospel, you are called to speak truth in love, to live with integrity, and to persevere in Christlike character, trusting that your faithfulness matters for eternity. This sobering reality invites you to examine where you might be tempted to stay silent or compromise, and to instead stand firm in your allegiance to Jesus. [52:41]

Romans 1:16 (ESV)
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Reflection: Who is one person with whom you can prayerfully and lovingly share your faith in Jesus this week, even if it feels uncomfortable?

Day 5: Living in Grateful Response to Christ’s Sacrifice

The cross-shaped life is not about earning salvation, but about living in joyful gratitude for what Jesus has already accomplished for you. As you remember Christ’s sacrifice—especially in moments like the Lord’s Supper—you are reminded that His love and grace are the foundation of your new life, and your obedience flows from a heart transformed by His mercy. This gratitude unites you with other believers, shapes your daily choices, and empowers you to persevere in following Jesus together as His people. [59:58]

Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV)
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Reflection: As you remember Christ’s sacrifice, what is one way you can express your gratitude to Him through your actions or words today?

Sermon Summary

True faith is not simply a set of words we recite or a tradition we inherit, but a living trust in the God who created us, redeemed us through Christ, and calls us into a new way of life. The heart of Christian identity is not found in cultural habits or family history, but in being rescued by Jesus to follow Him in the way of the cross. Jesus, in Mark 8, makes it clear that to follow Him is to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and walk in His footsteps—a call that is radical, costly, and yet life-giving.

This call to self-denial is not about minor inconveniences or self-imposed hardships, but about a wholehearted surrender of our will, desires, and ambitions to God. It is a daily, practical choice to say “no” to self-rule and “yes” to God’s will, whether that means rising early to seek Him, being present and loving to those around us, or speaking truth in love even when it is uncomfortable. The cross-shaped life is not reserved for a spiritual elite; it is the invitation to anyone who would follow Jesus. In a culture that preaches self-fulfillment and self-expression as the path to freedom, Jesus offers a paradox: true freedom is found not in serving ourselves, but in dying to ourselves and living for Him.

The foundation of this life is not our own effort, but the finished work of Christ. Jesus bore the ultimate cross—suffering, rejection, and death for our salvation—so that we might be set free from sin and empowered to live for God. Our “little crosses” are not the means of earning salvation, but the grateful response to the grace we have received. The value of our soul far outweighs any temporary gain, and the call to follow Jesus is ultimately a call to life, not loss.

To deny ourselves is to align our will with God’s, as Jesus did in Gethsemane, choosing obedience even when it is costly. This is not a generic call to endure suffering, but a specific call to obey God in the face of temptation, comfort, or cultural pressure. The promise is that in losing our lives for Christ and the gospel, we find true life—now and forever. As we gather at the Lord’s Table, we remember that His cross came first, and our cross-shaped lives are lived in gratitude and joyful fellowship with Him and one another.

Key Takeaways

1. True Faith Is Lived, Not Just Confessed Faith is not merely reciting creeds or participating in religious rituals; it is a living trust in the God who made and redeemed us. The truths we confess must become realities that shape our hearts, character, and actions, moving us beyond words into a life transformed by the gospel. This living faith is what distinguishes a disciple from a mere churchgoer or cultural Christian. [14:55]
2. The Cross-Shaped Life Is for Everyone Jesus’ call to deny ourselves and take up our cross is not reserved for pastors or spiritual “special forces,” but is extended to anyone who would follow Him. Self-denial is not about minor sacrifices, but a radical reorientation of our lives around God’s will, requiring daily choices to put Christ above self. This is the path of true discipleship, open to all who would come after Jesus. [34:20]
3. Self-Denial Is the Heart of Discipleship To follow Jesus means to turn away from self-rule and submit to God’s will, just as Christ did in the garden. Our cross is not generic suffering, but the specific obedience that comes from saying “no” to our desires and “yes” to God, even when it is costly or countercultural. This is the sum of the Christian life: always turning from self to trust and follow Jesus. [45:33]
4. True Freedom Is Found in Surrender, Not Self-Expression The world promises freedom through self-fulfillment, but Jesus teaches that real freedom comes through self-denial and obedience to God. The more we serve our own desires, the more enslaved we become; but in aligning our lives with God’s will, we discover the freedom and joy for which we were created. The paradox of the cross is that dying to self is the way to truly live. [47:52]
5. Eternal Perspective Fuels Faithful Living Jesus reminds us that the value of our soul far surpasses any earthly gain, and that our choices now have eternal consequences. To be ashamed of Christ in this life is to risk His rejection in the next, but to embrace the cross now is to receive a crown in His kingdom. This eternal perspective empowers us to persevere in self-denial, mission, and unashamed witness, knowing that our hope is anchored beyond this world. [52:41]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:55] - Confession of Faith and Apostles’ Creed
[03:30] - Opening Prayer and Worship
[07:45] - Announcements: Baptism and Church Picnic
[14:55] - Prayer: Making Faith Real
[17:08] - Introduction to Mark 8
[27:03] - Peter’s Confession and Jesus’ Teaching
[27:59] - The Cost of Discipleship
[31:02] - Christians Must Be Cross-Shaped
[34:20] - The Radical Call to Self-Denial
[38:20] - The Cross-Shaped Life Flows from Christ’s Cross
[41:36] - What Is Your Cross?
[44:01] - Jesus’ Example in Gethsemane
[47:52] - The Paradox of Freedom
[52:41] - Eternal Perspective and Motivation
[55:40] - Invitation to Faith and Perseverance
[59:58] - The Lord’s Supper: Remembering Christ’s Sacrifice
[63:04] - Closing Worship and Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Mark 8:34-38 (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? 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.”

Observation Questions

According to Jesus in Mark 8:34, what are the three things he says someone must do to follow him?
In verses 35-37, what does Jesus say about the value of a person’s soul compared to gaining the whole world?
The sermon described self-denial as more than just giving up small things. What are some practical examples the pastor gave of what self-denial might look like in daily life? [[35:36]]
What does Jesus warn will happen to those who are ashamed of him and his words? [[52:41]]

Interpretation Questions

The pastor said that “the cross-shaped life is not reserved for a spiritual elite; it is the invitation to anyone who would follow Jesus.” Why do you think Jesus made this call to everyone, not just the disciples or church leaders? [[34:20]]
How does the idea of “denying yourself” challenge the way our culture defines freedom and fulfillment? [[47:52]]
The sermon emphasized that our “little crosses” are not the way we earn salvation, but a response to what Jesus has already done. How does this change the way we think about obedience and sacrifice? [[39:46]]
Jesus’ example in Gethsemane was highlighted as the ultimate act of self-denial. What does his prayer, “not my will, but yours be done,” teach us about aligning our will with God’s? [[44:01]]

Application Questions

The pastor gave examples like getting up early to pray or putting down your phone to be present with others as ways to practice self-denial. What is one small, specific way you could deny yourself this week to say “yes” to God’s will? [[35:36]]
In what area of your life do you find it hardest to say “no” to yourself and “yes” to God? What would it look like to surrender that area to him? [[34:20]]
The sermon said, “True freedom is found not in serving ourselves, but in dying to ourselves and living for Him.” Can you think of a time when putting God or others first actually brought you more joy or freedom than doing what you wanted? [[47:52]]
Jesus warns about being ashamed of him in front of others. Are there situations where you feel tempted to hide your faith? What would it look like to be unashamed of Jesus in those moments? [[52:41]]
The pastor challenged us to make daily choices to deny ourselves and take up our cross. What is one practical step you can take this week to make your faith more than just words or tradition? [[14:55]]
The sermon reminded us that the value of our soul is greater than any temporary gain. Are there things you are tempted to pursue that could distract you from following Jesus? How can you keep an eternal perspective in your decisions? [[51:07]]
As we remember Christ’s sacrifice at the Lord’s Table, how can gratitude for what Jesus has done motivate you to live differently this week? [[59:58]]

Sermon Clips

You cannot follow Jesus and embrace yourself at the same time. You'll either be devoted to Jesus and deny yourself, or you'll be devoted to yourself and deny Jesus. You cannot follow Jesus in your own heart. [00:34:20] (16 seconds) #NoRoomForSelf

The sum of the Christian life is self-denial. I'm always turning away from myself to trust and follow Jesus. Does that summary fit yours? You ask yourself, what sounds more like Jesus? Follow your heart? Look inside yourself? Live your best life now? Or deny yourself as you submit to God's will and God's commands so that you can pursue what is true and good and beautiful and find life everlasting. [00:46:23] (41 seconds) #TrueFreedomInGod

By calling us to die to ourselves, Christ frees us to live. It makes no sense to us. Obey your thirst. No, we are to follow Jesus. We associate freedom with individual autonomy, to be who I am, to do what I wanna do with whoever I wanna do whenever I wanna do it. There's no constraints. We have to shed ourself of all outside constraints. And this understanding of freedom sounds enticing. It might even be fun for a little while. But it's actually a form of slavery, a form of bondage to our own internal desires. [00:47:17] (42 seconds) #EternalValueOverTemporary

True freedom isn't doing whatever you want, whenever you want, with whoever you want. True freedom is about desiring what is true and good and beautiful and then guiding your life in that direction, choosing the right constraints while walking in the freedom secured by Jesus. [00:49:07] (20 seconds) #DenyNowLiveForever

The value of our soul is infinitely greater than any temporary earthly gain. And Jesus is the wise king who asks us to compare our fleeting desires with eternal realities. The truth, the truth of this, of what he's getting at here, the truth of life beyond this life, that this present world is not all there is, but there is a heaven, there is a hell, it clearly shows us the importance of trusting and following Jesus each day in the way of the cross. [00:51:14] (31 seconds) #ChooseCrossNotCrown

If you choose your cross now, if you choose to deny yourself and follow Jesus now, you get a crown then, salvation in his eternal kingdom. But if you choose your crown now, if you choose your best life now, to follow it, to be your own king, you get a cross then. God's judgment on your sin. [00:53:47] (30 seconds) #SavedForTheGospel

For those of you who have not yet put your faith in Christ, your first step is to believe that the cross that Jesus bore, the cross that you see on Jesus' shoulders, was a cross of salvation for you. It was for you. He willingly died to offer you a new heart, to offer you a new life. Your only response is to trust in what Christ has done for you at the cross. Your salvation's not found in your own efforts. It's not found in your own goodness. It's by grace alone through faith in what Jesus has done for you. [00:55:09] (41 seconds) #FreedomInCrossDeath

We're not just saved from something. We are saved for King Jesus, for Christ and the gospel. We are saved to follow Jesus and to live for the gospel. And remember, we don't do this out of our own strength. We persevere in this life of self-denial by the same grace that saved us. [00:56:09] (19 seconds) #CrossRemembranceMeal

``Let us gladly take up our cross. Knowing that in dying to ourselves, we are truly set free as we follow our king who was crucified for us and who is coming back in glory. [00:57:50] (16 seconds)

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