True Discipleship: The Path to Freedom in Christ
Summary
### Summary
Today, we reflected on the significance of true discipleship as outlined by Jesus in Luke 9:23-25. We began by sharing a personal story about a recent trip to Williamsburg, which served as a backdrop to explore the deeper meaning of freedom and commitment. The Declaration of Independence was a powerful symbol, but it was merely a declaration of intent, not the actual attainment of freedom. Similarly, many of us declare our intent to follow Jesus but fall short of living out true discipleship.
Jesus' call to discipleship involves three critical steps: denying oneself, taking up one's cross daily, and following Him. Denying oneself means putting Jesus above all else, making Him the King over every aspect of our lives. This is contrary to the world's message of self-promotion and self-fulfillment. Taking up one's cross daily signifies a continual dying to self, a daily commitment to live for Christ rather than for our own desires. Finally, following Jesus means imitating Him in every aspect of our lives, focusing on His teachings and commands, and living them out faithfully.
We also discussed the rich young ruler from Luke 18, who struggled to give up his wealth to follow Jesus. This story illustrates the difficulty many of us face in truly denying ourselves and making Jesus the center of our lives. The call to discipleship is not a one-time decision but a daily commitment to live out these principles.
In conclusion, true freedom in Christ comes from a life of genuine discipleship. It requires us to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Jesus wholeheartedly. This is not an easy path, but it is the only way to experience the true freedom and fulfillment that Jesus offers.
### Key Takeaways
1. Denying Oneself: To be a disciple of Jesus, we must deny ourselves, which means putting Jesus above all else in our lives. This is contrary to the world's message of self-promotion and self-fulfillment. Denying oneself involves a daily commitment to make Jesus the King over every aspect of our lives. [42:24]
2. Taking Up Your Cross Daily: Taking up one's cross daily signifies a continual dying to self. It is a daily commitment to live for Christ rather than for our own desires. This involves a willingness to face hardships and sacrifices for the sake of following Jesus. [50:55]
3. Following Jesus: Following Jesus means imitating Him in every aspect of our lives. It requires us to focus on His teachings and commands and live them out faithfully. This is not a one-time decision but a daily commitment to walk in His footsteps. [57:44]
4. The Rich Young Ruler: The story of the rich young ruler illustrates the difficulty many of us face in truly denying ourselves and making Jesus the center of our lives. It challenges us to examine what holds us back from fully committing to Jesus and to take steps to overcome those barriers. [46:29]
5. True Freedom in Christ: True freedom in Christ comes from a life of genuine discipleship. It requires us to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Jesus wholeheartedly. This path is not easy, but it is the only way to experience the true freedom and fulfillment that Jesus offers. [01:04:22]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[30:55] - Introduction: A Trip to Williamsburg
[34:29] - Declaration vs. Actual Freedom
[36:08] - The Call to Discipleship
[37:29] - Luke 9:23-25: Deny Yourself
[42:24] - What Does It Mean to Deny Yourself?
[50:55] - Take Up Your Cross Daily
[57:44] - Follow Me
[01:04:22] - True Freedom in Christ
[01:10:13] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- Luke 9:23-25
- Luke 18:18-23
- Galatians 2:20
### Observation Questions
1. What are the three critical steps Jesus outlines for discipleship in Luke 9:23? ([37:29])
2. How did the rich young ruler respond to Jesus' instruction to sell all he had and give to the poor? ([47:50])
3. According to Galatians 2:20, what does Paul say about his life in relation to Christ? ([55:23])
4. What does it mean to "deny oneself" according to the sermon? ([42:24])
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is denying oneself considered contrary to the world's message of self-promotion and self-fulfillment? ([42:24])
2. How does the story of the rich young ruler illustrate the difficulty of true discipleship? ([47:50])
3. What does it mean to "take up your cross daily," and how does this concept challenge modern Christian practices? ([50:55])
4. How does Paul's statement in Galatians 2:20 about being "crucified with Christ" relate to the daily commitment of following Jesus? ([55:23])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your daily life: In what ways can you actively deny yourself to make Jesus the King over every aspect of your life? ([42:24])
2. What are some practical steps you can take to "take up your cross daily"? How can you remind yourself of this commitment each day? ([50:55])
3. Identify a specific area in your life where you struggle to follow Jesus wholeheartedly. What changes can you make to align more closely with His teachings? ([57:44])
4. The rich young ruler struggled to give up his wealth. What is something in your life that you find difficult to surrender to Jesus, and how can you work on overcoming this barrier? ([47:50])
5. How can you incorporate the practice of "decreasing so that He may increase" in your daily routine? What specific actions can you take to ensure that Jesus is above all in your life? ([43:49])
6. Think about a recent decision you made. Did it reflect a commitment to follow Jesus, or was it influenced by self-promotion? How can you make future decisions that align more with discipleship? ([42:24])
7. How can you support and encourage others in your small group to live out the principles of denying oneself, taking up their cross daily, and following Jesus? ([01:08:40])
Devotional
Day 1: Denying Oneself: Putting Jesus Above All Else
To be a disciple of Jesus, we must deny ourselves, which means putting Jesus above all else in our lives. This is contrary to the world's message of self-promotion and self-fulfillment. Denying oneself involves a daily commitment to make Jesus the King over every aspect of our lives. This means prioritizing His will over our own desires, ambitions, and plans. It is a call to surrender our lives completely to Him, trusting that His plans for us are far better than anything we could imagine for ourselves. [42:24]
Matthew 16:24-25 (ESV): "Then Jesus told his disciples, '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 will find it.'"
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find it difficult to put Jesus first? How can you start making Him the King over that aspect of your life today?
Day 2: Taking Up Your Cross Daily: A Continual Dying to Self
Taking up one's cross daily signifies a continual dying to self. It is a daily commitment to live for Christ rather than for our own desires. This involves a willingness to face hardships and sacrifices for the sake of following Jesus. It means embracing the challenges and sufferings that come with being a disciple, knowing that these trials refine our faith and draw us closer to Him. Each day, we are called to lay down our own ambitions and take up the cross, following Jesus' example of selfless love and obedience to the Father. [50:55]
Galatians 2:20 (ESV): "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Reflection: What is one specific desire or ambition you need to surrender to Jesus today? How can you take practical steps to live for Christ instead of yourself?
Day 3: Following Jesus: Imitating Him in Every Aspect of Life
Following Jesus means imitating Him in every aspect of our lives. It requires us to focus on His teachings and commands and live them out faithfully. This is not a one-time decision but a daily commitment to walk in His footsteps. To follow Jesus is to embody His love, compassion, humility, and obedience in our daily interactions and decisions. It means seeking to reflect His character in how we treat others, how we handle challenges, and how we prioritize our time and resources. [57:44]
1 Peter 2:21 (ESV): "For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps."
Reflection: In what ways can you better imitate Jesus in your daily life? What specific actions can you take to reflect His love and compassion to those around you?
Day 4: The Rich Young Ruler: Overcoming Barriers to Full Commitment
The story of the rich young ruler illustrates the difficulty many of us face in truly denying ourselves and making Jesus the center of our lives. It challenges us to examine what holds us back from fully committing to Jesus and to take steps to overcome those barriers. Whether it is wealth, relationships, or personal ambitions, we must identify and surrender anything that competes with our devotion to Christ. This story serves as a powerful reminder that true discipleship requires total surrender and trust in Jesus. [46:29]
Mark 10:21-22 (ESV): "And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, 'You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.' Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions."
Reflection: What is one thing in your life that you find difficult to surrender to Jesus? How can you take a step today to let go of that barrier and fully commit to following Him?
Day 5: True Freedom in Christ: The Path of Genuine Discipleship
True freedom in Christ comes from a life of genuine discipleship. It requires us to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Jesus wholeheartedly. This path is not easy, but it is the only way to experience the true freedom and fulfillment that Jesus offers. Genuine discipleship leads to a life of purpose, peace, and joy that transcends circumstances. By fully committing to Jesus and His ways, we discover the abundant life He promises, free from the bondage of sin and self-centeredness. [01:04:22]
John 8:31-32 (ESV): "So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, 'If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'"
Reflection: How have you experienced freedom in Christ through your journey of discipleship? What steps can you take to deepen your commitment to Jesus and experience even greater freedom and fulfillment in Him?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "A declaring of independence is not actually granting them independence, but it was a declaration that they were going to be free, that we were going to do whatever it took to become free as a group of colonies, ultimately to become the nation that they wanted to become, separate from British rule and British reign. It was a declaration that this is our intent, yet it didn't actually make them free." [34:29] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "To deny ourselves is to make Jesus over all of our life. And to deny ourselves, everything else, takes second place and beyond in comparison to Jesus. We must decrease so that he may increase. And the only way for that to happen is to deny ourselves." [45:17] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "You see, freedom truly is a choice. The day that the Declaration of Independence was read or was given to the people and all the different colonies, again was a declaration. It did not make them free. They had to make a choice to fight for that freedom." [01:02:25] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Give me liberty or give me death. It's for us to have liberty. To have freedom is to die to ourselves, to deny ourselves and to ultimately follow after the only one that can give us true freedom in Jesus Christ. That is the only hope that we have." [01:04:22] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "We can sit here in a church in the four walls of a building that we call the church and sit here and say, I am free in Christ. I am a disciple. I am a Christian. And all you have done is make a declaration with your mouth. But until you, until I deny ourselves, take up our cross daily and truly follow after him. Focus in on. On the follow." [01:05:08] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Jesus made it very clear what a disciple was or who a disciple was to be. What was the makeup of a disciple? Sean last week alluded to the version of this passage in Mark chapter 8. Today, we're going to look at... Luke chapter 9. And we are going to look at it in such a way that we're going to break it down to three parts of what truly is a disciple." [36:08] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "To deny ourselves is literally to put Jesus above all. Right? I believe that that's exactly what Jesus is saying. To make Jesus king of all. Not just, if you've been around me recently, this is something that the Lord's really been starting in my heart and working in my life on and that I've talked a lot about is that we've made Jesus like a category in our life, not over our life." [45:17] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "In order for us to deny ourself and to make Jesus over all, we have to literally die to ourselves and our wants, our desires, the things that we would choose for ourselves. Yet Christ says, no, me above. Above all, die to yourself. Die to those things that so easily entraps us so that you could truly be my disciple." [54:33] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "You have to focus on the leader in order to follow the leader the way you're supposed to follow him. And some of us just expect ourselves, I'm following Jesus. But you're like, I don't have a clue where he's at. Where'd he go? You may be lost your focus on the one who's leading you for you to follow." [01:01:31] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "We have to be in this together. We have to walk with each other in this time. We need each other in this. God has given us each other for a time as this. Whatever it is that the Lord has started in your heart to do, be obedient right now. And let this be the day that each of us here in this room or maybe that are watching online, declares, I'm a disciple of Christ, and then walks it out in the freedom that God has given us to do so in following after him." [01:09:21] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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