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“The Christian and the Cross”

May 31, 2020 Speaker: Caleb Yap Series: Radical Dependence

Passage: Luke 9:18–27

“The Christian and the Cross”

Luke 9:18-27

"There are no crown-wearers in heaven who were not cross-bearers here below.” Charles Spurgeon

 

BACKGROUND

 

Jesus preached the "kingdom" throughout Judea (Lk 4:43-44). The King's authority and fame "spread" (Lk 9:2, 9). Twist in our passage: the first of 3 predictions about the Cross -- how does this affect the King and His followers?

 

(A) THE CHRISTIAN CONFESSES CHRIST (V18-20)

 

Jesus was "praying alone" (v18a)

 

"who do the crowds say I am?" vs. "who do you say I am?" (v18b-20)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(B) THE CROSS IS CENTRAL (V21-22)

 

the glorious "Son of Man" (v22a)

 

"...must suffer...be rejected...and be killed, and on the third day be raised" (v22b)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C) THE CHRISTIAN TAKES UP THE CROSS (V23-27)

 

"deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (v23)

 

"loses his life for my sake" (v24)

 

"when [the Son of Man] comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels" (v26)

 

 

 

 

 

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

  1. How has the Cross of Christ shaped the way I live?
  2. Have I given in to a Cross-less Christianity? What habits do I need to cultivate to keep the Cross of Christ central?
  3. Are there specific areas of my life where God's Spirit is calling me to self-denial and following Him? 

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