The Cost of Discipleship
Mark 8:31-38
I. THE COMMAND - FOLLOW ME IN THIS WAY
A. Take up your cross
1) Official Opposition
2) Shame
3) Suffering
4) Death
B. Deny yourself
II. FOUR REASONS TO DENY YOURSELF, TAKE UP YOUR CROSS, AND FOLLOW JESUS
1) The paradox of saving your life by losing your life
2) There is no profit in gaining the world at the expense of your soul
3) Nothing can be given in exchange for the soul
4) Being ashamed of Jesus leads to your own destruction
Avoiding a Wasted Life
James 4:11-12
I. WHAT WE MUST NOT SAY IF WE WANT TO AVOID WASTING OUR LIVES
A. Practical Atheists Make Plans Without Any Reference to God
B. Practical Atheists Live Only for Temporary Worldly Gain
C. Practical Atheists Live as though They Are Not Accountable
to God
II. WHAT WE MUST REMEMBER IF WE WANT TO AVOID WASTING OUR LIVES
A. God Is Absolutely Sovereign Over My Life
B. The Lord’s Will Always Supersedes My Will
Understanding the Root of Evil
Jeremiah 2:9-13
I. GOD ACCUSES HIS PEOPLE
II. GOD ADDRESSES THE ROOT ISSUE
III. GOD ANSWERS BY GIVING HIMSELF
Second Chances, Suffering, & Shipwrecks
Colossians 4:10-18
I. MARK—WELCOMING A SECOND CHANCE DISCIPLE
II. EPAPHRAS—WORKING AND SUFFERING FOR CHRIST AND OTHERS
III. DEMAS—A WARNING OF SHIPWRECKING YOUR FAITH
How Jesus Changes Lives
Colossians 4:7-9
Principles to remember when you come to the end of one of Paul’s Letters:
- All of God’s Word is important
- God’s Word doesn’t come to us in a vacuum
- Paul wasn’t just a theologian, but a Pastor to people that he knew and loved
- God’s purposes include ordinary people doing ordinary things for the glory of God
I. TYCHICUS
A. JESUS GIVES US A NEW FAMILY TO BELONG TO
B. JESUS GIVES US A NEW MINISTRY TO DISCHARGE
C. JESUS GIVES US A NEW TITLE THAT NO ONE RISES ABOVE
I. ONESIMUS
A. JESUS CAN FORGIVE AND RESTORE
B. JESUS GIVES US A NEW IDENTITY THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING
“Christ Is All in the Home Pt. 2: Children & Parents”
Colossians 3:20-21
I. CHILDREN ARE TO REFLECT CHRIST IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO THEIR PARENTS
II. PARENTS, AND SPECIFICALLY FATHERS, ARE TO REFLECT CHRIST IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO THEIR CHILDREN
“Christ Is All in the Home Pt. 1: Husbands & Wives”
Colossians 3:18-19
World Shaping, Life Changing Principles in Colossians:
- Christ is all for us
- We are Christ followers first
- Christ is the ultimate standard of truth, goodness, and beauty
- We are all created equal in dignity, essence, and worth in Christ and also with different roles
- All of our life is for Christ and his glory
- The Christ who fills the universe and all of its mysteries is also the Christ who fills our homes and the seemingly mundane
I. WIVES ARE TO REFLECT CHRIST IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO THEIR HUSBANDS
II. HUSBANDS ARE TO REFLECT CHRIST IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO THEIR WIVES
Who Is Jesus?
Matthew 16:13-20
I. WHO DO OTHERS SAY THAT I AM?
II. WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?
III. WHAT DOES JESUS SAY ABOUT YOU?
A Different Kind of King
Luke 19:28-44
- JESUS IS A KING WHO DEMONSTRATES UNIVERSAL CONTROL
- JESUS IS A KING WHO DISPLAYS UNRIVALED COMPASSION
- JESUS IS A KING WHO DESERVES UNCEASING PRAISE
Growing in Gospel Community Pt. 2
Colossians 3:15-17
I. WE GROW IN GOSPEL COMMUNITY BY LETTING CHRIST’S PEACE RULE OUR HEARTS
II. WE GROW IN GOSPEL COMMUNITY BY LETTING CHRIST’S WORD DWELL IN US RICHLY
III. WE GROW IN GOSPEL COMMUNITY BY DOING ALL THINGS IN THE NAME OF CHRIST
Growing in Gospel Community Pt. 1
Colossians 3:12-14
- WE GROW IN GOSPEL COMMUNITY BY LIVING OUT OUR NEW IDENTITY IN CHRIST
- WE GROW IN GOSPEL COMMUNITY BY LOVING ONE ANOTHER IN LIGHT OF CHRIST
a. Love is the foundation of the gospel
b. Love is the reason for the gospel
c. Love is the defining mark of Christ’s disciples
d. Love is the highest Christian virtue and the cardinal
Christian grace
e. Love is the fountain from which all other spiritual fruits
flow
f. Love is the fulfillment of the law
Growing in Gospel Freedom Pt. 2
Colossians 3:5-11
Because I have been united with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection, in order to grow spiritually I must . . .
I. PUT TO DEATH MY SINFUL DESIRES
II. PUT ON THE NEW SELF
III. LIVE OUT THE SUPREMACY OF CHRIST OVER ALL THINGS
Growing in Gospel Freedom
Colossians 3:1-4
TO GROW IN GOSPEL FREEDOM YOU MUST . . .
I. LOVE CHRIST ABOVE ALL ELSE
II. MAKE CHRIST THE CENTER OF OUR THOUGHTS
III. LIVE IN LIGHT OF GOD’S STORY