Following Jesus

Sermon 38 in Series

Luke 9:23-27

[23] And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. [24] For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. [25] For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? [26] For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. [27] But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.  What is the logic between this passage and what we covered last week? Why did the disciples struggle to understand all of this?
2.  How does Jesus characterize what it means to follow him? How does this both reiterate and add to what we’ve seen about discipleship in Luke so far?
3.  How does this passage motivate, clarify, convict, and aid our evangelism? What does it look like to live this out in practice?
4.  As we take this passage together with Paul’s words in Acts 20:24, how does this mindset run totally contrary to the world’s thinking?
5.  As Jesus describes it, what happens when one lives to save/ love his or her own life? How can we help our kids to understand the foolishness of such a life?
6.  In what ways are we tempted to be ashamed of Jesus and his word? How does being part of a local church help us maintain a vibrant, clear, and bold witness?
7.  What does it mean to say that a view of the cross always sees the glory on the horizon? How does hope fuel daily cross-bearing?

References: Matthew 10:16-39 (corporate reading); Luke 2:30-32; Matthew 16:17; Luke 5:10-11, 27-28; Philippians 2:3-4; Romans 8:13; 2 Corinthians 5:15; Acts 20:24; Luke 14:26-27; John 12:25; Acts 14:19; 17:32; 1 Corinthians 1:23; Romans 1:16; 2 Peter 1:16-18.