2. Challenges of the Cross
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24).

3. Introduction:
1) The Bible says that “Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps” (1 Peter 2:21). 2) In our text Jesus tells us to take up the cross and follow Him. 3) “The suffering implied in crucifixion naturally made the cross a symbol of pain, distress, and burden-bearing. Thus Jesus used it Himself, requiring that those who would be His disciples deny themselves, take up their crosses, and follow Him” (ISBE).

4. Challenges of the Cross
To Love in a World of Hate

5. To Love in a World of Hate
1) Type people which surrounded Jesus.
“He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him” (Isaiah 53:3).
“So they cried out again, “Crucify Him!” Then Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, “Crucify Him!” (Mark 15:13-14).

6. To Love in a World of Hate
2) Yet He died for these people.
“For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6).
“For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).

7. To Love in a World of Hate
3) We must return love for evil.
“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).
“Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:17-21).

8. Challenges of the Cross
To Love in a World of Hate
To Forgive – World of Offense

9. To Forgive in a World of Offense
1) Jesus was innocence.
“Now the chief priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. For many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree. Then some rose up and bore false witness against Him, saying, “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.’” But not even then did their testimony agree” (Mark 14:55-59).

10. To Forgive in a World of Offense
2) He wanted God to forgive His murderers.
“Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34).
“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:36-38).

11. To Forgive in a World of Offense
3) We must be willing to forgive as well.
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14-15).
“Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:21-22).

12. To Forgive in a World of Offense
4) An example of forgiveness.
“and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep” (Acts 7:58-60).

13. Challenges of the Cross
To Love in a World of Hate
To Forgive – World of Offense
To Give – World of Selfishness

14. To Give in a World of Selfishness
1) What did Jesus get from the cross.
“If a man has committed a sin deserving of death, and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day, so that you do not defile the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance; for he who is hanged is accursed of God” (Deuteronomy 21:22-23).
“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:13-14).

15. To Give in a World of Selfishness
2) Jesus constantly gave.
“just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).
“Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:34-35).

16. To Give in a World of Selfishness
3) Disciples must be givers.
“Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant” (Matthew 20:26).
“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4).

17. Challenges of the Cross
To Love in a World of Hate
To Forgive – World of Offense
To Give – World of Selfishness
To Have Convictions – World of Compromise

18. To Have Conviction in a World of Compromise
1) Jesus didn’t compromise with Satan.
“Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:3-4).

19. To Have Conviction in a World of Compromise
2) No compromise with the religious leaders.
“Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?” He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Mark 7:5-7).

20. To Have Conviction in a World of Compromise
3) Saints must uphold the truth.
“But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.” So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge” (Acts 4:17-19).
“But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

21. To Have Conviction in a World of Compromise
4) We must live by the truth day by day.
“For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you” (1 Peter 4:3-4).

22. Challenges of the Cross
To Love in a World of Hate
To Forgive – World of Offense
To Give – World of Selfishness
To Have Convictions – World of Compromise
To Preach – World of Unbelief

23. To Preach in a World of Unbelief
1) Jesus & His message were often rejected.
“Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes’? “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder” (Matthew 21:42-44).

24. To Preach in a World of Unbelief
2) The apostles were busy preaching.
“Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth” (Acts 13:46-47).

25. To Preach in a World of Unbelief
3) We must succeed at this challenge.
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen” (Matthew 28:18-20).

26. Challenges of the Cross
To Love in a World of Hate
To Forgive – World of Offense
To Give – World of Selfishness
To Have Convictions – World of Compromise
To Preach – World of Unbelief

27. “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40).