1. “Taking up My 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}

2. Denying Myself and Taking up My Cross What does it mean to “take up my cross?” Context of the passages… Many desire to follow Jesus, but don’t understand what is involved. Jesus said to COUNT the cost. –Luke 14:28-32

3. What does it mean to “take up my cross?” Denying self… Taking up my cross… Following Jesus… Losing my life… Daily… Denying Myself and Taking up My Cross

4. Defining Discipleship Matthew 16:24

5. Defining Discipleship Matthew 16:24 "If" - It is conditional

6. Defining Discipleship Matthew 16:24 "If" - It is conditional "anyone" - It is open to all

7. Defining Discipleship Matthew 16:24 “If" - It is conditional. “anyone" - It is open to all. “deny himself" - It demands total commitment.

8. "If" - It is conditional "anyone" - It is open to all “deny himself" – It demands total commitment. “his cross" – Requires personal sacrifice. Defining Discipleship Matthew 16:24

9. "If" - It is conditional "anyone" - It is open to all “deny himself " - It demands total commitment. “his cross" - Requires personal sacrifice. "follow" - It demands action. Defining Discipleship Matthew 16:24

10. "If " - It is conditional "anyone" - It is open to all "deny himself " - Demands total commitment "his cross" - Requires personal sacrifice "follow" - Demands action "Me" – There’s only one model, teacher, and guide. Defining Discipleship Matthew 16:24

11. "If " - It is conditional "anyone" - It is open to all "deny himself " - Demands total commitment "his cross" - Requires personal sacrifice "follow" - Demands action "Me" – There’s only one model, teacher, and guide. “Daily”—Must be a continual way of life. Defining Discipleship Matthew 16:24

12. The Cross…

13. Demands that we transform our wills… The Cross…

14. Demands that we transform our wills Requires both hands (I cannot carry anything else)

15. The Cross… Demands that we transform our wills Requires both hands (I cannot carry anything else. It gives us a heavenly focus and goal

16. The Cross… "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.“ {Hebrews 12:1-2}