Meeting guide · command 50

Take Up Your Cross

Deny self, take up your cross daily, and follow Jesus rather than saving a life built around self-rule.

Read

Read the complete passage aloud.

Primary passage

Matthew 16:24–28

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life? 27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will give to everyone according to his deeds. 28 Most certainly I tell you, there are some standing here who will in no way taste of death until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”

World English Bible

Mark

Mark 8:34–38

34 He called the multitude to himself with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wants to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; and whoever will lose his life for my sake and the sake of the Good News will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? 37 For what will a man give in exchange for his life? 38 For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man also will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

World English Bible

Luke

Luke 9:23–27

23 He said to all, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose 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 his own self? 26 For whoever will be 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 the truth: There are some of those who stand here who will in no way taste of death until they see God’s Kingdom.”

World English Bible

After predicting His suffering, Jesus corrects triumphal expectations and calls the crowd and disciples into His own costly path.

Discuss

Listen carefully to what Jesus says.

  1. What does Jesus command?
  2. What does this passage reveal about Him?
  3. Where do we resist this command?
  4. What is difficult or unclear?
  5. What is the difference between carrying the cross Jesus gives and glorifying avoidable suffering or harm?

Practice

Choose one specific act of obedience.

Identify one choice governed by reputation, comfort, or control. Surrender that claim and take the costly action that follows Jesus' words.

Return

Come back and discuss what happened.

Which claim to comfort or control did you surrender, and what life-giving obedience followed?

Close together

Pray. Then prepare to teach.

Pray

Jesus, free us from saving ourselves on our own terms. Give us courage to follow your costly path into true life.

Teach

Tie the cross to allegiance to Jesus and the gospel; do not use it to sanctify abuse, neglect needed care, or manufacture suffering.