Luke 9:23 NLT
23 Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.


I. Give up your way
The rich man came to Jesus and asked what he had to do to inherit eternal life, and Jesus replied to him in
Mark 10:21-22 NLT:
21 Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

Luke 14:33 NLT
33 So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.

Matthew 6:33 NKJV
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.


II.   Take up your cross
Galatians 2:20 NLT
20 My old self has been crucified with Christ.[e] It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me

Galatians 5:24 NLT
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there..

III.   Follow me
Matthew 10:38-39 NLT
38 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. 39 If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.

1 Peter 2:21 NLT
21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.

Give examples of what Christ showed: Serving, humbleness, humility, mercy, grace.

Matthew 7:21-23 NLT
21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’