Let There Be Light!
Part 3 of the "Haunted House" message series
34 And He summoned the crowd together with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what does it benefit a person to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?37 For what could a person give in exchange for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” – Mark 8:34-38 (NASB)
The BIG Idea:
Trusting Jesus as Lord must include following His example by dying to ourselves. When we give up control over our lives and trust God to lead us, we will eradicate fear and embrace abundant life.
ILLUSTRATION: The current power outage in Cuba
The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them.
– Isaiah 9:2 (NASB)
There is no such thing as a casual disciple of Jesus Christ.
Jesus submitted to God’s will and authority by going to the cross, and we must follow and acknowledge God’s authority over our lives and dying to ourselves.
Losing our lives for His sake is the only option with lasting benefits.
If we lose our lives for God’s sake, for God’s purpose, we will truly find them.
“Even in this world it is clear that self-centeredness rather than God-centeredness makes you miserable and blind. The more self-centered, self-absorbed, self-pitying, and self-justifying people are, the more breakdowns occur, relationally, psychologically, and even physically. They also go deeper into denial about the source of their problems. On the other hand, a soul that has decided to center its life on God and his glory moves toward increasing joy and wholeness.” (Timothy Keller, “The Importance of Hell,” Timothy Keller [blog], August 1, 2008)
For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. – II Corinthians 4:6 (NASB)
Not only is Jesus the only One who can deliver us from the scariest things that could ever plague us in this temporary life, but He also delivers us from our own purposelessness.
What would your “YES” to Jesus look like?
This was the true Light that, coming into the world, enlightens every person. – John 1:9 (NASB)
Questions for Reflection:
Did you learn something about the horrific and humiliating act of crucifixion that you did not know before today?
When Jesus said that His followers should take up their own cross, what do you think He meant by this statement?
What does it mean to die to oneself?
How does surrendering your life to God’s authority feel like losing control? What do you gain?
In what way has following Christ made you “take up a cross?”
What have you had to let die to follow Jesus faithfully?
What would your “YES” to Jesus look like?
The BIG Idea:
Trusting Jesus as Lord must include following His example by dying to ourselves. When we give up control over our lives and trust God to lead us, we will eradicate fear and embrace abundant life.
ILLUSTRATION: The current power outage in Cuba
The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them.
– Isaiah 9:2 (NASB)
There is no such thing as a casual disciple of Jesus Christ.
Jesus submitted to God’s will and authority by going to the cross, and we must follow and acknowledge God’s authority over our lives and dying to ourselves.
Losing our lives for His sake is the only option with lasting benefits.
If we lose our lives for God’s sake, for God’s purpose, we will truly find them.
“Even in this world it is clear that self-centeredness rather than God-centeredness makes you miserable and blind. The more self-centered, self-absorbed, self-pitying, and self-justifying people are, the more breakdowns occur, relationally, psychologically, and even physically. They also go deeper into denial about the source of their problems. On the other hand, a soul that has decided to center its life on God and his glory moves toward increasing joy and wholeness.” (Timothy Keller, “The Importance of Hell,” Timothy Keller [blog], August 1, 2008)
For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. – II Corinthians 4:6 (NASB)
Not only is Jesus the only One who can deliver us from the scariest things that could ever plague us in this temporary life, but He also delivers us from our own purposelessness.
What would your “YES” to Jesus look like?
This was the true Light that, coming into the world, enlightens every person. – John 1:9 (NASB)
Questions for Reflection:
Did you learn something about the horrific and humiliating act of crucifixion that you did not know before today?
When Jesus said that His followers should take up their own cross, what do you think He meant by this statement?
What does it mean to die to oneself?
How does surrendering your life to God’s authority feel like losing control? What do you gain?
In what way has following Christ made you “take up a cross?”
What have you had to let die to follow Jesus faithfully?
What would your “YES” to Jesus look like?