Dig Deeper - Sunday 8th March
Sermon Reflection Questions - Lent: Journey to the Cross: Take Up Your Cross
Mark 8:34-9:1
Dig Deeper notes from Sunday 8th March service:
Summary
1. Deny Yourself
Jesus teaches that anyone who wants to follow Him must first deny themselves. This does not simply mean giving up certain comforts but shifting the centre of our lives away from ourselves and placing Jesus there instead. In a culture where we are used to instant gratification and self-focus, this can be difficult. The Greek word used for “deny” suggests renouncing our claim to be the one in control. When we place ourselves at the centre, we rely only on our own strength, plans, and abilities. Discipleship invites us to surrender that control and trust Jesus instead. When Christ is at the centre, we find strength in weakness, hope when plans fail, and purpose beyond our own ambitions.
2. Take Up Your Cross
Jesus then calls His followers to “take up their cross.” For the people listening to Him, the cross was a clear symbol of suffering, submission, and death. Carrying a cross meant carrying the instrument of your own execution. In this way, Jesus was calling His followers to a life of full surrender and costly obedience. Discipleship is not about a comfortable faith that simply improves our lives; it requires sacrifice and commitment. Following Christ means allowing Him to have authority over every part of our lives - our ambitions, finances, relationships, and decisions. Though this path can be costly, believers are not meant to walk it alone. We as the church support and encourage one another as we live lives of faith and grow in obedience.
3. Losing Your Life to Find It
Jesus finishes with a powerful paradox: ‘whoever tries to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Him and the gospel will save it’. The world encourages us to chase success, wealth, comfort, and recognition, but these things cannot satisfy the deepest needs of our souls. Jesus reminds us that our souls are of eternal value, far greater than anything the world can offer. True freedom and purpose are found when we give our lives fully to Christ and live for His kingdom rather than our own gain. The apostle Paul demonstrated this by dedicating his life to proclaiming the gospel, even knowing it would lead to hardship and persecution. In the same way, following Jesus means prioritising Him above everything else and trusting that life in Him is far more valuable than anything we could gain in the world.
Discussion Questions:
1. What does it practically look like in everyday life to put Jesus at the centre rather than ourselves?
2. When you hear the phrase “take up your cross,” what challenges or sacrifices come to mind in your own faith journey?
3. Why do you think Jesus says we must lose our lives to find them? What might that look like in modern life today?
4. Are there areas of your life (ambitions, finances, relationships, reputation) where you find it difficult to fully surrender to Christ?
A Short Prayer
Father, thank you that true hope is found in you. You call us to trust You as we deny ourselves, pick up our cross and follow You. We can’t do this in our own strength. Please come alongside us and lend us Your hand. Help us to hold onto the hope that we have in you.
Amen
