King Jesus and the Queen City
This week we looked at Matthew 16:21-28. This passage is a hinge in the life of Jesus because He is now about 6 months from the crucifixion and is focusing on the cross as He “must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things.” Peter rebukes Jesus in regards to His death and Jesus reminds Peter that his is trying to distract Jesus from his mission by calling him Satan. Jesus then tells the disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

Deny yourself:
1. We must deny our “old self” that battles against our “new self”.
2. We must deny the lust of the flesh and the world
3. Ephesians 4:22-24

Take up your cross daily:
1. Bonhoeffer said, “When God calls a man, He bids him to come and die”
2. Not only should we deny our old self, but put it to death.
3. Colossians 3:1-5

Follow me:
1. Remember, we are saved from death, but also saved to life!
2. We must look like, talk like, and act like our Rabbi
3. It does not simply mean knowing everything about the Bible, but choosing to live it

There is no cross-less obedience in Christ. He gave everything He had, and we must follow His example. Let your life count. “Follow me” is never completed, but it is a choice we must make each day. When we make the choice and understand the “who”, then we do not have to understand the “what”, “why”, or “how”.

To discuss as a family today
1. How have you chosen to deny yourself?

2. How do you take up your cross?

3. Where are you willing to “follow Christ”?

Prayer
When you get dressed each day this week, literally say a prayer committing to God, “Father, I choose to put on holiness this morning. I choose to put on my new self, and to take off my old self today. Since my new self looks like you, I will follow you wherever you lead me today.”