Welcome to Focused on Christ, where we are passionate about exalting Christ and equipping the church.
In Episode 125, your host Mike Crump is joined by Pastor Nathan Smith as we explore one of the most challenging and counter-cultural teachings of Jesus found in Luke [9:23]-27 — the call to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Him.
Before diving into Jesus’ powerful call to self-denial, we look at the broader context:
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The miraculous feeding of the 5,000
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The crowd’s desire to make Jesus king (John 5)
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Peter’s bold confession: “You are the Christ of God”
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Jesus’ foretelling of His suffering, death, and resurrection
These moments reveal Christ’s power, authority, and identity—yet He follows them with a sobering call to follow Him into suffering and sacrifice.
In this episode, we discuss:
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What Jesus meant by “take up your cross daily”
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The cost of truly following Christ in a self-obsessed culture
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Why denying self is so difficult in a world that worships autonomy and personal desire
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The encouragement found in the transfiguration that follows Jesus’ call
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How we can grow in the daily pursuit of dying to self (2 Peter 1:5-7)
Whether you’re a new believer or have walked with Christ for years, this conversation will challenge and encourage you to live with eternal purpose, rooted in the grace, glory, and promises of Christ.
Discussion Questions:
- What does it mean to you personally to ‘deny yourself’?
- How is taking up our cross daily different from just dealing with life’s normal difficulties?
- In what ways do you struggle with being identified as a Christian in your daily life?
- How can we turn ordinary tasks into opportunities to glorify Christ?
- What does it mean to ‘lose your life’ for Christ’s sake in today’s context?
- How do you balance pursuing success in life while ensuring you’re not ‘gaining the world but losing your soul’?
- What’s the difference between momentary struggles with sharing our faith versus being ashamed of Christ?
- How can we maintain a vision of Christ’s glory in our daily lives to help us remain faithful?