The document discusses the cross both in Jesus' time and now. When Jesus spoke about the cross, he told his followers they must deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow him. Now, the cross represents making Jesus your choice and requirement by putting your testimony and service to him before all else in a daily, public way for eternal benefit. Taking up the cross means changing from self-service to Savior-service, and gaining peace, purpose, and a place with Jesus rather than just costs in this life.

1. The Cross
Then and Now

2. Then

3. Now
• Luke 9
22 And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many
things and be rejected by the elders, the chief
priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be
killed and on the third day be raised to life.” 23 Then
he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my
disciple must deny themselves and take up their
cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to
save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life
for me will save it. 25 What good is it for someone to
gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their
very self?

4. Now
• Luke 14
25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and
turning to them he said: 26 “If anyone comes to me
and does not hate father and mother, wife and
children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own
life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And
whoever does not carry their cross and follow me
cannot be my disciple.

5. Now
• Luke 14
28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower.
Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to
see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For
if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it,
everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying,
‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to
finish.’

6. Now
• Luke 14
31 “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against
another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider
whether he is able with ten thousand men to
oppose the one coming against him with twenty
thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a
delegation while the other is still a long way off and
will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, those
of you who do not give up everything you have
cannot be my disciples.

7. My Cross
• My Choice … His Requirement

8. My Cross
• My Choice … His Requirement
• My Testimony … Public

9. My Cross
• My Choice … His Requirement
• My Testimony … Public
• My Burden … Daily

10. My Cross
• My Choice … His Requirement
• My Testimony … Public
• My Burden … Daily
• My Benefit … Eternally

11. My Cross?
My Old Way
• Self Service
• Cost
– Everything
– “those of you who do not give
up everything you have cannot
be my disciples.”
Luke 14:33
– “Whoever wants to be my
disciple must deny themselves
and take up their cross daily and
follow me. 24 For whoever wants
to save their life will lose it, but
whoever loses their life for me
will save it. Luke 9:23-24
My New Way
• Saviour Service
• Benefit
– Punishment
– 43 If your hand causes you to
stumble, cut it off. It is better for
you to enter life maimed than
with two hands to go into hell,
where the fire never goes out.
45 And if your foot causes you to
stumble, cut it off. It is better for
you to enter life crippled than to
have two feet and be thrown into
hell. 47 And if your eye causes you
to stumble, pluck it out. It is
better for you to enter the
kingdom of God with one eye
than to have two eyes and be
thrown into hell. Mark 9:43-47

12. My Cross?
My Old Way
• Self Service
• Cost
– Everything
– “those of you who do not give up
everything you have cannot be
my disciples.”
Luke 14:33
– “Whoever wants to be my
disciple must deny themselves
and take up their cross daily and
follow me. 24 For whoever wants
to save their life will lose it, but
whoever loses their life for me
will save it. Luke 9:23-24
My New Way
• Saviour Service
• Benefit
– Peace and Purpose
– “I have come that they may have
life, and have it to the full.” John
10:10

13. My Cross?
My Old Way
• Self Service
• Cost
– Everything
– “those of you who do not give up
everything you have cannot be my
disciples.”
Luke 14:33
– “Whoever wants to be my disciple
must deny themselves and take
up their cross daily and follow me.
24 For whoever wants to save their
life will lose it, but whoever loses
their life for me will save it. Luke
9:23-24
My New Way
• Saviour Service
• Benefit
– Place
– “My Father’s house has many
rooms; if that were not so,
would I have told you that I
am going there to prepare a
place for you? 3 And if I go
and prepare a place for you, I
will come back and take you
to be with me that you also
may be where I am.” John
14:2-3

14. The Cross
Then and Now