This document discusses what it means to be a disciple of Christ and follow Him. It states that disciples are slowly raised through trials, sufferings, and temptations. True disciples desire constant growth through studying God's word and spending time in prayer. Following Christ means choosing to follow His call no matter the cost, sacrificing ourselves, and being willing to confess Him even if it means we could be killed.

2. Disciples are slowly raised through
many trials, sufferings, and even
temptations
• A disciple is one who desires
constant growth, who desires to
spend time in God’s Word, who
desires to spend time with God in
prayer

3. “I am no longer my own but Thine,
put me to what thou wilt, rank me
with whom thou wilt, put me to
doing, put me to suffering, let me
be employed for thee or laid aside
for thee,

4. exalted for thee or brought low for
thee; let me be full, let me be
empty; let me have all things, let
me have nothing; I freely and
heartily yield all things to thy
pleasure and disposal.”

5. “If any want to become my
followers, let them deny
themselves and take up their cross
and follow me.”

6. Yes, it carries the idea of carrying
our burdens, but it carries so much
more as well
This is referring to a choice to
follow the call of Jesus, to follow
where He leads, to go where He
goes, in spite of the cost

7. It isn’t the idea to sacrifice
something, but it is the idea of
sacrificing our very selves

8. “To deny oneself is to be aware
only of Christ and no more of self,
to see only him who goes before
and no more the road which is too
hard for us. Once more, all that
self-denial can say is: ‘He leads the
way, keep close to him.’”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer

9. choosing to follow the call of Christ
no matter the cost

10. Do you hear the problem here?
It was Peter’s plan for following
Jesus

11. He is asking us not to make Him a
minor role in our lives, but giving
Him a controlling position

12. Jesus’ call to us is to follow no
matter the outcome, no matter the
cost, no matter the sacrifice

13. Are you willing to confess Jesus
even if it means you would be
brutally killed?
• ISIS killings, for example, what
would you do in that position?

14. If Jesus is truly our Lord, it means
we choose to follow Him even if He
is going in the opposite direction of
where we want to go

15. “If any want to become my
followers, let them deny
themselves and take up their cross
and follow me.”
Jesus speaking in Mark 8:34