First Baptist Church, Zachary, LA
A disciple of Jesus must take up his cross. What does that look like? Is it some abstract idea today that deals with motivation or are there life changing ramifications to the modern disciple?
Medical Definition of premortem: existing or taking place immediately before death
Business definition of premortem: a managerial strategy in which a manager imagines that a project or organization has failed, and then works backward to determine what potentially could lead to the failure of the project or organization.
Luke 9:23 NASB1995
Luke 14:26..............................................................NASB
26 "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.
Luke 14:27 NASB1995
The Cross of Surrender: Self
Self-focus is the essence of sin.
Out of 7 statements about his disciples, the cross is at the center.
John 12:24-25 NASB1995
John 13:37-38 NASB1995
Romans 7:21-25 NASB1995
Cultural Disconnects:
1. Born and raised a Jew in ancient times
2. Born and raised in the church in modern times
3. Born and raised in modern society
Daily Essentials for learning:
(challenges of knowing the Father's will and Jesus' ways...)
1. Hearing from God
2. Talking with God
3. Walking with one another in Christ
4. Planting, Watering, and Harvesting in the World
The Disciple's Cross
Word
Prayer
Fellowship
Witness
Luke 9:24-26 NASB1995
John 12:25 NASB1995
John 3:30 NASB1995
The Rub:
Whose WILL and WAY will be accepted and lived?
We easily/naturally demand our will and our way.
(sin/selfish nature will always oppose God's will/way)
Again, the question is one of control.
The Disciple's Pre Mortem?
How to respond to Him:
Dear Lord Jesus, I confess I have been living my life based on my ways and desires. I confess that my only hope is in You, Jesus, because You died for my sin, was buried and rose from the dead. Now I turn from my reliance on my personal wants and trust in You and take up my cross to live life that is only found in You. Thank you for loving me. In Jesus name, Amen
Prayer Guide: August 20-28
8/20: Read Psalm 119:78-80 Pray for God to use each person at FBCZ as a witness of the Lord’s testimony, because they seek the Lord.
8/21: Read Psalm 119:78-80 Pray for the committee’s heart to be blameless in the Lord’s Word so that they may offer their service without shame.
8/22: Read Psalm 119:81-83 Pray for the pastor to have a heart that longs to see God’s salvation become a reality through his ministry and the ministry of those he serves.
8/23: Read Psalm 119:81-83 Pray for each person at FBCZ to long for the Word of the Lord each day as they wait for His comfort rather than seeking man-made solutions.
8/24: Read Psalm 119:81-83 Pray that the search committee will know the blessing of God’s Word as they endure the challenges of the vital work they have been given.
8/25: Read Psalm 119:84-88 Pray for the future pastor to wait on the Lord’s righteousness to come to pass in the lives of those who oppose what the Lord is doing.
8/26: Read Psalm 119:84-88 Pray for FBCZ, the search committee and the future pastor to count on the faithfulness of God’s Word as they stand against those who seek their own will and way.
8/27: Read Psalm 119:84-88 Pray for FBCZ to experience the loving-kindness of the Lord so that they may live out the testimony of His mouth.
8/28: Read Psalm 119:89-91 Pray for the committee be confident in the Lord’s work as they seek to see Him work through them.
Hate/Miseo in the New Testament (36 verses):
Matt. 5:43
Matt. 6:24
Matt. 10:22
Matt. 24:9
Matt. 24:10
Mark 13:13
Luke 1:71
Luke 6:22
Luke 6:27
Luke 14:26
Luke 16:13
Luke 19:14
Luke 21:17
John 3:20
John 7:7
John 12:25
John 15:18
John 15:19
John 15:23
John 15:24
John 15:25
John 17:14
Rom. 7:15
Rom. 9:13
Eph. 5:29
Titus 3:3
Heb. 1:9
1John 2:9
1John 2:11
1John 3:13
1John 3:15
1John 4:20
Jude 23
Rev. 2:6
Rev. 17:16
Rev. 18:2