Are You Nailed To The Cross? Series

Are you nailed to the cross?

Mark 8:34-8:38

- Our lives ought to be a living worship of Jesus Christ’s example

-- Honestly, I am more and more convinced that we (all) are just not there yet

- Jesus warned that not all that called upon Him will enter into the Kingdom

-- If you are pretending to be someone you are not then this passage is for you

-- We mustn’t lie to ourselves, and think that God is fooled by our performance

- I see four things that we must nail to the cross this morning

- I see four chances to apply this passage to our lives and be changed

- I want to tell you up front that this message is NOT a crowd pleaser

-- If we aren’t careful, it can be an attendance killer; because it hits close to home

- Encouragement: When we encounter God’s truth, it should cause a change

-- The Gospel is not for the weak at heart, so count it an honor to be included

- Read Mark 8:34-8:38

- Right up front, I am going to give you all four points (only slide today)

Point 1 - I must nail my SELF to the Cross (v34)

- Following Jesus means I am no longer at the center of my life, He is.

-- How many times have you thought to yourself that you can do it alone?

-- How many times have you been in sin and convinced yourself that it is ok?

- How many times have you said that you don’t need so-and-so because you are just glad that you are not like them?

- How many times have you had to look at yourself in the mirror after indulging in something sinful and told yourself that you would never do that again?

- Today church, I want you to examine your SELF.

- I want you to see that there is more to this flesh than what YOU want

-- (v34) There is a need to live for Christ because Jesus died for you!!

- Many choose each week, convincing themselves that the message is not for them

-- If you have said that ever in your life – then this message is for you

-- Complacency is killing our church, and the devil is laughing at us.

- Challenge: Do you care?

-- Our desire to convince ourselves that we are something is killing THE church.

- Challenge: Do you care?

-- Our own flesh convincing ourselves that we don’t need to pay attention or even attend church is killing THE church.

- Challenge: Do you care?

-- Do you know that a man (forget the deity) died for this? (Expound ...)

-- Is His life worth more to you than 60 minutes a week? (Expound ...)

-- We must devote ourselves to Him beyond the minimum offering we have

- We must nail ourselves to the cross before any healing can take place

-- We must be willing to admit that we are sinners and that we need forgiveness

-- We must admit that repentance is the order of the day

- Do you need to be nailed to the cross? I do.

- I am willing to stand here and admit that I am not perfect and that I need to ask forgiveness from the Lord Jesus. I need to nail myself to the cross.

Point 2 - I must nail my SECURITY to the Cross (v35)

- Jesus is trying to teach you something here … do you see it? (v35)

-- If I hold on to my life I will lose it, yet if I let go of my life I will save it!

- He is telling you that you must lose your life – that is:

-- We must give it up for Him in order to gain eternity

- Many today don’t want to do that

-- We have answered an altar call in the church one Sunday and said we’ve given our lives to Jesus

-- We’ve made a public profession of faith … but I think it is safe to say that not everyone is really living the life they proclaimed

- How can I make such a bold statement?

-- Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

- The bible says very clearly that we should not give up on meeting together

-- Yet, Wednesday nights we dwindle down and Sunday nights are less

-- Of course, this is just our church right here, but now expand that to each church