“Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” - Luke 22:42 CSBThere is a danger when we talk about surrender. The danger is that we start hearing it like God is standing over us with crossed arms saying, “Try harder. Lay it down. Get serious. Prove yourself.” And if that is how you hear surrender, you will either become proud or crushed. P...  Read More

“Then he said to them all, ‘If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.’” - Luke 9:23 CSBJesus ends the command with the goal. “Follow me.”That sounds simple. But simple does not mean light. Because by the time Jesus says, “follow me,” He has already said, “deny yourself” and “take up your cross daily.” So the call to follow Jesus is not casual...  Read More

“Then he said to them all, ‘If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.’” - Luke 9:23 CSBJesus does not stop at “deny yourself.” He keeps going. He says, “Take up his cross daily.” And we need to slow down here, because most of us hear the word cross through years of church familiarity.We see crosses on necklaces.Crosses on walls.Crosses on chu...  Read More

“Then he said to them all, ‘If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.’” - Luke 9:23 CSBJesus does not begin discipleship by saying, “Improve yourself.” He says, “Deny yourself.” And that lands differently. Because most of us can handle improvement. Improvement still lets us feel in charge. Improvement says, “I’m working on me.” Improvement sa...  Read More

“Then he said to them all, ‘If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.’” - Luke 9:23 CSBThere is a version of Christianity that sounds faithful, feels familiar, and still leaves us in control. That is what makes it so dangerous.It uses the right words.It sings the right songs.It shows up in the right spaces.It knows how to say, “God is good,” ...  Read More

“But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” - James 1:22 CSBAt some point, truth has to become response. It is possible to hear a sermon, agree with the doctrine, appreciate the depth, nod at the right moments, underline the right verse, and still walk away unchanged.That is the danger.We can learn about Jesus as Prophet, Priest, and King, and still keep Him at the edges...  Read More