It seems that the practice of Christianity in our culture has fallen from the true movement of Jesus. Instead of the church challenging the values of the culture, Christians have seemingly embraced those values; the same values which crucified Jesus. When Jesus lived, he stood in sharp contrast to both Roman politics and middle-eastern fundamentalism, and the consequences were rejection and death. The way of the cross means standing up for Kingdom values wherever you find yourself.

• What is a cultural value that many Christians embrace that is at odds with Jesus’ life and teaching? In what way have you embraced this value?

Read Matthew 10:34-39. To become a true Christ follower you must embrace the way of the cross. To embrace this path you must first change your life allegiances whether political, relational or occupational, to Jesus Christ and him alone. Jesus stated that his kingdom is not of this world and your identity should now no longer rest in your place of birth or hereditary privilege. It should rest in submission to God’s authority and the kingdom God bestowed on Jesus Christ.

• How do you identify yourself: by family, state or country of origin, occupation, sports team, other etc.? How does that affect your identity as a Jesus follower?


• What fights against your total allegiance to Christ and Christ’s kingdom?


• Name a way you could become more loyal to Jesus in your thoughts and actions?

The second way to embrace the way of the cross is to change from a secular worldview to a Jesus worldview. The secular world operates as if God is not a factor in living life. Even many Christians, who believe in God and profess Jesus Christ, have become soft secular in their thinking, putting their trust in the values of the culture like money, power, & self-determination and not in God. Read I Corinthians 1:18.

• Which secular worldview do you struggle with in the most in your daily life: God isn’t a factor in every day living, Security is found in money/materialism, or Dependence upon yourself for life direction and destiny? Explain.

Jesus’ worldview, however, calls you to lose your life for him, working to fulfill God’s will and desires and not your own. It is when you lose your life for Christ that you will truly find it. When you live this way you will often come up against the powers that be in our world and possible the violence of Hell itself. But Christ calls you to be strong because the “empire” can’t keep Jesus in the grave!

• Describe a way you are living to fulfill God’s will and desires over your own desires?


• Has your “cross following” come up against the powers that be in your life? Explain.

Read Luke 9:18-23. Finally to embrace the way of the cross means changing your life practices. Knowing Jesus without living out Jesus’ principles is powerless to change the world. But if you live out the way of the cross, Christ will use you to truly build his kingdom on the earth.

• In what way do you need to become more loyal to Jesus than the culture in your life? Who will help you?


• How do you need to “take up your cross” and follow Jesus today instead of following the culture around you?