Point of Grace Worship 3.6.22 Sermon Notes – “Let Go to Hold On – The backwards way of Jesus!”

The backwards way of Jesus?

Die to live

Be last to be first

Be least to be great

Serve to Lead

Give away to receive

Let Go to Hold On

Following Jesus is a “Yes” to Him

But also a “No” to …….?

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life[f] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? Matthew 16

15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. … 21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. 22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

Peter has a “Self-Reliant-Self” along with a “God-Reliant-Self” … which one will lead Peter today?

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.” Luke 9

What does “denying self … taking up my cross daily and following Jesus” look like?

The Self-Reliant-Self ……………. Has self in the center

The God-Reliant-Self ……………… Has God in the center

Following Jesus is a “Let Go and Hold On” Life … a “Yes to Jesus and No to Self” Life

Jesus, It is a step out in faith, trusting Your grace towards me as I ask You to reveal to me what it practically looks like this week for me to deny my “self-reliant-self” the lead and follow You with my “God-Reliant-Self” leading?

Resources for this Week

Here are some suggested readings for each day of this week. The Meditation Hints below may help you listen and receive all God has for you.

Mon – Matthew 4:18-22 Tue – Luke 10:38-42 Wed – Matthew 9:9-13 Thu – Matthew 14:25-33 Fri – Matthew 16:21-25

Meditation Hints:

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word! I rest in You!”

Scripture – Read the scripture slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there! Reflect on what you are noticing and where He is leading your thoughts.

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?” Talk about what you notice is on your heart. Begin to own the “word of God” being revealed to you.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God, resting and listening and being loved