The Challenge of the Cross
Categories: Sermon Outlines, Topical Sermon OutlinesSUBJECT: Theology: Christology
TITLE: The Challenge of the Cross
PROPOSITION: We will study the challenge of the cross to the Christ, to the Christian, and to the Church.
OBJECTIVES: The hearer should be able to explain the challenges that faced the Christ while he was upon the earth, realize and apply how those challenges that He faced relate to our walk of faith today, and show the subsequent relationship between the Christian and the church: how a faithful Christian will always be concerned about the church and its work.
AIM: With this lesson I hope to increase the resolve in each member to imitate the Christ, and to be concerned about the welfare of the church.
INTRODUCTION:
1. Read: Matthew 16:24, 25
2. About the text:
1) Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first…”
2) We must first and foremost dedicate ourselves to the Christ and imitating his life.
3. Ref. To S, T, P, O and A
DISCUSSION: The challenge of the cross faced/faces…
I. THE CHRIST – THE CHALLENGE OF PROVIDING MAN’s SALVATION.
1. The Challenge of Leaving Heaven.
1) John 1:1 – defines what being on equality with God means; he was with God; was God; all things made by him – a picture of absolute equality.
2) Philippians 2:5ff – did not count being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped.
3) Colossians 1:15, 16
4) Colossians 2:9 “For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.”
2. The Challenge of Living as a Man.
1) Temptation at the Hand of Satan – Hebrews 2:18; 4:15
2) Poverty – Matthew 8:20. He could have come as a king or prince….
3) He had to deal with his own death – Luke 22:42-44
3. The Challenge of Dying as the Son of God.
1) The rejection by His own – Matthew 26:56. They had wanted to make him king just a mere five days earlier.
2) The “rejection” by his Father – Mark 15:34. Compare 2 Corinthians 5:21
3) The rejection of His power – Matthew 26:53. (One angel smote 70,000 in 2 Samuel 24:15. One angel smote 185,000 Assyrians in 2 Kings 19:35; and one angel shut the mouths of a den of lions in Daniel 6:22.)
II. THE CHRISTIAN – THE CHALLENGE OF IMITATION THE CHRIST
1. The Challenge of Obedience – True obedience is a difficult thing. Story of farmer and son digging wells. We should be obedient as the Christ was obedient.
1) Hebrews 5:8, 9
2) 2 Corinthians 10:5
3) 1 John 5:3
2. The Challenge of Humility – We should be humble as the Christ was humble.
1) Philippians 2:5ff
2) Matthew 18:4
3) 1 Peter 5:6
3. The Challenge of Faithfulness – We should be faithful as the Christ was faithful.
1) Faithfulness is like a walk – 2 Corinthians 5:7
2) Faithfulness is like a race – Hebrews 12:1, 2
3) Faithfulness may involve death – Rev. 2:10
III. THE CHURCH – THE CHALLENGE OF BEING THE BRIDE OF CHRIST
1. The Challenge of Purity.
1) Christ’s love for the church demands that it be kept pure – Ephesians 5:25-27
2) Moral Purity – 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7. The church and every member must be morally pure.
3) Doctrinal Purity – 2 Timothy 1:13
2. The Challenge of Unity
1) Ephesians 4:1-6
2) 1 Corinthians 12:13-20
3. The Challenge of Stability
1) 1 Tim. 3:15
CONCLUSION:
1. We each have a challenge before us this morning.
1) The challenge of the Christ.
2) The challenge of the Christian.
3) The challenge of the Church.
4) These three things make up the challenge of the cross.
5) Matthew 16:24, 25. “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”
2. Invitation
1) For Christian
a. Will you take up the challenge of the cross today?
2) For non-Christian
a. Hear
b. Believe
c. Repent
d. Confess
e. Be baptized.