DiscussionGuide
1. Think of a time when your expectations aboutsomething—a job, a relationship, a season of life—turned out to be way off fromreality. What happened?
2. The disciples expected that being close to the Messiahwould mean power, influence, and an easier life. Why do you think thatexpectation was so natural? In what ways do people today come to faith withsimilar expectations?
3. Jesus said his followers must “deny themselves”. Thesermon described this as more than willpower—it’s renouncing self and acceptingJesus as the authority in your life. What’s the difference between those twothings in everyday practice?
4. To “take up your cross” in the first century meantpublic shame, loss of status, and walking toward death. Knowing that, what doyou think Jesus was really asking of his followers—and what does that ask looklike in your own life?
5. Jesus gave three reasons to follow him: it’s a matterof destiny, value, and loyalty. Which of those three resonates most with youright now, and why?
6. The sermon said, “Following Jesus is not about addinghim to your life, it’s about reordering your life around him.” Where in yourlife does Jesus feel more like an addition than the center? What would it looklike to reorder that area?
7. The sermon closed with a reminder that Jesus isn’tasking you to go somewhere he hasn’t already gone—he denied himself, suffered,and gave his life first. How does that change the way you hear his call tofollow?
8. The sermon suggested three practical questions for thisweek: Where is Jesus not the authority in my life? What is one thing I need tolay down? What is one step of obedience I’ve been avoiding? Which of thosethree feels most pressing for you right now?
ClosingPrayer Prompt
• Thank Jesus for going first—for carrying his own crossso that we could find life in him.
• Confess the specific places where you have been addingJesus to your life rather than reordering your life around him.
• Ask for the courage to lay down the one thing you’vebeen holding onto and take the step of obedience you’ve been avoiding.
• Pray for anyone in your group still weighing the costof following Jesus—that they would see clearly what is at stake and what hasalready been done for them.
