The Denial, Cross, and Following of Christ and the Christian (Mark 8:27-35)

He Has Done All Things Well: Taking Up the Cross, Sunday, September 19, 2021

Readings for this Service: He Has Done All Things Well, #2

First Lesson: Jeremiah 38:1-13. God had Jeremiah warn the people of the coming judgment of God, yet this faithful servant received abuse and persecution.

Second Lesson: 1 Peter 4:12-19. Peter minds us that the suffering we do is for our Savior’s glory.

Verse of the Day: Romans 15:4. Indeed, whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that, through patient endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we would have hope.

Gospel and Sermon Text: Mark 8:27-35.

When we consider what we are to do as Christ’s followers, we need to begin with what Jesus has done for us: instead of remaining in heaven, he selflessly gave that us for us and he lived perfectly for us.

And then he died—on a cross—for us—so that our sins would be paid for. It is out of thankfulness for those things he did to save us that we follow him.

Although we often fail at it, we find forgiveness for those failures and we find help from the Holy Spirit to put us back on track so that we live a Christian life in thanks to Jesus.

Amen.

Pastor Ron Koehler