4/27/25 - More to the Story Part 1: Embracing the Way of the Cross - Pastor Josh Stelly

Sermon Notes

Luke 9:23 NIV- “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”

The Cross-Shaped Life: Choosing to lose the world's way to win God's way.

The Two Ways Before Us

Luke 4:6–7 NIV- And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.”

Matthew 4:10 NIV- Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

1 John 2:16 NIV- For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.

Our Daily Temptation

Proverbs 14:23 NLT- Work brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty!

Romans 12:2 NIV- Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

James 4:4 NIV- You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

The Better Way Forward

John 10:10 NIV- The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Colossians 3:23–24 NIV- Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Philippians 2:3–4 NIV- Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Galatians 2:20 NIV- I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

1 Corinthians 1:17 NIV- For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

Practical Application: The Challenge to Choose Loss

Matthew 5:38–39 NIV- “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.

Philippians 2:3 NIV- Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,

Mark 8:35 NIV- For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.

Ephesians 1:19–20 NLT- I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.

Looking Ahead: The Journey of Cross-Centered Living

Being with Jesus.

Becoming like Jesus.

Doing what Jesus did.

Luke 9:23 NIV- “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”

1 Corinthians 1:18 NLT- The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.