
Craig Smith • Surrender • April 30, 2023
The ultimate question behind the series…
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46)
The heart of the Christian life involves a commitment to
…
“And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple… In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:27, 33)
Surrender: the
of two
– “‘Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.’” (Luke 22:42)
The challenge of surrender…
“As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.’” (Luke 9:57-58)
• Following Jesus on your
– “He said to another man, ‘Follow me.’ But the man replied, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’” (Luke 9:59-60)
• Looking back at what you
– “Still another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.’ Jesus replied, ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.’” (Luke 9:61-62)
If you’re going to follow Jesus, you have to lay down your “
” – “‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.” (Mark 1:17-18)
The reward of surrender…
• A
life – “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” (John 12:24)
• An easy
– “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11:28-30)
He must become greater; I must become less. (John 3:30)