Last week, we heard about Satan's temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. This week, Peter is the one (unknowingly) doing the tempting as he rebukes Jesus (can you imagine rebuking Jesus?!) and insists that the Messiah might be able to complete his mission without experiencing suffering, rejection and death.  Jesus then rebukes Peter, calling him Satan, and then turns to the disciples and the crowd and says, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me."

• Why would anyone want to be a follower of Jesus if following him means taking up a cross and losing their lives?
  o   What would it look like to take up a cross and follow Jesus?
• The word translated "life" in verses 35-37 is the Greek word psyche which could also be translated soul or the "inner life" or personality of a person.  However you translate it, the statement is paradoxical.  How can one lose their life or inner being in order to gain it?  Yet this is exactly what Jesus calls us to do.
  o   What would it mean to be willing to give up your self-your life?
  o   What would it mean to gain it?
  o   What would be a healthy way of denying self?
  o   What would be unhealthy ways of denying self?

Just a few thoughts to help us prepare our hearts and minds (ourselves!) for Sunday!
 
Pastor Sherill