SERMON
The Cost of Discipleship: Taking Up Your Cross Daily – November 9, 2025
Pastor Paul Georgulis
If following Jesus meant giving up your comfort, your pride, or even your plans… would you still follow Him?
This week in our series, we’re exploring what it means to follow Jesus fully. Last week, we began by hearing Jesus’ invitation: “Come, follow me, and be with me.” Discipleship starts not with doing things for Jesus but by being with Him, saying “yes” to His call, and letting Him guide our lives.
But following Him also calls us to surrender. True discipleship always comes with a cost. When we walk closely with Jesus, He begins to work on the areas in us that cling to control, comfort, or self. That’s where our growth begins.
Discipleship Means Daily Surrender—Dying to Self and Trusting Jesus
In Luke 9:23-25, Jesus said to His disciples:
“23 Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?”
To deny oneself means to refuse what distracts or distances us from God. It could be pride, comfort, or the desire for approval—habits and priorities that keep us at the center instead of Jesus. And sometimes, it can even mean surrendering good things that have taken first place in our hearts.
Denying ourselves is one thing, but Jesus takes it even deeper by calling us to take up our cross. That’s not a light, poetic phrase, and it didn’t mean putting on a piece of jewelry. A cross was an instrument of death.
Your cross might not be literal suffering, but it’s where following Jesus will cost you—maybe time, pride, convenience, or comfort.
Jesus’ cross, however, was unlike any other. He had no sin; He bore ours. Isaiah 53:5 says:
“He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.”
When Jesus calls us to take up our cross, He invites us into a pattern of self-giving love. Our crosses aren’t about earning God’s favor—they’re about reflecting it. Following Jesus daily means surrendering our plans and desires, trusting Him even when it costs us something, and living out love toward others.
Notice the word “daily.” Luke includes it to remind us that following Jesus isn’t a one-time decision—it’s a continual choice. It’s not about perfection but persistence—a rhythm of trust that keeps us walking with Him.
Jesus also says, “Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.” The Greek word for “life” is psyche, meaning your self—your soul, your identity. Clinging too tightly to comfort, control, or reputation actually costs us the life we’re trying to protect. Letting go and trusting Him fully is how we truly find life—abundant, unshakable life.
Ask yourself:
Anything less isn’t true discipleship—it’s pretending. Dying to self is the pathway to life. Surrendering control brings freedom; letting go of comfort brings peace; giving up self opens the door to the One who gives us our true selves back.
True Joy and Fruit Come from Abiding in the Vine
Following Jesus isn’t meant to be done alone. On the night before going to His own cross, He gave His disciples another image: the vine and branches (John 15:5-8).
“5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Without staying connected, our spiritual lives fade. Abiding in Jesus—dwelling in Him through prayer and Scripture—is how we draw strength to take up our crosses. It’s not about effort; it’s about connection. Remaining in Him allows His life to flow through us, even in challenging seasons, and sustains our obedience.
The cross shows what obedience looks like; the vine shows how obedience is sustained. Abiding is essential for fruit that lasts.
The Cross-Shaped Life Draws Others to Jesus
When we truly abide in Jesus, our lives take the shape of His cross—self-giving, outward-focused, rooted in love. This kind of life draws others to Him. The world doesn’t need more perfect Christians; it needs surrendered ones—people who love when inconvenient and forgive when it hurts.
Every act of surrender reflects the One who died for us. Our daily “yes” to Jesus transforms not only us but those around us, equipping them to bear fruit as well.
Discipleship is both personal transformation and participation in God’s mission.
Conclusion
Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote:
“It is only when Christ calls a man to follow Him that he truly discovers what it means to live.”
As we surrender and abide, we not only find life rooted in Jesus but also open the door for others to experience it. This week, choose one area to surrender—your schedule, a relationship, a habit, or an attitude. Take up your cross daily, abide in Him, and watch how small acts of surrender deepen your trust and peace.
Jesus’ invitation is the same today as it was 2,000 years ago: Come, follow me. Following Him deeply always involves surrender—the daily choice to take up your cross, abide in Him, and let His life flow through you. That’s the cost of discipleship. But it’s also the gift: when we lose our lives for His sake, we find them renewed and alive.
This week in our series, we’re exploring what it means to follow Jesus fully. Last week, we began by hearing Jesus’ invitation: “Come, follow me, and be with me.” Discipleship starts not with doing things for Jesus but by being with Him, saying “yes” to His call, and letting Him guide our lives.
But following Him also calls us to surrender. True discipleship always comes with a cost. When we walk closely with Jesus, He begins to work on the areas in us that cling to control, comfort, or self. That’s where our growth begins.
Discipleship Means Daily Surrender—Dying to Self and Trusting Jesus
In Luke 9:23-25, Jesus said to His disciples:
“23 Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?”
To deny oneself means to refuse what distracts or distances us from God. It could be pride, comfort, or the desire for approval—habits and priorities that keep us at the center instead of Jesus. And sometimes, it can even mean surrendering good things that have taken first place in our hearts.
Denying ourselves is one thing, but Jesus takes it even deeper by calling us to take up our cross. That’s not a light, poetic phrase, and it didn’t mean putting on a piece of jewelry. A cross was an instrument of death.
Your cross might not be literal suffering, but it’s where following Jesus will cost you—maybe time, pride, convenience, or comfort.
Jesus’ cross, however, was unlike any other. He had no sin; He bore ours. Isaiah 53:5 says:
“He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.”
When Jesus calls us to take up our cross, He invites us into a pattern of self-giving love. Our crosses aren’t about earning God’s favor—they’re about reflecting it. Following Jesus daily means surrendering our plans and desires, trusting Him even when it costs us something, and living out love toward others.
Notice the word “daily.” Luke includes it to remind us that following Jesus isn’t a one-time decision—it’s a continual choice. It’s not about perfection but persistence—a rhythm of trust that keeps us walking with Him.
Jesus also says, “Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.” The Greek word for “life” is psyche, meaning your self—your soul, your identity. Clinging too tightly to comfort, control, or reputation actually costs us the life we’re trying to protect. Letting go and trusting Him fully is how we truly find life—abundant, unshakable life.
Ask yourself:
- Do I think of my relationship with God mainly in terms of what I get, or what He asks of me?
- Am I willing to deny myself, take up my cross daily, and follow Him?
Anything less isn’t true discipleship—it’s pretending. Dying to self is the pathway to life. Surrendering control brings freedom; letting go of comfort brings peace; giving up self opens the door to the One who gives us our true selves back.
True Joy and Fruit Come from Abiding in the Vine
Following Jesus isn’t meant to be done alone. On the night before going to His own cross, He gave His disciples another image: the vine and branches (John 15:5-8).
“5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Without staying connected, our spiritual lives fade. Abiding in Jesus—dwelling in Him through prayer and Scripture—is how we draw strength to take up our crosses. It’s not about effort; it’s about connection. Remaining in Him allows His life to flow through us, even in challenging seasons, and sustains our obedience.
The cross shows what obedience looks like; the vine shows how obedience is sustained. Abiding is essential for fruit that lasts.
The Cross-Shaped Life Draws Others to Jesus
When we truly abide in Jesus, our lives take the shape of His cross—self-giving, outward-focused, rooted in love. This kind of life draws others to Him. The world doesn’t need more perfect Christians; it needs surrendered ones—people who love when inconvenient and forgive when it hurts.
Every act of surrender reflects the One who died for us. Our daily “yes” to Jesus transforms not only us but those around us, equipping them to bear fruit as well.
Discipleship is both personal transformation and participation in God’s mission.
Conclusion
Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote:
“It is only when Christ calls a man to follow Him that he truly discovers what it means to live.”
As we surrender and abide, we not only find life rooted in Jesus but also open the door for others to experience it. This week, choose one area to surrender—your schedule, a relationship, a habit, or an attitude. Take up your cross daily, abide in Him, and watch how small acts of surrender deepen your trust and peace.
Jesus’ invitation is the same today as it was 2,000 years ago: Come, follow me. Following Him deeply always involves surrender—the daily choice to take up your cross, abide in Him, and let His life flow through you. That’s the cost of discipleship. But it’s also the gift: when we lose our lives for His sake, we find them renewed and alive.