To follow yourself is to lose yourself.
“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”
-Mark 8:34-36
We all follow something: an influencer on social media, a YouTube how-to channel, a podcast on a favorite topic, a diet, instructions for IKEA furniture. No matter what we’re following at any given time, we have to give something up. What you’re following determines your level of sacrifice. If it’s a social media influencer, maybe you’re giving up something from your closet. If you’re following a diet, you’re giving up your favorite junk food. If you’re building a piece of furniture, you’re giving up your pride or control or mental state. To follow something requires a sacrifice.
It’s the same for following Jesus, and that’s clear in this passage of Mark 8. Following Jesus means you “deny yourself and take up your cross and follow Jesus. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Jesus and for the gospel will save it.”
To follow yourself is to lose yourself. The sacrifice in the moment doesn’t feel like a lot—you may not even realize you’re sacrificing anything at all! But the loss is eternal. Jesus is saying that when you follow him, you’ll have to sacrifice your plans, your ideas of right and wrong, and your control, but in the process, you’ll gain a greater plan for your life, a guide to life in Scripture, and a purpose greater than yourself.
So, if following Jesus requires sacrifice, what are you sacrificing? What does it mean for you to follow Jesus?
The Christmas season brings peace, joy, and hope through Jesus. However, we often feel fear, worry, and anxiety because we idolize control instead of trusting the King of Kings. Our response to unexpected events reveals who we trust. In Scripture, King Herod clung to control, while Joseph, despite his fear, trusted God's plan. Joseph's story shows that fear can lead us to trust God rather than seek control.
Have you ever really wanted something—whether it was that relationship, that career, or that dream vacation—and once you got it, it didn’t satisfy you the way you thought it would? You convinced yourself that if you could just have that one thing, everything would fall into place, and you’d feel fulfilled. But when you finally reached it, you still felt like something was missing. We've all been there, haven’t we? We all have moments—sometimes fleeting, sometimes years long—when a sense of emptiness creeps in, leaving us wondering, “Is this it?” We get weary, discontent, and restless. But what if that very emptiness, that longing in your soul, is not a sign of failure, but an invitation? What if it’s God’s way of telling us that we were made for more—more than what this world can offer? What if this empty feeling is actually a gift from Him, an alarm in our hearts that signals we need to look beyond the temporary and seek the eternal? You were made for more than this world; you were made for a relationship with God!
Do you feel like life lacks meaning or purpose? Often, a self-centered approach can lead us into fear, worry, and isolation, pulling us away from the abundant life God intended. But there’s a better way—one rooted in radical generosity. At the heart of God’s design is a call to live a life modeled after His Kingdom—a life of generosity, connection, and trust in His provision. Discover what it means to embrace “Garden living,” where we return to God’s original plan and reflect His character in our everyday lives. Join us on this transformative journey and learn how Jesus invites us to experience the fullness of life through radical generosity!
In an isolated society where we want to pretend like we have it all together, it can be so hard to ask for help. Jesus stepped into our mess of a world and said He would give us HOLY HELP. The only way He can give us holy help is if we lean into His teachings. It’s not enough for us just to just want to be better, we have to actually practice daily rhythms that will help cement us into Kingdom culture characteristics. The important thing is that we are pouring the right thing into our hearts and not what the things that could hurt us. God gave us Scripture to show us exactly what we needed to follow! Help is here!
An anchor is defined as a person or thing that can be relied on for support, stability or security. The HOPE found in the Kingdom of God is anchored in the person of Jesus—our KING. Firm and secure, He breathes hope into the storms of life and connects us in a bond of unity that cannot be broken.
The Kingdom of God is full of HOPE. Unwavering hope is the belief that despite your past, Jesus can redeem your future. Hope is a major theme throughout the Bible because it is the core of the Gospel. Hope waters your soul and gives you strength and security for your future. When you put your hope in our risen Savior, it spills over into your marriages, families, careers, and future.
Hospitality isn’t just about sharing a meal or having a spotless home; it’s about inviting others into our lives, even the messy parts, so they can see Jesus in us. Southern hospitality says, 'Come on in and make yourself at home,' and that’s the heart of Christ too! When we welcome others with love and openness, we make them feel valued and seen – just as God welcomes us. Let’s look for ways to show that same love and let our homes and hearts be a reflection of Jesus. Who can you invite in to experience His love today?
God has made himself accessible to us through prayer. The very God of the universe that knows the hairs on our heads has given us access to His heart through prayer. We are given access to His power, but most of the time when it comes to our prayers, we think too little of God, too much of ourselves, or the opposite, we can belittle ourselves into not praying at all! God wants your bold prayers- wall falling, Lazarus rising, waters parting - to shake the rafters of Heaven.
