Carrying the Cross ------------------ Discussion Verses ----------------- But we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. [1-Corinthians 1:23-24] For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. [1 Corinthians 1:18] Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it." [Luke 9:23-24] "And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple." [Luke 14:27] "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. [Galatians 2:20] And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. [Galatians 5:24] But God forbid that I should glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. [Galatians 6:14] Questions --------- 1. In 1-Corinthians 1:23-24, Paul talks about the cross as a "stumbling block", as "foolishness", and as "the power of God and the wisdom of God". (a) How could the Cross become a stumbling block? (b) How could the Cross become foolishness? (c) How is the Cross "the power of God and the wisdom of God"? 2. In Luke 9:23-24, Christ is asking us to "deny [ourselves]", "take up [our] cross daily", and "follow [Him]". (a) How do we "deny" ourselves? (b) What is our "cross"? (c) How do we follow Jesus? and to where?