John 1223 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, 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. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

John 14:12

“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do…

even greater things…than these, because I am

going to the Father.”

3 goals this morning

1. I am going to teach you how Jesus decided on his cross to carry.

2. Then I am going to help you start a process to figure out what your personal cross looks by getting you to ask yourself three simple questions.

3. And then I am going to invite you to join with me, your pastoral team, the elders, the church counsel, and others in the church in the Fellowship Hall on Wednesday night for a vision meeting where we will ask ourselves as a church those same three questions.

Three question that lead to kingdom greatness

Who are we?

What is God

calling us to do or become?

Who is our

neighbor?

Who are we?

Our Core ValuesThe Love of God

Christ CenterednessAnabaptism

Excellence (God’s Kingdom Greatness)

Relevance & Vitality

Three question that lead to kingdom greatness

Who are we?

What is God

calling us to do or become?

Who is our

neighbor?

How Jesus answers the three questions

Word made flesh; incarnation of God

(John 1); Son of Man come from heaven (John 3:13); Son of

God (Matthew 27:43); Messiah (John 4:25-

26)

Sacrifice self (Mathhew 17:22-23, John 12:27); save the world (John 3:14-17);

forgive sins (Mathhew 26:28)

The lost sheep of Isreal (Matthew 15:21-28; Luke 19:10); poor,

prisoner, blind and oppressed (Luke 4:18-19); sinners (Mark

2:17)

How Jesus answers the three questions

Jesus was the Messiah.

Be the unblemished Passover Lamb on behalf of

the world.

Jesus' neighbor =

those ignored by

the religious.

Jesus’ Sweet Spot

Jesus was the Messiah.

Be the unblemished Passover Lamb on behalf of

the world.

Jesus' neighbor =

those ignored by

the religious.

Jesus’ Sweet Spot

Jesus was the Messiah.

Be the unblemished Passover Lamb on behalf of

the world.

Jesus' neighbor =

those ignored by

the religious.

Jesus’ elevator speech

“I need to come from heaven, be born of a virgin, live as a human for thirty-three years, travel as a rabbi for three

explaining the heart of God and the kingdom to the lost in Israel and then

he needed to go to Jerusalem, sacrifice myself for humanity through the hands of evil religious men, die and then on

the third day be resurrected by God and ascend into heaven.”

Jesus’ sweet spot

The Cross

short, sweet, to the point

John 19:30

“It is finished.”Jesus knew what his finish line was and pursued

it with all of his life and lifestyle.

So should you!

John 14:12

“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do…

even greater things…than these, because I am

going to the Father.”