What was God’s original command to man? See Genesis 1:28, 9:1,7, 35:11.
What did Jesus teach about what one must do in order to be fruitful? See John 15:4-5.
What is the blessing of abiding in Christ? See John 15:7.
What does it mean to abide in Christ? See 1 John 2:6.
How is one to abide in Christ and so bear much fruit? See John 12:24-26.
What did Jesus teach about the way of the cross? See Matthew 10:38, Luke 9:23-26, 14:25-27.
What does the cross primarily symbolize? See Acts 5:30, 10:39, Philippians 2:8.
To what things must one die in taking up his cross in order to follow Christ? See Romans 6:2,6,11, 7:4-6, Galatians 2:19, 5:24, 6:14, Colossians 2:20-23, 3:5-9, 1 Peter 2:24.
What is the importance of being crucified with Christ? See Romans 6:5-9, 8:13, Galatians 2:20, 5:24, Philippians 3:7-11.
How were Christ’s own sufferings an example for us to follow? See John 15:18-21, 1 Peter 2:21, 4:1.
What is the result of following Christ in the way of the cross and being crucified with Him? See Romans 6:22.
What is sanctification/holiness? See 2 Corinthians 6:17-7:1, 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13, 5:23.
Why is it important? See Hebrews 12:14, 1 Peter 1:14-16.
Why is the cross also a symbol of shame and humiliation? See Luke 23:32-33,35-39, Hebrews 12:1-2, 13:13.
In the eyes of the world, what is the shame or social stigma of following Jesus Christ? See 1 Corinthians 1:18,23-24,26-28, 2 Timothy 1:8,12,16, 1 Peter 4:16. See also Hebrews 11:37-38.
Why must one be willing to suffer shame and reproach from the world in order to follow Jesus? See Luke 9:26, John 15:19-20, 2 Timothy 3:12.
What does the way of the cross teach us about the manifestation of God’s power in our weakness? See 1 Corinthians 2:2-5, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, 13:4.
What is the reward for walking in the way of the cross? Luke 24:26, Philippians 2:5-11, 1 Peter 1:11; Matthew 5:10-12, Romans 8:17-18,29-30, 1 Peter 4:13-14.
Scriptures to Memorize
If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
Luke 9:23-26
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it; and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal.
John 12:24-25
I have been crucified with Christ; and 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 delivered Himself up for me.
Galatians 2:20
Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
1 Peter 4:1-2
Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
Hebrews 12:14 NIV
Assignment
Read Philippians and 1 Peter.
Once to every man and nation, comes the moment to decide,
In the strife of truth with falsehood, for the good or evil side;
Some great cause, some great decision, offering each the bloom or blight,
And the choice goes by forever, ’twixt that darkness and that light.Then to side with truth is noble, when we share her wretched crust,
Ere her cause bring fame and profit, and ’tis prosperous to be just;
Then it is the brave man chooses while the coward stands aside,
Till the multitude make virtue of the faith they had denied.By the light of burning martyrs, Christ, Thy bleeding feet we track,
Toiling up new Calv’ries ever with the cross that turns not back;
New occasions teach new duties, time makes ancient good uncouth,
They must upward still and onward, who would keep abreast of truth.Though the cause of evil prosper, yet the truth alone is strong;
James Lowell, 1845
Though her portion be the scaffold, and upon the throne be wrong;
Yet that scaffold sways the future, and behind the dim unknown,
Standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above His own.