Pulpit Message Introduction for Feb. 24

Pulpit Message Introduction for third Sunday in Lent
The time was close to the time when Jesus was crucified. The Scripture tells us that Jesus had just told the disciples that he was going to have to suffer and be put to death. Peter couldn’t stand that idea and told him, "This shall never happen to you" (Matthew 16:22b). Jesus told Peter that he was thinking the way people thought rather than the way God thought. Then Jesus told his disciples what the Christian life was all about. It is one of the recurring themes of Jesus’ teaching. He said these things over and over again. He said if we really wanted to be his disciples, this is what we would have to do: "If anyone wants to come with me, he must forget himself, carry his cross, and follow me" (Matthew 16:24). So today in our Scripture we have a challenge issued to us if we are really going to be with the Savior. Three things are required: 1. We must forget ourselves; 2. We must carry our cross; 3. We must follow Jesus.The cost of discipleship is high. Is there a cheaper way to discipleship? The answer is no. For whoever wants to save his own life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for my own sake will find it’ " (Matthew 16:24-25).
講壇信息介紹
耶穌被釘十字架的時候越來越近了。聖經記載耶穌剛跟門徒講過祂必須上耶路撒冷去，受長老，祭司長，文士許多的苦，並且被殺，第三日復活。彼得就沉不住氣，他拉著耶穌說，“主啊，萬不可如此！這事必不臨到你身上。”耶穌告訴彼得他的想法是人的想法而不是神的想法。於是耶穌告訴門徒跟隨祂究竟是怎麼一回事。這是耶穌重覆又重覆的教訓，也是做主門徒的人，必須事先計算清楚的代價。祂說，“若有人要跟從我，就當捨己，背起他的十字架，來跟從我。”今天每個基督徒都要計算清楚這三個的代價：1.捨己，2.背十字架，3.跟隨主。
這三個代價都是很重的。究竟有沒有比較便宜的方法呢。答案是沒有，因為凡要救自己生命的，必喪掉生命；凡為基督喪掉生命的必得著生命。