Week 2: Take Up Your Cross - Class Outline

Week 2: Overcoming road blocks in our relationship with Jesus
FOCUS: LEARNING TO TAKE UP OUR CROSSES

Mark 8:34-38

34Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35For whoever wants to save his life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 38If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

WEEK IN REVIEW: Did you pray 10 minutes a day this week? What effect, if any, did it have on your life? Will you continue to pray daily?

MEDITATION: Use Lectio Divina to listen to what God has to say to you in the passage above. Discuss your experience with the group.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:
1. What does it mean to take up your cross?
2. Do you see this as an important part of your faith journey? Why or why not?
3. What fears do you have around this idea?
4. What does Jesus mean when He says, “let them deny themselves?”
5. Have you ever felt that you had to lose something in order to free yourself up for something else?
6. What would it mean for the church as a whole to take up the cross?

EXPLORING THE COSTS AND JOYS OF DISCIPLESHIP:
What would be the costs and/or results of taking up the cross in the following areas?
Home, Work, Church, World

TO DO THIS WEEK: Continue praying. Pick out your favorite scripture verse and be prepared to share it with the group next week.

CLOSE: The Lord’s Prayer