Bob Schwahn | Lead Pastor | January 18, 2026

Referenced Scripture:

Luke 9:23-24, Ephesians 5:25, Mark 1:14-15, James 2:18-19, Revelation 2:1-5

Reflection Questions:

Luke 9:23
Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

1) Whoever
What were the requirements and pre-qualifications to be a follower of Jesus? Give some examples.What does that say about God that the bar to entry from a cultural perspective was really low?
What thoughts might you have had in observing who Jesus chose to be his closest followers? Explain.

2) Wants to be my disciple
“Wants” implies it is a choice that we make to follow Jesus or not. Why do you think Jesus would give us a choice and not demand that we love and follow Him? Can love be forced? Explain.

1 John 4:19
We love because he first loved us.

3) Must deny themselves
What do you think Jesus meant by this? What does this NOT mean? Explain.
What has it cost you to follow Jesus? Why is it important to know up front that following Jesus can and will be costly?
Is there an area of your life that you find difficult to surrender to Jesus (or an area you find it difficult to follow)? Explain, why?

4) Take up their cross daily and follow me.
What did the symbol of the cross mean to a first century person? How is that different from how we view the symbol?Why does that appear to be a “bad marketing” strategy by Jesus? What do you think he was trying to be clear about?How have you experienced humility, suffering, and death as a follower of Jesus?Do you ever experience FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) because you are a follower of Jesus? Explain.

Luke 9:24
For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.
5) Explain what Jesus is promising in this statement. Have you experienced the reality of this promise? Why or why not?
6) How do you need to take up your cross TODAY in order to follow Jesus? Why do we need to do this DAILY?
7) What do we do if our heart grows cold, hard, tired, or apathetic?

Read Revelation 2:1-5
8) Why is repentance always the answer when we are off track in following Jesus?
9) Being an ALL IN follower of Jesus is about DIRECTION and NOT PERFECTION.What does that statement mean? Agree or disagree? Why?

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The Specialness of Shaban – Sejad Mekić