The Radical Cross

Tomorrow my Men's softball season begins through Harvest Sports. God has blessed me with a great group of new guys and old faces to play so ball on the fields this Spring. I am in desperate need to hit up the batting cages because I am rusty (timing is off at hitting). Nevertheless, I was swinging great while having a good time last week out on the field. The balls we are using this season are lame! They are what I call "masher balls" because they hard to hit due to their softness it accumlates during the game. The best thing this season, however, is the study. We are going through the Life Guide Bible Study series titled "The Cross" by John Stott. John Stott is one of the great Christian theologians, pastor, and biblical author who is know for his book The Cross of Christ. The study should be a great time of spiritual growth with the brothers. I am excited to see what the Lord is going to do in the lives of those in the ministry and on the team. God always shows up to our studies and answers our prayers when we pray together and seek him with a pure heart. The theme of this season is cross-bearing discipleship.

 John MacArthur, my favorite Bible teacher, wisely described the proper context of taking up the cross and following Jesus: "A cross is the willing sacrifice of everything one has, including life, for the sake of Christ. It is something that, like the Lord Himself, a believer must take on himself when it is thrust upon him by the unbelieving world because of his relationship to God." During this season I plan on going through a few books along with the study on the cross. One of the books is A.W. Tozer's The Radical Cross. Here are some of the main points from the small but deep theological exposition on the implications and significance of the cross.

1. The Radical Cross - Its Power

2. The Radical Cross - Its Price

3. The Radical Cross - Its Purpose

4. The Radical Cross - Its Pain

5. The Radical Cross - Its Provision

6. The Radical Cross - Its Paradox

7. The Radical Cross - It's Promise

A.W. Tozer says in this book, "The cross of Christ is the most revolutionary thing ever to appear among men. We must do something about the cross, and one of two things we can do - flee from it or die upon it."

Charles H. Spurgeon said "There are no crown-wearers in heaven who were not cross-bearers here below."

Jesus said concerning being his disciple that you would have to "deny yourself, take up the cross, and follow me" (Mark 8:34). The three necessities of cross-bearing obedience as a faithful follower of Jesus is to die to your old life and image, take up the new life and image in Christ, and pursue the Lord was your Savior and King. I am excited to grow in my commitment to the Lord and gain new insights and refreshing truth about Jesus and what he did for me on the cross at calvary.