The Life of a Seed

CRUCIFORM (THE PATTERN OF GROWTH)

Pastor Hope Flask

May 4, 2025

Main Scripture: Matthew 16:21-28

Additional Scriptures: Matthew 16:11-12, 22-23, Luke 12:1,

2 Corinthians 13:5, John 10:10, John 6:68-69, Romans 12:1-2

POINTS:

• When we don’t know our history, we allow culture not only to divide the church but also to define it.

• Five major Jewish groups tried to influence Jesus’ ministry: Sadducees, Pharisees, Essenes, Zealots, and Herodians.

• A cruciform life is one shaped by the cross into the shape of the cross.

• When Jesus says “follow”, the meaning is “obedience; forming to Christ”.

• 5 steps to live a cruciform life: desire, denial, death, devotion, destiny.

• Desire is the first step and Discipleship begins with a want.

• We must deny the worldly philosophy of self-will, self-importance, self-indulgence, self-sufficiency, and self-fulfillment.

• A false self creates a false church.

• Recognizing Jesus’ death is “taking up the cross”, as Jesus commands us.

• Peter advocates for a Cross-less Christianity in denial.

• When you follow Jesus, you end your life of self and begin a life of sacrifice and service to Jesus.

• Devotion is more than us asking Jesus to be a part of what we do; it’s us being a part of what He is doing.

• Destiny is the result of a cruciform life; “Well done, good and faithful servant.”