Matthew 25:14-21

God has given you gifts, and he wants you to use them for His glory.  When our days have been spent and used, it should be our deep hope to hear our savior say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!  You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

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We are told to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things.  We must purposefully and mindfully control our thoughts, and shift them when need be.  How well are you doing lately with keeping a peaceful and joyful mind which is set on things above?
Ephesians 4:22-24

We don’t usually consider our trials to be “pure joy.”  God is using your trials.  He wants you to grow mature and complete, not lacking anything.  
James 1:2-10

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We are told to take up our cross and follow Jesus.  What does that mean, and how can you focus on taking up your cross - in your thoughts, in your actions, and in your words?
John 12:23-26

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Forgiveness is so important to Jesus that He ties the forgiveness we give others with being forgiven ourselves.  Do you struggle with forgiveness?
Matthew 6:5-15

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In order for you to fully allow yourself to be used by God, you must first fully trust God.  How might God be wanting to stretch your faith and use you to His glory right now?
Romans 12:1-2

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In Pastor Rick Warren’s sermon “A Faith That Works When Life Doesn’t,” he points out that Jesus’ resurrection took place over the course of 3 days.  Friday was a day of fear, pain, and heartache.  Saturday was a day of discouragement and hopelessness.  And finally on Sunday we experience a day of freedom and joy.  He says that we will experience all of these days repeatedly over the course of our lives.  We will have days of fear and grief.  We will have days of disillusionment and discouragement, and we will also have days of extreme joy and peace.

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Jesus invites us into His Father’s presence.  What once separated us from God has been removed.

There may be no more veil in the temple, but often we can have a veil in our heart.  A guilty conscience, an ongoing sin ignored, an inability to let go of past hurts or regrets, an inability to fully trust.  We can create our own barriers separating us from our loving Father.  What are these barriers for you?

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This episode corresponds with Week 2, Workout 2 from SoulStrength Fit’s Come to the Cross Bible Study Fitness Program
Certainly, Jesus was teaching humility and service towards others.  He was setting an example for us to follow.  But what other meaning might we discover from this encounter?  Peter was focused on the physical act that was being performed, and he was appalled by the thought of His Lord serving him in such a way.  “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand,”  Jesus said.  And then, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me."

Eventually scripture would be opened more fully to them, revealing all the ways the acts of Christ fulfilled what was written concerning Him.

Let’s consider the meaning of this washing as previously foretold in scripture.

Unless our sins are washed away, we can have no part with Jesus. The disciples, even at this late stage in their time with Christ, still did not grasp what His mission on this earth was truly all about. They were still seeking an earthly, physical kingdom, not realizing that His kingdom was not of this earth, but was spiritual. This simple act was to show that unless they are washed of their sins, they cannot inherit the kingdom of God. The message of repentance and forgiveness was at the very heart of Christ’s teachings.

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Read: Luke: 18:31-33

What is Jesus trying to tell His disciples in these verses? Do they understand Him? 

Jesus is warning the disciples in these verses that He must go to Jerusalem, suffer and be killed.  He must do this in order to fulfill the scriptures and the prophets.  

“Then he said to the crowd, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.’”

Luke 9:23

If we are to sincerely follow Christ and be His disciples, we too must take up our crosses and follow after Him.  What does this mean to you?