Matthew16:21-28: Understanding and Applying the Mission of Christ: "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it." -- "True freedom is to be one's true self, but my true self is made for loving, and loving is self giving. So in order to be myself, I have to deny myself and give myself. In order then to be free, I have to give up my freedom. In order to live, I have to die to my self-centeredness. In order to find myself I've got to lose it." (John Stott)