Join Us for Worship: Sundays at 9:00 AM & 11:00 AM https://www.flourishinggrace.org/plan-your-visit Sermon Title: Die to Self, Live for Christ: Following Jesus in Luke 9 YouTube & SoundCloud Search Description (4,500 characters): In this powerful and deeply challenging sermon, Pastor Benjer leads us through Luke 9:1–27—a rich and intense section of Scripture that confronts every follower of Jesus with a fundamental question: What kind of life am I living—and what kind of death am I choosing? At the heart of this message is the call to discipleship—not just belief, not just admiration, but wholehearted following of Jesus. Through the example of the twelve disciples, the miraculous feeding of the 5,000, and Jesus’ own foreshadowing of the cross, we’re shown what it truly means to be a disciple: to learn from Jesus, walk in His footsteps, and embrace a life that is often uncomfortable, messy, and costly—but ultimately full of abundance and eternal purpose. Jesus begins by sending His disciples out with power and authority to proclaim the Kingdom, heal the sick, and cast out demons. And they do it. Ordinary men, empowered by Christ, stepping into extraordinary mission. But when they return and face the challenge of feeding the multitudes, they falter. They forget what they’ve just seen and done. They forget that Jesus is enough. And so do we. Discipleship, Pastor Benjer reminds us, is not a perfect upward trajectory. It’s not about spiritual heroism or flawless devotion. It’s a bumpy journey. It’s full of grace and learning. And above all, it’s a daily dying—dying to comfort, dying to small dreams, dying to our preferences and our endless yeses to self. Jesus makes it plain in Luke 9:23: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” That’s the call. That’s the cost. And that’s the invitation into the abundant life Jesus promises—not abundant in stuff, ease, or worldly success, but rich in meaning, rooted in purpose, and shaped by selfless love. Benjer doesn’t hold back from applying this to everyday life: our marriages, our parenting, our ambitions, our finances, even our weekend plans. He shares honestly from his own experience as a father of children with disabilities, reflecting on what it means to dream big in God’s kingdom—not in worldly achievement, but in faithfully following Christ and helping others do the same. This sermon is a wake-up call. In a world that tells us to chase comfort and say yes to every craving, Jesus speaks a better word: Say yes to me. Pastor Benjer challenges the cultural lie that Christianity is just about self-improvement or believing the right things. Jesus doesn’t call us to be better versions of ourselves—He calls us to be new. And that newness comes through surrender. If you’re someone who has followed Jesus but finds yourself weary, discouraged, or feeling like you’ve failed too many times, this sermon is for you. If you’re exploring faith and wondering what Jesus really expects, this sermon is for you. And if you’re a committed disciple who needs a fresh reminder that the way of Christ is both cross and resurrection, this message will stir your heart. At Flourishing Grace Church, we’re not trying to create a culture of superficial faith. We’re learning to die well—to die to our own way so that we might live in the fullness of Jesus’ way. This message will help you take your next step, whatever that may be. Stick around until the end as Pastor Benjer invites us into prayer and response. Maybe you’ve held back a part of your heart, your time, your dreams. Maybe God is gently poking at something you know you need to surrender. Don’t ignore it. Lean in. Say yes. And remember: when you say no to yourself, you’re not saying no to joy—you’re saying yes to Jesus, the only source of true life. Listen, reflect, and let this teaching sink deep into your soul.