A Cross-Centered Life, Part 5: The Cross vs. Comfort

Brian Behrends, Creative Pastor

“Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.”
– FRANCIS CHAN

Daniel 3:22-26, 28
The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers, who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, And these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.
          Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”
          They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.”
          He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”
Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”

“Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.”

Your notes…

James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Your notes…

Matthew 16:24
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

Your notes…

Small Group Questions

1. When you feel overwhelmed, where do you look first for comfort? What are your go-to coping mechanisms?
2. Have you ever been in a season of life that you were so busy trying to get out of that you never really saw how God wanted to move in it?
3. Are there areas of discomfort, challenges, or risks that you believe God is calling you to embrace? What holds you back from stepping into those spaces?
4. What does it mean for you to keep the cross in the middle of your life instead of comfort?
5. In what ways can a community support and encourage one another to resist the idol of comfort and embrace growth and obedience?
6. How can we pray for you right now and throughout the week?