This week at New Hope, Pastor Vicki challenges us with one of the most crucial questions of all: what does it really mean to follow Jesus?
We explore Mark 8:31-38, where Jesus openly shares that following Him means more than simply believing — it means denying ourselves, picking up our cross, and giving Him full authority over our lives. It’s not the comfortable road many of us might imagine. Jesus doesn't promise an easy life, but a true life — one that goes against the grain of self-centeredness, pride, and worldly values.
Pastor Vicki reminds us that sometimes we’re tempted to reshape Jesus into a version we find more convenient, one that fits our preferences or cultural values. But the real Jesus — the suffering servant, the risen Lord — calls us to radical surrender.
Following Jesus isn't a halfway commitment. It's an invitation to lose the life we think we want so that we can gain the life God has prepared for us.
This week's message asks:
Are we willing to surrender everything?
Where do our lives need realignment with the values of Christ rather than the values of culture?
Are we following fully, or halfway?
Take some time to reflect, pray, and honestly wrestle with these questions below.
Discussion Questions
Christianity Explored: What does it mean to follow Jesus?
Mark 8:31-38
What are some ways we might make Jesus into our own image?
What kind of Messiah were the disciples expecting? How did Jesus differ from their expectation?
How would you define self-denial as discussed in the message?
What did Jesus mean by taking up your cross?
How do the values of Jesus conflict with our values as Americans? What about your own personal values?
Is it possible to follow Jesus half-way? Why or why not?
What is the biggest irony, according to Pastor Vicki?
Questions to reflect on this week:
Are you willing to surrender all to follow Jesus?
What needs to change in your life and thinking to be more consistent with the ways of Jesus Christ?
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More Sermons in this Series
Why did Jesus die on the cross? This sermon unpacks Mark 8 and four powerful reasons the cross matters—substitution, sacrifice, history, and eternity. Discover how Jesus' identity and mission transform our lives today.
Why did Jesus die on the cross? This sermon unpacks Mark 8 and four powerful reasons the cross matters—substitution, sacrifice, history, and eternity. Discover how Jesus' identity and mission transform our lives today.
In this sermon from Mark 10:17–27, Rev. Vicki Harrison explores the radical nature of God’s grace and what it really means to be accepted by God—not by earning it, but by receiving it. Watch the message and reflect on what it means to depend fully on Jesus.
This week at New Hope, Pastor Vicki continues our Christianity Explored series by asking a powerful and personal question: Why did Jesus come?
The answer goes straight to the heart—literally.
In a storm-tossed boat, the disciples cry out, “Who is this man?” As Jesus calms the wind and waves, we’re left asking the same question. Explore the identity and authority of Jesus as revealed in the first chapters of Mark—and discover why it changes everything.
What happens when God says "No" to our plans? In Acts 16, Paul learns a crucial lesson: working for God's Kingdom is not just about effort—it’s about following God's vision. Discover how embracing God's direction leads to multiplication, revival, and a faith that grows in ways we never imagined.
Other Sermons from Pastor Roberto
Generosity is the fourth step in What's My Next Step, God? Roberto walks straight through 2 Corinthians 9:6-9 — the law of the harvest, the motive behind the gift, and what God's abundance is actually for — after retracing the whole series from prayer to worship to service. The thread running through it: generosity is how a self-centered heart gets pulled off center.
Hebrews 10 says perseverance in worship is a class project, not an individual one. Pastor Roberto Chaple names the three half-truths that keep us worshipping alone.
Pastor Roberto Chaple opens Matthew 5:38-48 and walks through four of Jesus's hardest instructions — turn the other cheek, hand over your coat, go the second mile, love your enemies — and what they ask of us now.
You've heard it said that words are just words. Jesus disagrees. In this final message from the Words Matter series, Pastor Roberto Chaple opens Matthew 12:35-37 to show us that what we say is a window into what we're storing up — and that our words carry more weight than we've been willing to admit.
Pastor Roberto Chaple closes the Set Apart series in Romans 12:1-2 with a clear invitation: because of God's mercy, offer your whole life to Him and replace the patterns shaping you with practices that renew your mind.
Holiness can feel distant, but in Isaiah 6 Pastor Roberto Chaple shows that God's holiness meets us in real life with conviction, cleansing, and purpose. Watch the message and take this week's Awe Moment challenge.
Jesus warns that religion without transformation creates hardened hearts. In Luke 11, Pastor Roberto Chaple challenges us to examine whether our faith is outward appearance or true inner change.
Jesus didn't just teach truth—He made truth unforgettable. In this sermon, Pastor Roberto unpacks what it means to teach like Jesus, with love, authority, and everyday impact.
Storms don’t mean you missed your calling. In this Vision 2026 message, Pastor Roberto Chaple challenges us to stay the course, trust Jesus in the boat, and row toward the other side. Watch the video or listen to the audio now.
Zechariah wanted a son to continue his legacy—but God had bigger plans. In this sermon from Sing Me the Story, Pastor Roberto shows us how God turns disappointment into a prophetic declaration. Watch the full message or listen to the sermon today.
Why did Jesus die on the cross? This sermon unpacks Mark 8 and four powerful reasons the cross matters—substitution, sacrifice, history, and eternity. Discover how Jesus' identity and mission transform our lives today.