John Ortberg Quotes

Jesus says if you want to have me, you must give up that other thing that has you.

Following Jesus means taking up one's own cross to accompany him on his path, an uncomfortable path that is not one of success or earthly glory, but which leads to true freedom, the freedom from selfishness and sin.

You find that the things you let go of while following Jesus were the things that were going to destroy you in the end.

The cross is not a mere event in history; it's a way of life! Take up your cross DAILY, Jesus said!

Christian life means sacrifice.

I started really believing and understanding what it meant to be a follower of Jesus when I was probably in high school sometime. From there, just trying to draw on my faith since then.

Give up your good 'Christian' life and follow Jesus

Being a Christian means renouncing ourselves, taking up the cross and carrying it with Jesus. There is no other way.

To take up the cross of Christ is no great action done once for all; it consists in the continual practice of small duties which are distasteful to us.

To follow Jesus means putting him first, and stripping ourselves of all the things that oppress our hearts.

To arrive where you are, to get from where you are not / You must go by a way wherein there is no ecstasy.

The miracle often lies outside our comfort zone.

If we are going to live as disciples of Jesus, we have to remember that all noble things are difficult.

The first lesson in Christ's school is self-denial.

Now do I begin to be a disciple of Christ, and care for nothing in this world, that so I may find Jesus. Let fire, or the cross, or wild beasts, or the breaking of my bones, or the cutting of me to pieces, or the shattering of my whole body, yea, all the tortures of the devil - let them all come upon me, only let me enjoy my God.

If we are serious about our discipleship, Jesus will eventually request each of us to do those very things which are most difficult for us to do.

Salvation is free, but discipleship costs everything we have

Jesus said, "Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:33). We must honestly face the question, "Am I willing to give up a certain practice or habit that is keeping me from holiness?" It is at this point of commitment that most of us fail. We prefer to dally with sin, to try to play with it a little without getting too deeply involved.

Discipleship is crucial to our ultimate destiny, but its cost is total commitment.

Once again, Jesus calls those who follow him to share his passion.

Carrying the cross does mean following in Jesus' footsteps. And in His footsteps are rejection, brokenheartedness, persecution and death. There are not two Christs - an easy going one for easy going Christians, and a suffering one for exceptional believers. There is only one Christ. Are we willing to follow His lead?

Renunciation means that none can serve both God and Mammon.

If any want to become my followers," Jesus says. Following him is not something that is self-evident, even among the disciples. No one can be forced, no one can be expected to follow him. ... "If any want to follow me, they must deny themselves ... and take up their cross.

Kyle Idleman’s Not a Fan is a crucial message for our time. It’s a powerful call to commitment and to following Jesus with all our hearts that has challenged me in the best of ways!

To identify with the death of Jesus Christ means that we must die to everything that was never a part of Him.