The Thief on the Cross and Me

By: Alfred Toole, Jr.

Matthew 27.38-44

We have learned how to live, but not how to die.

“When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”

--Deitrich Bonhoeffer

John 12.24-26

DieDieSeparate

Bran •The Hard Outer Shell

Endosperm

•The Nutrients

Germ •The Embryo

LoveLove

Cherish

SaveSave

Protect

LoseLose

Ruin

John 12.24-2524 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to

the ground and Separates, it remains only a single seed. But if it separates, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who Protects their life will Ruin it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

We have learned to count the seeds in an apple, but failed to count the apple trees in the seed.

How do you call a man to a cross while attempting to meet them where they are?

Luke 14.25-27, 33

HateJesus

HatePrefer

ONE WAY

Luke 9.23-25

What are you dying for?

A cross isn’t a trial; it’s a death.

No one dies because we think too much of ourselves.

The Mission must become greater than the man, not the man greater than the mission.

Must you live?

• Choose your way and no transformation occurs; choose God’s way and transform the world.

Sacrifice is always costly.

Romans 12.1

You kill what needs to be dead and let God bring to life what needs to be alive.

Philippians 1.21

• 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Christianity was never meant to be you doing what you want with God’s help. You do what God wants with your help.

The Missing Shovel

John 12.24-26

Bran •The Hard Outer Shell

Endosperm

•The Nutrients

Germ •The Embryo

Bran •Millfeed

Endosperm

•Flour

Germ •Wheat Germ

John 12.24-2624 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to

the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

Every man dies, does but not every man truly lives for Christ.

ServeServeWait Upon

Your turn.

Luke 23.39-4339 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults

at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[d

]”43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

What have you got to lose?