No Cross, No Christ!
The Cross is essential for true discipleship, life, and ministry, and is the source of the Church's true expression.
Miles J. Stanford emphasizes the importance of bearing our cross and following Christ to be His disciples, highlighting the necessity of spiritual growth and manifestation of Christ through the Body. He explains that suffering leads to a full and abundant ministry, not by inviting trouble but by allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us through experiences that enrich our ministry. Stanford warns against focusing solely on the external order or form of churches, stressing that true churches and believers are formed by the life and Cross of Christ, not by human systems or blueprints.
Text
"Whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after Me, cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:27).
One hears much today about "body life," with its emphasis upon New Testament gathering, rather than Christ-centered growth. The Body is meant to manifest the Head, and that necessitates spiritual members.
"Where there is no Cross there is no life, and no ministry of life. The object of suffering is that there may be a full and abundant ministry. . . . We are not to invite trouble, nor by austerity to ill-treat our bodies. The Holy Spirit Himself takes responsibility for our experience, leading us in paths where we encounter, in body, heart, or spirit, that measure of 'the dying of Jesus' that will mean enrichment of our ministry."
"There are many today who seem to think that it is all or largely a matter of the order, technique, and form, and if we are to return to the 'New Testament' form or order of churches all would be well. The fact is that, while certain things characterize the N.T. churches, the Word does not give us a complete pattern according to which churches are to be formed!
"There is no blueprint for churches in the N.T., and to try to form such churches is only to create another system which may be as legal, sectarian and dead as others. Churches, like the Church, are organisms which spring out of life, which life itself springs out of the Cross of Christ wrought into the very being of believers. Unless believers are crucified people, there can be no true expression of the Church." -T. A-S.
"God forbid that I should glory, except in the Cross" (Galatians 6:14).
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of the Cross
- The Problem with 'Body Life'
- The Role of the Holy Spirit
- The Danger of Trying to Create a Blueprint
- The New Testament does not give us a complete pattern for churches
- Trying to create a blueprint can lead to legalism and deadness
Key Quotes
“Where there is no Cross there is no life, and no ministry of life.” — Miles J. Stanford
“God forbid that I should glory, except in the Cross” — Miles J. Stanford
“We are not to invite trouble, nor by austerity to ill-treat our bodies.” — Miles J. Stanford
Application Points
- We must be willing to bear our cross and follow Christ in order to be His true disciples.
- The Holy Spirit takes responsibility for our experience, and we must trust in Him to lead us.
- We must not try to create a blueprint for churches, but rather allow the Church to grow organically from the Cross of Christ.