1 Corinthians 1:26-31 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-and the things that are notto nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of...

Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭11‬-‭14 “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law,...

Matthew‬ ‭10‬:‭38‬-‭39 “Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10‬:‭38‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬ Far from being a decorative piece of jewelry, the cross in Jesus day was something hideous and shameful. Roman citizens weren't allowed to be crucified. Decent citizens weren't executed on a cross. Only the scum, riffraff, and hideous were humiliated and tortured by...