What does Jesus mean by deny yourself?

Jesus calls His followers to submit their desires, ambitions, and lives to His authority and lordship.

Does self-denial mean rejecting God's good gifts?

No. Self-denial means refusing to place our desires above God's will, not rejecting the good gifts God provides.

Why is self-denial important in the Christian life?

Self-denial is essential because discipleship involves following Christ rather than living according to self-rule.

Self-Denial and Following Christ: Luke 9:23-24 Explained

Name: Self-Denial and Following Christ
Uploaded: 2026-06-09
Channel: Dave Jenkins
Description: Jesus calls His followers to deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow Him. In this episode of Contending for the Word Q&A, Dave Jenkins explains Luke 9:23-24 and shows why self-denial is an essential part of Christian discipleship.

⏱️ Estimated Reading Time: 2 min read

Contending for the Word Q&A

In this episode of Contending for the Word Q&A, Dave Jenkins explains what Jesus means in Luke 9:23-24 when He calls His followers to deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow Him. In a culture that celebrates self-expression and self-rule, Scripture calls Christians to surrender to Christ, submit to His Word, and trust that His ways lead to true life.Self-denial is not about rejecting God’s good gifts or pursuing misery. It is about refusing to place our desires above the will of God and learning to live under the good and gracious lordship of Jesus Christ.

Listen and Watch

Audio Player: Video Player:

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

What Jesus means by denying yourself.
Why self-denial is central to biblical discipleship.
How Luke 9:23-24 confronts modern self-expression.
Why Christ’s authority leads to true freedom and life.
How Christians can submit their desires to God’s Word.

Key Scripture

Luke 9:23-24

More from Contending for the Word Q&A

For more biblical answers to real-life questions, visit the Contending for the Word Q&A page.You can also watch more episodes on our Contending for the Word Q&A YouTube playlist.

Dave Jenkins

Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah, and lives in beautiful Southern Oregon. He is a writer, editor, and speaker who loves Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology.Dave serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries and the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine. He is the Host and Producer of the Equipping You in Grace Podcast and a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word.He is the author of The War of Worldviews: Truth, Lies, and the Battle for the Christian Mind (Theology for Life, 2026), Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021).You can connect with Dave on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, or subscribe to his newsletter.When he is not engaged in ministry work, Dave enjoys spending time with his wife, going to movies, sharing a meal at a favorite restaurant, or playing a round of golf with friends. He is also a voracious reader, particularly of Reformed theology and the Puritans, and is often found working through a stack of new books from a wide range of Christian publishers.Dave earned his M.A.R. and M.Div. from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.

Continue Growing in Biblical Truth

If this article served you, explore resources by Dave Jenkins and Theology for Life Publishing designed to help you grow in biblical clarity, theological depth, and faithful Christian living. You can view the featured titles below or explore more in the shop.

Explore the Shop