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Pastor Pett's sermon from the Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost explores the concept of bearing one's cross as a fundamental aspect of Christian discipleship. It emphasizes that each believer has a unique cross to bear, which serves as a test of faith and commitment to Christ.

Pastor Pett highlights the importance of prioritizing Jesus above all else, even family, and the necessity of relying on Christ's resources rather than our own to build our faith and fight spiritual battles. The sermon concludes by reinforcing that Christ's love and sacrifice provide everything believers need for salvation and spiritual growth. 

Every Christian bears a unique cross as a test of faith

Prioritizing Christ above all relationships and personal desires is essential for discipleship

We must recognize our inability to build faith or fight spiritual battles on our own

Christ provides all the necessary resources for our spiritual life and salvation

Trusting in Christ alone enables us to fulfill the first commandment

Here are the scripture references mentioned or alluded to by Pastor Pett:

1. Luke 14:27 - "Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple."

2. Luke 14:34-35 - "Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

3. Luke 14:26 - "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, even his own life, he cannot be my disciple."

4. Luke 14:28 - "For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it."

5. Luke 14:31 - "Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?"

6. John 15:13 (alluded to) - "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."

7. Exodus 20:3 (alluded to) - "You shall have no other gods before me." (First Commandment)

Additional relevant verses that align with the main themes discussed:

8. Matthew 16:24 - "Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.'"

9. 1 Corinthians 1:18 - "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."

10. Galatians 6:14 - "But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."

11. Philippians 4:19 - "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."

12. Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

[Jesus said], "Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple."

Why did He give you a cross? It's a test. Are you willing to bear that cross or not? Are you willing as you bear that cross to put Christ first?

No one but Jesus can forgive all your sins. No one but Jesus can save you from hell. No one but Jesus can give you eternal life.

Do you have the resources, do you have the wherewithal, do you have the supply chain to build that tower of faith on your own? No. None of us does.

Only Jesus can be that supply. As Jesus bore His own cross, what was really the weight of the cross? Our sin, our guilt, our shame, everything that we deserved as punishment for our sin, Jesus bore all that weight.

Christ supplies it. Christ endured it. Christ gives us His grace. Christ gives us His mercy. Christ gives us His love.
When we're trusting in Him above all things, yes, we can do that. His supply, His resources, His love makes all the difference.