Surrender Yourself for More | Priscilla Shirer

Who Do You Say Jesus Is? Surrendering All

Scripture References

Primary text

• Luke 9:18-20
• Luke 9:23

Other references

• Isaiah 54
• Luke 1
• Luke 2
• Luke 3

Overview

Priscilla Shirer anchored the message in Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?” (Luke 9). Our willingness to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him hinges on how we answer that question. Through stories, humor, and a sober reading of Luke 9, she showed that discipleship is more than believing Jesus is a good teacher; it is giving Him full access to every room of our lives. The call today is to move from fan to follower by surrendering all.

Main Points

Identity Before Invitation

• Jesus asked the disciples about His identity (Luke 9:18-20) before inviting them to radical discipleship (v. 23).
• Until we know who Jesus truly is—Redeemer, Messiah, Lord—we will never trust Him with everything.
• A small view of Jesus limits not Him but our relationship with Him.

The Cost of Discipleship

• Luke 9:23 contains weighty words: deny, cross, lose, follow.
• Genuine surrender confronts the “self-focused faith” that celebrates comfort, excess, and hustle as divine favor.
• Following Jesus means re-centering on simplicity, discipline, obedience, holiness, and Spirit-produced restraint.

Fans vs. Followers

• Illustration: Huge crowds followed Jesus for miracles, much like modern church crowds drawn to production and inspiration.
• Fans admire Jesus; followers obey Him.
• Compliments that rank Jesus alongside great teachers are insults—He is in a class by Himself.

Full-Access Surrender

• Story: As a child Shirer only knew her teacher, Miss Wright, in one setting. Seeing her in the grocery store “with knees” exposed how limited that view was.
• Story: Years later, Priscilla stayed in a 20,000-sq-ft house where the owner said, “Make yourself at home,” yet restricted the guests from walking on rugs or leaning on elevator walls.
  • Parallel: We tell Jesus to “make Himself at home” but keep Him off certain “rugs”—habits, relationships, screens, ambitions.

“Who do you say that I am?”

The Urgency of Quick Obedience

• Depth of surrender is shown not only by what we yield but by how fast we yield it.
• Delayed obedience exposes unbelief about Jesus’ worthiness and goodness.

Key Truths

• The invitation to surrender follows a revelation of Jesus’ identity.
• Jesus is without comparison; reducing Him to “good teacher” cripples discipleship.
• Fans attend; followers abandon all claims to self-ownership.
• Real surrender grants Jesus unrestricted access to every area of life.

Response

• Examine your life and name the “rooms” still closed to Jesus.
• Release the habit, relationship, ambition, or comfort He is pointing out—today.
• Measure obedience by immediacy; act on the Spirit’s prompting without delay.
• Replace admiration with allegiance: schedule, finances, politics, and entertainment all bow to His lordship.
• Confess Jesus publicly this week, inviting someone else to answer the identity question.

Closing

Priscilla asked each listener to take personal inventory: If Jesus truly is Lord, He deserves unfettered access. Craig Groeschel closed by leading believers to surrender hidden areas and inviting seekers to give their whole lives to Christ.

“I have decided to follow Jesus—no turning back, no turning back.”

Prayer

Priscilla prayed for forgiveness where we grip tightly and for grace to “let You come in and truly make Yourself at home.” Craig prayed salvation for those surrendering all to Jesus and strength for believers to walk in full obedience.

Resources

• I Surrender All (book, releases next month) by Priscilla Shirer