24)

A newly arrived preacher opens a series he calls Vital, the things Jesus said are not optional, and starts where Jesus starts, with denying self and taking up a cross daily. He separates surrender from mere commitment through the story of the Romanian preacher Joseph Ton, then works out three consequences: Jesus must be greater than self, surrender is better than power, and losing beats winning. It lands on baptism as the starting gate rather than the finish line, and closes with an invitation.