The "Cross" in Discipleship Defined - Mark 8

What does it mean to take up our cross and follow Jesus? Is Suffering inevitable and where does our suffering come from?
We are in a Bible Study Series entitled Journeying w/ Jesus and this is a study in which we invite you to read the Gospels with us as we focus on the sayings, the ministry, the life of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ. We want to know what Jesus said, how he felt, who was with him and what he did. We have started this series in the Gospel of Mark.