Choosing Faith: The Cost of Discipleship
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor sharing a story about a banker who is saved on the brink of eternity, emphasizing the importance of not procrastinating when it comes to accepting salvation and surrendering to God. He underscores the significance of God's personal call on believers' lives and the misery that comes from either running away from that call or trying to serve without being called by God. The pastor then shares a personal experience of having a meaningful conversation with someone in need, emphasizing the impact that can be made when God brings people together.
The pastor then shares a personal experience of receiving a message from someone who was going through difficulties in their life. He emphasizes the importance of finding a community of believers who genuinely care for one another and encourages the person to draw close to Jesus for themselves and their children. The pastor acknowledges that societal changes have made it harder for people to form meaningful connections with others. He also highlights the consequences of remaining on the fence as a believer, stating that it is displeasing to God and can even be contagious.
The pastor then addresses the issue of stagnancy within the congregation, referring to some members as "Mossy backs" who have been in the same seats for a long time, symbolizing their lack of growth and progress. He acknowledges that these individuals are good people who love the Lord but emphasizes that their stagnant state has become contagious. The pastor then addresses the complaint of loneliness and lack of friends within the congregation. He reminds the congregation that if they want to have friends, they must be friendly themselves.
The pastor then tells a story about a lamb and a wolf to illustrate the choices we face in our daily lives. He emphasizes the importance of making a choice and not staying on the fence. He quotes Joshua 24:15, encouraging the congregation to choose whom they will serve, just as he and his household have chosen to serve the Lord. The pastor concludes by urging the congregation to imagine a scenario where they see a familiar face at church, someone they have known for years but have never invited.
The sermon concludes with the pastor addressing a cancer that is present in churches today, causing them to lose their effectiveness or even die. This cancer is characterized by members believing that the Christian walk has no personal cost and that the life of Christianity requires no personal sacrifice. The pastor attributes this cancer to society's obsession with tolerance and the fear of offending others. The pastor concludes by praying for the congregation to examine their hearts and repent if anything within them does not align with God's word.
Key Takeaways:
- The pastor emphasizes the importance of not procrastinating when it comes to accepting salvation and surrendering to God. He underscores the significance of God's personal call on believers' lives and the misery that comes from either running away from that call or trying to serve without being called by God. [12:45]
- The pastor acknowledges that societal changes have made it harder for people to form meaningful connections with others. He also highlights the consequences of remaining on the fence as a believer, stating that it is displeasing to God and can even be contagious. [24:30]
- The pastor addresses the issue of stagnancy within the congregation, referring to some members as "Mossy backs" who have been in the same seats for a long time, symbolizing their lack of growth and progress. He acknowledges that these individuals are good people who love the Lord but emphasizes that their stagnant state has become contagious. [36:15]
- The pastor tells a story about a lamb and a wolf to illustrate the choices we face in our daily lives. He emphasizes the importance of making a choice and not staying on the fence. He quotes Joshua 24:15, encouraging the congregation to choose whom they will serve, just as he and his household have chosen to serve the Lord. [48:20]
- The pastor addresses a cancer that is present in churches today, causing them to lose their effectiveness or even die. This cancer is characterized by members believing that the Christian walk has no personal cost and that the life of Christianity requires no personal sacrifice. The pastor attributes this cancer to society's obsession with tolerance and the fear of offending others. [59:30]
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. 1 Kings 18:16-19: "So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah. When he saw Elijah, he said to him, 'Is that you, you troubler of Israel?' 'I have not made trouble for Israel,' Elijah replied. 'But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the Lord’s commands and have followed the Baals. Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.'"
2. 1 Kings 18:20-21: "So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. Elijah went before the people and said, 'How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.' But the people said nothing."
3. Revelation 3:15-16: "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth."
Observation Questions:
1. What was the conflict between Elijah and Ahab in 1 Kings 18:16-19?
2. In 1 Kings 18:20-21, what challenge did Elijah present to the people of Israel?
3. What does the metaphor of being 'hot', 'cold', or 'lukewarm' represent in Revelation 3:15-16?
Interpretation Questions:
1. What does Elijah's confrontation with Ahab reveal about the consequences of abandoning God's commands?
2. How does Elijah's challenge to the people of Israel in 1 Kings 18:20-21 relate to the concept of wavering between two opinions?
3. How does the metaphor in Revelation 3:15-16 reflect the spiritual state of the church in Laodicea and what implications does it have for believers today?
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt like you were wavering between two opinions in your spiritual life. What helped you to make a decision?
2. Can you identify any 'lukewarm' areas in your faith life? What steps can you take this week to become more 'hot' or 'cold' in those areas?
3. Think of a person in your life who is struggling with their faith. How can you encourage them this week to choose whom they will serve?
4. Are there any areas in your life where you feel stagnant or like a 'Mossy back'? What is one action you can take this week to encourage growth in that area?
5. Reflect on your relationships within your faith community. Is there someone you've known for a while but never invited to church or a small group? Plan a time this week to extend that invitation.
Devotional
Day 1: The Urgency of Salvation
The urgency of accepting salvation and surrendering to God cannot be overstated. It is crucial to recognize the personal call God places on each believer's life, and the misery that ensues from either running away from that call or attempting to serve without being called by God. [12:45]
Bible Passage: 2 Corinthians 6:2 - "For he says, 'In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.' I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation."
Reflection: Reflect on your personal relationship with God. Have you fully accepted His salvation and surrendered to His call? What steps can you take today to respond to His call?
Day 2: The Danger of Fence-Sitting
Societal changes have made it increasingly difficult to form meaningful connections with others. However, the consequences of remaining on the fence as a believer are severe, as it is displeasing to God and can even be contagious. [24:30]
Bible Passage: Revelation 3:15-16 - "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth."
Reflection: Consider your spiritual life. Are you fully committed to God, or are you sitting on the fence? What steps can you take today to fully commit to God?
Day 3: The Stagnancy of Complacency
Some believers, referred to as "Mossy backs," have been in the same seats for a long time, symbolizing their lack of growth and progress. While these individuals love the Lord, their stagnant state has become contagious. [36:15]
Bible Passage: Hebrews 6:1 - "Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God."
Reflection: Reflect on your spiritual growth. Have you been stagnant in your faith? What steps can you take today to grow and progress in your faith?
Day 4: The Necessity of Choice
Every day, believers face choices that impact their spiritual lives. It is crucial to make a choice and not stay on the fence. As Joshua 24:15 states, believers must choose whom they will serve. [48:20]
Bible Passage: Deuteronomy 30:19 - "This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live."
Reflection: Reflect on the choices you make daily. Are they in line with serving God? What specific choice can you make today to serve God better?
Day 5: The Cost of Discipleship
A prevalent issue in churches today is the belief that the Christian walk has no personal cost and requires no personal sacrifice. This belief, attributed to society's obsession with tolerance and fear of offending others, is detrimental to the church's effectiveness. [59:30]
Bible Passage: Luke 14:27 - "And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple."
Reflection: Reflect on your understanding of discipleship. Are you aware of the cost and sacrifice it requires? What personal sacrifice can you make today to follow Christ more closely?
Quotes
1. "Our culture says the greatest thing we have need of right now is tolerance...that there is no absolute truth...friends can I tell you that just is anti-bible period...there is truth, his name is Jesus."
2. "They were stuck and because they were stuck because they were stagnant because they were in the same spot for so long it became contagious."
3. "That on the fence mentality, it's contagious. It makes other people say, 'Oh okay, I'm supposed to be like that, okay I'm in.'"
4. "Our on the fence mentality is so contagious that it'll bleed over to the people around us... we fail to realize that we live in the structure of a community of people who supposedly love Jesus and love each other."
5. "I choose to stay here. It is better to be sacrificed to God than to be eaten by a wolf."
6. "But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve... but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."
7. "The choice is up to you... imagine with me that you come to church on a Sunday and see your longtime neighbor and friend... you've known them for years but you've never invited them to church."
8. "Part of me would be happy because my friend Ken's here, the other part of me would be going man, I wonder if I would have asked Ken a few years ago if maybe some of the struggles he's been going through he wouldn't have had to go through alone because he's developing relationships within a community of Believers."
9. "This cancer allows members to believe that the Christian walk has no personal cost to them and that the life of Christianity has no personal cost to them."
10. "There's a difference between interest and commitment. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstances permit. But when you're committed to do something, you accept no excuses, only results."
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