Counting the Cost of Discipleship: A Deliberate Choice

 

Summary

In today's reflection, we delve into the profound concept of "counting the cost" of discipleship. This is not merely an emotional exercise but a deliberate, cognitive process of evaluating the true cost and benefits of following Jesus. The decision to follow Christ is akin to making a significant life choice, requiring a clear understanding of what we gain and what we must relinquish. The term "decide" itself implies cutting off other possibilities, much like the Latin root it shares with "homicide." Jesus often used stark language to emphasize the seriousness of this choice, urging us to prioritize Him above all else, even our closest relationships.

Dallas Willard, in his book "Renovation of the Heart," highlights that the real bargain in life is surrendering ourselves to Jesus. This surrender is not about enduring a miserable existence but about recognizing the incomparable value of living in God's kingdom. The parable of the hidden treasure illustrates this beautifully: a man sells everything he owns to buy a field with hidden treasure, not out of deprivation but out of joy for what he gains.

Counting the cost involves a thorough assessment of both the sacrifices and the rewards of discipleship. It requires us to list our assets and liabilities, much like an accountant would. The cost of following Jesus includes giving up our time, money, ambitions, and desires. However, the gains are immeasurable: forgiveness, fellowship with Jesus, wisdom, community, transformation, the presence of the Holy Spirit, purpose, and hope beyond death.

Conversely, the cost of non-discipleship is steep. Without following Jesus, we forfeit divine guidance, live at the mercy of our desires, and face a life filled with envy, resentment, and a lack of purpose. Therefore, I encourage you to take time today to reflect on these costs and gains. Write them down if it helps, and make a decision grounded in clarity and conviction, not fleeting emotions. May God guide us as we undertake this important task.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Nature of Decision-Making: Deciding to follow Jesus is a deliberate act of cutting off other possibilities, much like the Latin root of "decide" suggests. This decision requires a focused mind, not just emotions, to understand the true cost and benefits involved. [00:59]

2. Prioritizing Jesus Above All: Jesus calls us to prioritize Him above all relationships and inducements. This is not about contempt for others but about recognizing the supreme value of following Him. [01:28]

3. The Real Bargain of Life: The only real bargain in life is surrendering ourselves to Jesus. This surrender is not about enduring misery but about gaining the incomparable treasure of living in God's kingdom. [02:34]

4. The Cost of Discipleship vs. Non-Discipleship: Following Jesus requires giving up our time, money, ambitions, and desires, but the gains are immeasurable. Conversely, non-discipleship leads to a life without divine guidance and purpose. [10:55]

5. A Deliberate Accounting Process: Counting the cost of discipleship is a cognitive process, much like accounting. It involves listing the sacrifices and rewards, ensuring our decision is based on clarity and conviction, not fleeting emotions. [11:24]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:32] - Counting the Cost
- [00:59] - The Nature of Decision-Making
- [01:28] - Prioritizing Jesus Above All
- [02:06] - Carrying Your Cross
- [02:34] - The Real Bargain of Life
- [03:22] - Misconceptions of Discipleship
- [04:07] - The Accounting Process
- [05:20] - The Danger of Self-Denial
- [06:50] - The Cost of Following Jesus
- [07:24] - The Parable of the Hidden Treasure
- [08:35] - The Value of the Kingdom
- [09:04] - Reflecting on the Cost
- [10:24] - The Cost of Non-Discipleship
- [11:24] - Making a Grounded Decision

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Counting the Cost of Discipleship

Bible Reading:
1. Luke 14:26-27 - "If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple."
2. Matthew 13:44 - "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field."

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Jesus mean when He says we must "hate" our family to be His disciple in Luke 14:26? How does this relate to prioritizing Jesus above all else? [01:28]

2. In the parable of the hidden treasure (Matthew 13:44), what actions does the man take upon discovering the treasure, and what does this reveal about the value of the kingdom of heaven? [07:24]

3. How does the sermon describe the process of "counting the cost" of discipleship? What analogy is used to explain this process? [04:07]

4. According to the sermon, what are some of the costs and gains associated with following Jesus? [09:04]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How might Jesus' command to "carry your cross" in Luke 14:27 be understood in the context of daily life and decision-making? [02:06]

2. What does the parable of the hidden treasure suggest about the joy and sacrifice involved in following Jesus? How does this challenge common misconceptions about discipleship? [07:24]

3. The sermon mentions the cost of non-discipleship. How does this concept help us understand the broader implications of choosing not to follow Jesus? [10:55]

4. How does the sermon use the analogy of accounting to explain the process of evaluating the cost of discipleship? What does this suggest about the nature of decision-making in faith? [04:07]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current priorities. Are there relationships or commitments that you place above your relationship with Jesus? How can you begin to realign these priorities? [01:28]

2. Consider the "treasures" in your life. What are you willing to sacrifice to gain the kingdom of heaven, as described in the parable of the hidden treasure? [07:24]

3. The sermon encourages a deliberate and cognitive approach to decision-making in faith. How can you incorporate this approach into your spiritual life, especially when faced with difficult choices? [04:07]

4. Identify one area of your life where you feel the cost of discipleship most acutely. How can you find joy in this sacrifice, similar to the man in the parable of the hidden treasure? [07:24]

5. Reflect on the cost of non-discipleship mentioned in the sermon. Are there aspects of your life where you feel the absence of divine guidance or purpose? How can you address these areas? [10:55]

6. The sermon suggests writing down the costs and gains of discipleship. How might this exercise help you make more grounded decisions in your faith journey? [11:24]

7. Think about a recent decision you made. How did you weigh the costs and benefits, and how might this process change if you applied the principles from the sermon? [09:04]

Devotional

Day 1: The Deliberate Act of Decision-Making
Deciding to follow Jesus is a profound and deliberate act that involves cutting off other possibilities. This decision is not just an emotional response but a cognitive process that requires a focused mind to understand the true cost and benefits involved. The Latin root of "decide" implies a cutting away, much like the word "homicide," which underscores the seriousness of the choice to follow Christ. It is a commitment that demands prioritizing Jesus above all else, even above our closest relationships. This decision-making process is essential for anyone considering the path of discipleship, as it sets the foundation for a life aligned with Christ's teachings. [00:59]

Luke 14:28-30 (ESV): "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? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’"

Reflection: What are some possibilities or paths in your life that you need to cut off to fully commit to following Jesus today?


Day 2: Prioritizing Jesus Above All
Jesus calls us to prioritize Him above all relationships and inducements. This prioritization is not about showing contempt for others but about recognizing the supreme value of following Him. In doing so, we acknowledge that our relationship with Jesus is the most important aspect of our lives, one that should take precedence over all else. This call to prioritize is a reminder that our allegiance to Christ should shape our decisions, actions, and interactions with others. It is a call to evaluate what truly holds the highest place in our hearts and to make adjustments accordingly. [01:28]

Matthew 10:37-39 (ESV): "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."

Reflection: Is there a relationship or commitment in your life that you have placed above your relationship with Jesus? How can you begin to realign your priorities today?


Day 3: The Real Bargain of Life
The real bargain in life is surrendering ourselves to Jesus. This surrender is not about enduring a miserable existence but about gaining the incomparable treasure of living in God's kingdom. Dallas Willard, in "Renovation of the Heart," emphasizes that this surrender is the true bargain, as it leads to a life filled with joy, purpose, and fulfillment. The parable of the hidden treasure illustrates this beautifully: a man sells everything he owns to buy a field with hidden treasure, not out of deprivation but out of joy for what he gains. This perspective invites us to see surrender not as a loss but as a gain of immeasurable value. [02:34]

Matthew 13:44 (ESV): "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?


Day 4: The Cost of Discipleship vs. Non-Discipleship
Following Jesus requires giving up our time, money, ambitions, and desires, but the gains are immeasurable. The cost of discipleship involves sacrifices, yet the rewards include forgiveness, fellowship with Jesus, wisdom, community, transformation, the presence of the Holy Spirit, purpose, and hope beyond death. Conversely, the cost of non-discipleship is steep, as it leads to a life without divine guidance, filled with envy, resentment, and a lack of purpose. This comparison highlights the importance of evaluating the true cost and benefits of following Jesus, encouraging us to make a decision grounded in clarity and conviction. [10:55]

Mark 8:34-36 (ESV): "And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?'"

Reflection: Reflect on the sacrifices you have made or need to make to follow Jesus. How do these sacrifices compare to the rewards you have experienced or hope to experience in your walk with Him?


Day 5: A Deliberate Accounting Process
Counting the cost of discipleship is a cognitive process, much like accounting. It involves listing the sacrifices and rewards, ensuring our decision is based on clarity and conviction, not fleeting emotions. This process requires us to assess our assets and liabilities, much like an accountant would, to understand the true cost and benefits of following Jesus. By engaging in this deliberate accounting process, we can make informed decisions about our spiritual journey, grounded in a clear understanding of what we gain and what we must relinquish. This approach encourages us to be intentional and thoughtful in our commitment to Christ. [11:24]

Proverbs 24:3-4 (ESV): "By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches."

Reflection: Take time today to list the sacrifices and rewards of your discipleship journey. How does this exercise help you gain clarity and conviction in your decision to follow Jesus?

Quotes


i want to talk to you today about counting the cost i want to encourage you actually i'm going to make time for you to spend some time today to count the cost of the most important decision what will i do with my life what will i base it on whom will i follow [00:00:26]

any good decision requires a very clear understanding of what are the gains and what are the benefits involved in deciding this or not deciding this a friend of mine pointed out that the word decide contains the same little latin root as the word for homicide to eliminate to cut off [00:00:50]

jesus uses what can sound like quite shocking language if you come to me jesus says and do not prefer me over do not hate your own father mother wife children brothers sisters yes your own life you cannot be my apprentice [00:01:21]

those who are not genuinely convinced that the only real bargain in life is surrendering ourselves to jesus and his cause the only real bargain in life is abandoning all that we love to him and for him cannot learn the other lessons jesus has to teach us [00:02:31]

the oppression gained by most who hear about counting the cost of following jesus is about how terrible and painful that cost is there's a quite famous book by dietrich bonhoeffer called the cost of discipleship and i expect for many many people if they hear that phrase they think of the weight or the burden or the awfulness of it [00:03:11]

but counting the cost it is an accounting process it is a cognitive process to count the cost he says is to take into consideration both the losses and gains of all possible courses of action to see which is most beneficial [00:03:55]

the cost of non-discipleship then would be seen for what it is unbearable accounting is not something that you mostly do with your feelings my dad was an accountant my dad was 100 scandinavian my dad was not a feeler and when he was doing his accounting work he studied to become a cpa [00:04:32]

denial of self the cost of following jesus is something that must be considered very very clearly and very very carefully and it will cost all i have it will cost all you have but then what's the game [00:06:50]

imagine you discovered gold or oil in a certain property and no one else knew about it can you see yourself feeling sad and deprived for having to gather all your resources and sacrificed them in order to buy that property hardly now you know what it is like to deny yourself take up your cross and follow jesus [00:07:36]

what will it cost me to follow jesus well my time my money my ambitions my relationships getting my own way getting to indulge all my desires whenever i want however i feel like it it'll cost all of that and i need to be real clear about that [00:09:09]

i will gain forgiveness and fellowship with jesus i will never be alone i will get wisdom i will live in a community of brothers and sisters i will experience transformation and although i have a long way to go i've already tasted a fair amount of that i will have the holy spirit of god present with me [00:09:49]

if i decide not to follow this man no promise of forgiveness no divine guidance i live at the mercy of my desire i live with envy and resentment and discontent and ego and relational fracture and hiding and shame and dullness of conscience and no transcendent purpose [00:10:50]

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Transcript
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