Counting the Cost of True Discipleship
Summary
### Summary
Today, we gathered to worship and reflect on the true meaning of discipleship as taught by Jesus in Luke 14. We began by celebrating the resurrection and power of Jesus through songs of praise, lifting Him higher and acknowledging His glory. We then transitioned into a powerful message about what it truly means to be a disciple of Christ.
Discipleship is not merely about being a follower in name but involves a deep, all-encompassing commitment to Jesus. Jesus' words in Luke 14 challenge us to reconsider our priorities and the cost of following Him. He uses strong language to emphasize that our commitment to Him must surpass all other relationships and possessions. This means being willing to forsake everything, even our own lives, to follow Him.
Jesus illustrated this with examples of a man building a tower and a king going to war, both of whom must count the cost before proceeding. Similarly, we must understand that following Jesus involves self-denial, sacrifice, and a willingness to bear our own crosses. This is not a path of convenience or comfort but one that demands total commitment.
Moreover, Jesus likened discipleship to being the salt of the earth. Salt, in ancient times, was valuable for its preserving and healing properties. As disciples, we are called to be a preserving force in a broken world, maintaining righteousness and spreading the gospel. However, if we lose our "flavor" or fail to live out our calling, we become ineffective and worthless.
The message concluded with a call to action, urging us to examine our lives and make a genuine commitment to discipleship. This involves prioritizing Jesus above all else and being willing to make uncomfortable and inconvenient decisions for His sake. True discipleship is about surrendering all to follow Christ, knowing that He has already given everything for us.
### Key Takeaways
1. True Discipleship Requires Total Commitment: Jesus emphasized that to be His disciple, one must be willing to forsake all other relationships and possessions. This means prioritizing our commitment to Christ above everything else, even our own lives. This level of commitment is not optional but essential for true discipleship. [58:25]
2. Counting the Cost: Jesus used the examples of a man building a tower and a king going to war to illustrate the importance of counting the cost before committing to discipleship. Following Jesus involves self-denial, sacrifice, and a willingness to bear our own crosses. It is not a path of convenience but one that demands total dedication. [59:21]
3. Being the Salt of the Earth: As disciples, we are called to be the salt of the earth, preserving righteousness and spreading the gospel in a broken world. If we lose our "flavor" or fail to live out our calling, we become ineffective and worthless. Our lives should reflect the preserving and healing properties of salt. [01:24:25]
4. The Challenge of Discipleship: Discipleship is not about comfort or convenience. It involves making difficult and sometimes painful decisions to follow Jesus. This means being willing to give up self-interest, possessions, careers, hobbies, and even dreams to prioritize our commitment to Christ. [01:10:14]
5. The Reward of Discipleship: While the path of discipleship is challenging, it is also the most rewarding. Jesus promised that those who lay down their lives for Him will produce much fruit. True discipleship leads to a deeper relationship with Christ, greater spiritual growth, and the fulfillment of God's purposes in our lives. [01:27:41]
### YouTube Chapters
1. [0:00] - Welcome
2. [15:05] - Opening Worship: "I Will Praise Your Name"
3. [18:07] - Lead Us Up the Mountain
4. [19:59] - Hearts Abandoned
5. [21:25] - Send Me Out
6. [25:12] - Jesus, Savior: The Victory is Yours
7. [29:17] - I Will Look Up
8. [41:55] - Announcements
9. [48:20] - Offering and Tithes
10. [51:31] - Outreach Report
11. [53:07] - Introduction to the Sermon
12. [56:50] - True Discipleship: Luke 14
13. [58:25] - The Cost of Discipleship
14. [59:21] - Counting the Cost
15. [01:24:25] - Being the Salt of the Earth
16. [01:27:41] - The Reward of Discipleship
17. [01:29:21] - Call to Commitment
18. [01:33:17] - Altar Call and Prayer
19. [01:42:28] - Closing Remarks and Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- Luke 14:25-35
### Observation Questions
1. What does Jesus mean when He says that one must "hate" their family to be His disciple? (Luke 14:26) [58:25]
2. How does Jesus illustrate the importance of counting the cost of discipleship? (Luke 14:28-32) [59:21]
3. What does Jesus mean by saying that salt is good, but if it loses its flavor, it is worthless? (Luke 14:34-35) [59:51]
4. According to the sermon, what are some modern-day examples of people not understanding the true cost of discipleship? [56:11]
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Jesus use such strong language about hating one's family in the context of discipleship? How does this align with the overall message of love in the Bible? [58:25]
2. What are the implications of Jesus' examples of building a tower and going to war for our understanding of discipleship? How do these examples help us understand the need for preparation and commitment? [59:21]
3. How can a disciple of Christ maintain their "flavor" in today's world? What does it mean to be the salt of the earth in practical terms? [59:51]
4. The sermon mentioned that many people have a false understanding of what it means to follow Jesus. How can the church help correct these misunderstandings? [56:11]
### Application Questions
1. Jesus calls for total commitment, even above family and personal interests. What are some specific areas in your life where you struggle to prioritize Jesus above all else? How can you work on this? [58:25]
2. Reflect on a time when you had to make a difficult decision to follow Jesus. What was the cost, and how did you handle it? How can this experience help you in future decisions? [59:21]
3. The sermon emphasized the importance of being the salt of the earth. What are some practical ways you can be a preserving and healing force in your community this week? [59:51]
4. The pastor mentioned that discipleship involves making uncomfortable and inconvenient decisions. Identify one area in your life where you need to step out of your comfort zone to follow Jesus more closely. [01:10:14]
5. How can you help others in your small group or church community understand the true cost of discipleship? What are some practical steps you can take to support each other in this journey? [56:11]
6. The sermon talked about the reward of discipleship, including a deeper relationship with Christ and greater spiritual growth. What are some rewards you have experienced in your walk with Jesus? How can these encourage you to stay committed? [01:27:41]
7. Think about a specific relationship or possession that you hold dear. How would you respond if Jesus asked you to give it up for Him? What steps can you take to ensure that your commitment to Christ remains your top priority? [58:25]
Devotional
Day 1: Total Commitment to Christ
True discipleship requires a level of commitment that surpasses all other relationships and possessions. Jesus emphasized that to be His disciple, one must be willing to forsake everything, even their own lives. This is not an optional level of commitment but an essential one. Jesus' words in Luke 14 challenge us to reconsider our priorities and the cost of following Him. He uses strong language to make it clear that our commitment to Him must be above all else.
This means that being a disciple of Christ involves a deep, all-encompassing commitment. It is not merely about being a follower in name but involves a willingness to forsake everything for the sake of Christ. This level of commitment is demanding and requires us to prioritize Jesus above all else, even when it is uncomfortable or inconvenient. [58:25]
Luke 14:26-27 (ESV): "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple."
Reflection: What is one relationship or possession in your life that you find difficult to prioritize below your commitment to Christ? How can you begin to make changes today to ensure Jesus is your highest priority?
Day 2: Counting the Cost
Jesus used the examples of a man building a tower and a king going to war to illustrate the importance of counting the cost before committing to discipleship. Following Jesus involves self-denial, sacrifice, and a willingness to bear our own crosses. It is not a path of convenience but one that demands total dedication. Jesus' teaching in Luke 14 makes it clear that we must understand the cost of discipleship before we commit to it.
Counting the cost means recognizing that following Jesus will require sacrifices and may lead to difficult and painful decisions. It involves a willingness to give up self-interest, possessions, careers, hobbies, and even dreams to prioritize our commitment to Christ. This level of dedication is challenging but essential for true discipleship. [59:21]
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 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 3: Being the Salt of the Earth
As disciples, we are called to be the salt of the earth, preserving righteousness and spreading the gospel in a broken world. Salt, in ancient times, was valuable for its preserving and healing properties. Jesus likened discipleship to being the salt of the earth, emphasizing that our lives should reflect these preserving and healing properties. If we lose our "flavor" or fail to live out our calling, we become ineffective and worthless.
Being the salt of the earth means that our lives should have a positive impact on the world around us. We are called to maintain righteousness and spread the gospel, acting as a preserving force in a broken world. This requires us to live out our calling and ensure that we do not lose our "flavor" or become ineffective in our mission. [01:24:25]
Matthew 5:13 (ESV): "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet."
Reflection: In what ways can you be a preserving and healing force in your community today? How can you ensure that you do not lose your "flavor" as a disciple of Christ?
Day 4: The Challenge of Discipleship
Discipleship is not about comfort or convenience. It involves making difficult and sometimes painful decisions to follow Jesus. This means being willing to give up self-interest, possessions, careers, hobbies, and even dreams to prioritize our commitment to Christ. Jesus' teaching in Luke 14 makes it clear that true discipleship is challenging and requires total dedication.
The challenge of discipleship involves a willingness to make sacrifices and endure hardships for the sake of following Jesus. It is not a path of convenience but one that demands total commitment and dedication. This level of commitment is essential for true discipleship and requires us to prioritize Jesus above all else, even when it is difficult. [01:10:14]
Luke 9:23 (ESV): "And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'"
Reflection: What is one difficult decision you need to make to follow Jesus more closely? How can you take steps today to make that decision and prioritize your commitment to Christ?
Day 5: The Reward of Discipleship
While the path of discipleship is challenging, it is also the most rewarding. Jesus promised that those who lay down their lives for Him will produce much fruit. True discipleship leads to a deeper relationship with Christ, greater spiritual growth, and the fulfillment of God's purposes in our lives. The rewards of discipleship are not always immediate but are eternal and far outweigh the sacrifices we make.
The reward of discipleship involves a deeper relationship with Christ and the fulfillment of God's purposes in our lives. While the path is challenging, the rewards are eternal and far outweigh the sacrifices we make. Jesus promised that those who lay down their lives for Him will produce much fruit, leading to greater spiritual growth and fulfillment. [01:27:41]
John 12:24-25 (ESV): "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have seen the rewards of discipleship? How can you continue to pursue a deeper relationship with Christ and greater spiritual growth in this area?
Quotes
1. "There are many people today. Who do not know what it really means. To be a believer. And a follower in Jesus. They don't know what it means. They have different expectations. They assume that living for Jesus means one thing. When it in reality means something very, very different. And so I want to take this opportunity this morning. To reset some expectations. Going back to the source. To the original blueprint. Jesus himself. So that we can learn exactly what it means. To be his follower." [56:11] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "To be a disciple means to be all in. How many ever heard the term all in. It's a poker term. Right. It's when you take all of your chips. All of your winnings. And you got the hand. That you know is going to beat. Everybody else at the table. And you're going to put it all in at the table. And you might be bluffing. You might not. But when somebody goes all in. You know what that demands a response. I'm going all in. I'm putting it all on the line." [01:04:24] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "To be a disciple. Means to have a 100% commitment. To Jesus. Let's make that totally clear. He said. Unless you are willing to forsake all that you have. You cannot be my disciple. Does that describe you? Are you willing to forsake all that you have? To follow him. Now Jesus is not going to force all of us. To forsake everything that we have. But. If that opportunity came. If the choice was. Follow Jesus. Or keep all your stuff." [01:08:04] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Jesus uses hyperbole. To show us exaggeration. To show us that our commitment level to him. Is number one. Not number two. Not number three. Not number four. Not number ten. That following Jesus is our number one commitment. And let me just give you a hint. When you seek first the kingdom of God. And his righteousness. Then God is good. He is a blesser. He will add all these other things to you. People get this out of order. In their lives. We seek the things." [01:10:14] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Jesus uses a metaphor here. In our scripture. Verse 27. Whoever does not bear his cross. And come after me. Cannot be my disciple. Everyone present would be familiar. With what Jesus was talking about. About carrying their cross. Ultimately Jesus was going to carry a cross. Right? They would put the cross on him. On his back. And they would make him carry it up to Golgotha the hill. The very thing that he carried. Would be the thing that they would crucify him on." [01:13:29] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Is it possible that Jesus has paid the price for us? And the price that he paid. Was so great. That we can never repay him. The blood that he shed. The body that was broken on our behalf. The salvation that he provided. He has purchased us. With a high price. And that price that he paid. He offers freely. A ticket to eternal life. I want to tell you. There comes an expectation. If you receive this offer of salvation. Be aware. Count the cost." [01:16:49] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "To be a disciple means committing our lives above everything else. But I want to leave you with a promise there are great possibilities. It is not just doom and gloom it's not just sad news this morning following Jesus is not a bummer it's the best thing that you could ever do because Jesus gave us this promise listen John 12 verse 24 Most assuredly I say to you unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies it remains alone but if it dies oh it produces much grain." [01:27:11] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Are you willing to forsake all to follow Jesus that's what it means to be a Christian you cannot be a Christian without being a disciple and my call for us today is that Lord I want to take seriously your call to discipleship this is not about me it's not about Pastor Adam it's not about the Potter's House this is about your decision what it means in your life to be a disciple of Jesus and some of us is going to require some uncomfortable decisions." [01:28:49] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "What did it cost Jesus to get you here what did it cost him was there anything he was unwilling to give to save you was there anything that Jesus withheld from the Father so that you could have a place in heaven what I'm saying is we don't get the liberty we don't have the right to receive that salvation from Jesus and then to say nah I'm not willing we don't get that right so he's asking for all of you he's asking for your mind, for your heart for your joy, for your future." [01:38:54] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "Serving Jesus means he's the Lord he's not just savior, he's Lord so we're going to lift up our hands together and we're going to make a commitment to the Lord and I am right along with you and I understand this is not easy but we're going to pray together let's say God in heaven thank you for sending Jesus to die on the cross for my sins to pay the price for all humanity I thank you Lord that you are faithful that you are just that when we confess our sins and trust in you." [01:39:28] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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