Counting the Cost: The Journey of Discipleship

Devotional

Day 1: Following Jesus Means Surrendering Your Own Way

To follow Jesus, you must be willing to give up your own desires and ambitions, choosing instead to walk in His way even when it feels contrary to your instincts or the world’s expectations. This surrender is not a one-time event but a daily decision to put aside immediate gratification and trust that God’s path leads to true life and purpose. When you choose God’s way over your own, you open yourself to discovering your true self and aligning with God’s interests, even when it requires sacrifice or feels uncomfortable. [32:44]

Matthew 16:24 (ESV)
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you sense God is asking you to surrender your own way and trust Him instead? What would it look like to take a concrete step of obedience in that area today?

Day 2: True Life Is Found by Letting Go

The paradox of the Christian life is that by trying to hold onto control and preserve your own life, you actually lose it, but by letting go and entrusting your life to Jesus, you find true life and fulfillment. This means releasing your grip on control, comfort, or security, and instead embracing the adventure of faith, trusting that God’s way leads to deeper purpose and joy than anything you could manufacture on your own. It’s in the act of letting go and allowing God to lead that you discover who you were truly meant to be. [35:58]

Matthew 16:25 (ESV)
For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Reflection: Where are you trying to maintain control in your life, and how might you practice letting go and trusting God with that area today?

Day 3: Your Soul Is of Infinite Value

In a world that constantly tempts you to chase after possessions, achievements, or status, Jesus reminds you that nothing is worth more than your soul. The pursuit of material things or worldly success can easily distract from what matters most, but God values your soul above all else and calls you to do the same. Prioritizing your relationship with God and the health of your soul is the wisest investment you can make, far surpassing any temporary gain this world offers. [39:16]

Matthew 16:26 (ESV)
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

Reflection: What is one “good thing” in your life that sometimes threatens to take first place over your relationship with God? How can you intentionally put Jesus first today?

Day 4: The Reward of Faith Is Eternal

The ultimate hope for those who follow Jesus is not just a better life now, but the promise of eternity with Him. While the world may focus on temporary rewards, Jesus points to the lasting reward of heaven, reminding you that your life on earth is brief compared to eternity. Living with this perspective helps you endure sacrifice and challenges, knowing that your faithfulness to Jesus will be rewarded far beyond anything this world can offer. [44:43]

Matthew 16:27 (ESV)
For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.

Reflection: How does remembering the promise of eternity with Jesus change the way you approach your daily decisions and priorities?

Day 5: Bold Faith Is Meant to Be Public

Faith in Jesus is not meant to be hidden but boldly declared, as seen in the act of baptism where believers publicly proclaim their commitment to Christ. This outward expression is a powerful symbol of dying to your old life and rising to new life in Jesus, inspiring others and strengthening your own resolve to follow Him. Taking a public stand for your faith, whether through baptism or sharing your story, is a vital step in living out your commitment to Jesus and encouraging the faith community. [48:15]

Romans 6:4 (ESV)
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Reflection: If you have already been baptized, how can you boldly share your faith story with someone this week? If you haven’t, what is holding you back from taking that public step of faith?

Sermon Summary

The journey of spiritual growth is much like preparing for a challenging hike: it requires intentional preparation, honest self-assessment, and a willingness to sacrifice for something greater. In the same way that hikers must count the cost before ascending a mountain—ensuring they have the right gear, warmth, and comfort—each person must consider what it truly means to follow Jesus. The call of Christ is not a casual invitation but a summons to give up our own way, take up our cross, and follow Him, even when it means standing against the prevailing values of the world.

Jesus’ words in Matthew 16, spoken in the midst of a place known for its spiritual darkness and idolatry, present a stark choice: follow Him at a cost, or pursue the world’s path. This choice is not just about a one-time decision but a continual surrender of our own ambitions and desires in favor of God’s way. Often, what feels right in the moment can lead us astray, just as the most open and seemingly clear parts of a trail can be the easiest places to lose our way. The paradox of the Christian life is that in losing ourselves—our need for control, our pursuit of material gain, our self-centered ambitions—we actually find true life and purpose.

The value of the soul is central. While the world urges us to chase after possessions, achievements, and experiences, Jesus reminds us that nothing is worth more than our soul. All the things we strive for—wealth, status, even good things like family and success—are ultimately secondary to the eternal significance of our relationship with God. The reward for following Jesus is not just a better life now, but the promise of eternity with Him. This eternal perspective reframes our sacrifices and challenges, reminding us that the cost is always worth it.

Today, as we witness baptisms, we see tangible expressions of this decision—people publicly declaring that Jesus comes first, that their old life is gone, and their new life has begun. It’s a celebration of the greatest ascent: moving from death to life, from self to Christ, from temporary pursuits to eternal hope.

Key Takeaways

1. Counting the cost of following Jesus means honest self-examination and a willingness to sacrifice comfort, reputation, and personal ambition. True discipleship is not about convenience but about choosing what is most valuable, even when it’s costly. This is a call to intentionality in every area of life. [30:06]
2. The way of Jesus often contradicts our instincts and the world’s wisdom. Surrendering immediate gratification and our own plans opens us to discover our true selves and God’s greater purpose. Sometimes, the path that feels right is actually leading us away from where we need to be, and only by recalibrating to God’s direction do we find our way. [34:19]
3. The paradox of the Christian life is that in letting go—of control, possessions, and self-preservation—we actually gain everything that matters. Trusting God with our lives, even when it feels risky, is the only way to experience true freedom and fulfillment. Control is an illusion; surrender is the gateway to real life. [38:15]
4. The soul’s value surpasses every material or temporal achievement. Pursuing success, wealth, or even good things at the expense of our soul is a tragic exchange. God’s concern is not for our possessions but for our hearts, and He calls us to prioritize what is eternal over what is fleeting. [42:22]
5. Baptism is a powerful symbol of the inward transformation that comes from following Jesus. It is a public declaration that the old life is gone and a new life has begun, rooted in Christ. This act of obedience is both a personal milestone and a communal celebration, reminding us of the joy and hope found in surrendering to Jesus. [48:15]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[26:59] - Introduction: The Cost of the Climb
[27:20] - Preparing for the Journey
[28:30] - Counting the Cost: Comfort and Sacrifice
[29:40] - Spiritual Preparation and Honesty
[30:06] - The Cost of Following Jesus
[30:57] - Setting the Scene: Caesarea Philippi
[31:38] - The World’s Way vs. God’s Way
[33:01] - Choosing God’s Path Over Our Own
[34:19] - Surrendering Immediate Gratification
[35:58] - Losing Your Life to Find It
[36:57] - The Paradox of Control
[39:16] - The Value of the Soul
[41:27] - God’s Perspective on Material Things
[42:22] - The Danger of Sacrificing the Soul
[44:09] - The Eternal Reward
[45:23] - The View: Why We Endure
[46:18] - The Broken Equation: Sin and Salvation
[47:36] - Baptism: A Public Declaration
[48:38] - Stories of Transformation
[50:45] - Celebration and Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 16:24-27 (ESV) — > Then Jesus told his disciples, “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 will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.”

Observation Questions

According to Jesus in Matthew 16:24, what are the three things someone must do if they want to follow Him?
In the sermon, what are some of the “costs” or sacrifices mentioned that come with following Jesus? [[30:06]]
What does Jesus say about the value of the soul compared to gaining the whole world? [[39:16]]
How did the pastor describe the setting where Jesus spoke these words, and why is that significant? [[31:57]]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Jesus connect following Him with denying oneself and taking up a cross? What does this mean in practical terms? [[32:22]]
The sermon compares spiritual growth to preparing for a difficult hike. In what ways does this analogy help us understand the process of discipleship? [[27:20]]
The pastor said that sometimes the “open and clear” parts of a trail are the easiest places to get lost. How does this relate to our spiritual lives and decision-making? [[36:57]]
What does it mean to “lose your life” for Jesus’ sake, and how is this a paradox according to both Jesus and the sermon? [[37:46]]

Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to “count the cost” of following Jesus. What is one area of your life where you feel the cost most strongly right now? How are you wrestling with that? [[30:06]]
Jesus calls us to give up our own way and follow Him, even when it goes against what feels right or what the world values. Can you think of a recent situation where you had to choose between your way and God’s way? What did you do? [[33:01]]
The pastor talked about the temptation to pursue good things (like success, family, or possessions) at the expense of our soul. Is there something in your life that is competing with Jesus for first place? What would it look like to put Jesus first in that area? [[42:22]]
The message said that “control is an illusion; surrender is the gateway to real life.” Where do you struggle to let go of control, and what is one step you could take this week to trust God more in that area? [[38:15]]
Baptism was described as a public declaration that the old life is gone and a new life has begun. If you have been baptized, what did that moment mean to you? If you haven’t, what questions or hesitations do you have about it? [[48:15]]
The sermon emphasized the eternal reward of following Jesus. How does keeping an eternal perspective change the way you view your current sacrifices or challenges? [[44:09]]
The pastor mentioned that sometimes what feels right in the moment can actually lead us away from where we need to be. Can you share a time when you realized you were “off the trail” spiritually? What helped you get back on track? [[36:57]]

Sermon Clips

What it really means to follow Jesus, you guys, is to surrender immediate material gratification. What might feel right and good in the moment. And instead the reason why we do that in order to discover and secure one's true self and really God's interest for us. So it's putting our own interests maybe to the side for a moment and ask ourselves, what does God have for me here? [00:34:37] (27 seconds) #SurrenderForPurpose

If you're wondering, the Bible and Christianity speaks very clearly that your soul is valuable. There's all these things in our life. There's all these things that demand our time. But you need to know you do have a soul, whether you believe it or not. And God holds it of the highest value. And so everything in life tells us one thing, that all these other things are important. But Jesus says, no, no, no, this thing is important. [00:39:22] (27 seconds) #SoulNotWealth

So what good is it if you gain this large net worth but at the expense of your soul? What is it if you finally sacrifice everything and you buy the car that you've always wanted, but at the expense of your soul or the job? You sacrifice your time and your family for the title of your job, but you lose your soul. Or the vacation house that you wanted and you spend everything and you save everything, but at the expense of your soul. Getting your kid on the right sports team that you've always wanted them to be a part of, but at the expense of their soul. Sending your kids to the college that you always wanted them to go to, or what they ever always wanted to, but it might be at the expense of their soul. Finally you find the right person and you fall in love with that person. And even though that person may not believe or follow the same things you follow, you're in love with him. But what good is love if it's at the expense of your soul? [00:42:27] (60 seconds) #JesusFixesEquation

In this world, we're constantly tempted by the things of this world. And all of those things aren't inherently bad things. In fact, those are all good things. But what Jesus says is do not sacrifice the most important things of this world for the less important things of this world. God calls us to put him first. And that's in every moment. We say, yeah, this is a great thing, but it's not the best thing. In fact, Jesus needs to remain and be put number one in my life. [00:43:29] (40 seconds) #WrestleWithFaith

The only reason why Jesus really died on the cross was to fix a broken equation. And the broken equation is this. It's that sin equals death. Sin is defined for every one of us is rebellion against God, of choosing my way instead of God's way. And when Jesus, the new equation becomes Jesus equals heaven. That because of what Jesus did, he gave his life freely on the cross for us. And if we're willing to put him first, give up our lives for him, it's in that process we gain everything. God's way is better. His promises are better. His hope is better. This life that we live is just a bond blip on this planet, eternity is forever. [00:46:06] (57 seconds) #CelebrateNewLife

What they're doing is they're getting baptized publicly to share with everybody that they are being bold with their faith that they've stepped from death to life. And actually the process of baptism is a representation and a symbol for us so that when you go under the water, what it means is that your old life is gone. Your old life has been put to death. And when you come out of the water water, your new life is born. And you're doing that in front of everybody and you're telling everybody because you are no longer going to shy away from what you believe. [00:47:53] (33 seconds)

The Bible says and scriptures say that when people make a decision that it's a massive celebration in heaven and we ought to do the same. And because baptism symbolizes the decision they've already made, what we do as a church, when they come out of the water, we shout and we scream and we're louder than the Mariners winning the World Series. We are loud and we celebrate. So that's your participation moment today. As we celebrate, you celebrate. [00:50:21] (29 seconds)

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