Counting the Cost: The True Call of Discipleship

Today’s reflection centers on one of the most challenging and essential themes in the teachings of Jesus: the call to count the cost of discipleship. The invitation to follow Christ is not a casual one; it is a summons to a life of surrender, sacrifice, and daily yielding to the authority and power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ words in Luke 9 and the parallel passages in Matthew and Mark make it clear that following Him means giving up our own way, taking up our cross, and letting go of the illusion of control. In a world that is constantly shifting, filled with uncertainty, conflict, and fear, the call remains: will we shoot for the kingdom, or will we be distracted by the left and the right, by our own preferences, or by the need for security?

Three encounters with Jesus in Luke 9 illustrate the different ways people respond to His call. The first is the bold one, eager to follow but perhaps unaware of the cost, especially the cost of intimacy and simplicity. Jesus’ response—“the Son of Man has no place to lay his head”—challenges us to examine whether we have truly made room for Him in our lives, or if our hearts are crowded with guile, pride, or the pursuit of comfort. The second is the invited but reluctant one, who wants to follow but is held back by obligations or the need to “bury” something first. Jesus’ seemingly harsh words are actually a call to put obedience to God above all else, to stop making excuses, and to step into the urgency of kingdom life. The third is the curious but conditional one, willing to follow but only after tending to what feels safe and familiar. Jesus warns that looking back, clinging to the sure things of this world, disqualifies us from the fullness of His kingdom.

In the midst of global turmoil and personal uncertainty, the challenge is to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, to reject the “me first” mentality, and to embrace the costly, beautiful work of advancing His kingdom. This means saying yes to Jesus in practical, daily ways—through confession, generosity, service, and the prioritizing of His presence over our own agendas. The call is not to perfection, but to a surrendered, persevering faith that endures to the end. The question for each of us is: what has your best yes right now? Will you count the cost and follow?

Key Takeaways

• 1. Counting the Cost Means Surrendering Control True discipleship is not about maintaining control or managing outcomes, but about daily surrender to Jesus. The old sin nature craves control, but the life of faith is marked by open hands and a willingness to let Jesus lead, even when the path is uncertain. Surrender is not weakness; it is the posture that allows Christ’s power and presence to fill our lives. [56:27]
• 2. Intimacy with Jesus Requires Honesty and Simplicity Jesus’ challenge to the bold would-be disciple is not just about material simplicity, but about making space in our hearts for Him. Where there is guile, pride, or hiddenness, there is no room for Christ to “lay His head.” Intimacy with Jesus means being the same person in private as in public, rejecting self-deception, and allowing Him to see and transform our true selves. [63:49]
• 3. Obedience to Christ Must Be Preferred Over All Other Loves The call to let the “spiritually dead bury their own dead” is a radical reminder that nothing—no relationship, no obligation, no past failure—should take precedence over obedience to Jesus. Honoring others is good, but God must be obeyed above all. Delayed obedience or reluctance is often rooted in misplaced priorities or unresolved shame, but Jesus invites us to step forward in faith, trusting Him with what we leave behind. [68:43]
• 4. Conditional Discipleship Misses the Kingdom’s Fullness When we attach conditions to our following—“I’ll follow, but first…”—we reveal our attachment to certainty and comfort. Jesus calls us to burn the plows, to let go of the sure things, and to trust Him with our future. Faith always costs us certainty, but it opens us to the adventure and abundance of God’s kingdom. [74:28]
• 5. Saying Yes to Jesus Clarifies Our No’s Defining our “kingdom yes” makes it easier to say no to lesser things. Whether it’s confessing sin, serving others, prioritizing worship, or opening our homes, every act of obedience is a way of counting the cost and advancing the kingdom. The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few—may we be those who keep our hands on the plow, eyes forward, and hearts surrendered.
  
  ** [80:03]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [45:57] - Introduction: Counting the Cost
• [47:27] - Jesus’ Call to Discipleship
• [49:37] - The Repeated Call: Take Up Your Cross
• [50:58] - Shooting for the Kingdom, Not Left or Right
• [51:57] - Enduring in Troubled Times
• [53:30] - Global Uncertainty and the Call to Endure
• [55:27] - The Danger of Neglecting Kingdom Priorities
• [56:27] - Surrendering Control to Jesus
• [57:14] - Three Encounters: The Bold, the Reluctant, the Conditional
• [59:50] - The Cost of Simplicity and Intimacy
• [63:49] - Examining Our Hearts: Guile and Pride
• [66:28] - The Reluctant Disciple and the Priority of Obedience
• [72:04] - Burning Plows: Conditional Discipleship
• [80:03] - Practical Ways to Count the Cost
• [84:41] - Responding in Worship and Surrender
• [91:17] - Closing and Prayer

Bible Reading

Luke 9:57-62 (NLT) — As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.”
He said to another person, “Come, follow me.”
The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.”
But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead. Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.”
Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.”
But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”

Observation Questions

1. In Luke 9:57-62, what are the three different responses people give to Jesus’ invitation to follow Him? How does Jesus respond to each one?
2. What does Jesus mean when He says, “the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head”? How does this challenge the first person’s eagerness?
3. According to the sermon, what are some of the “excuses” or reasons people give for not following Jesus right away? ([01:07:50])
4. What does Jesus say about looking back after putting your hand to the plow? What does this reveal about the kind of commitment He is asking for?

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus responds so strongly to each of these would-be disciples? What is He trying to reveal about the true cost of following Him? ([01:12:04])
2. The sermon mentions that “surrender is not weakness; it is the posture that allows Christ’s power and presence to fill our lives.” What does it look like to surrender control to Jesus in practical terms? ([56:27])
3. The second person wanted to “bury his father” before following Jesus. What kinds of things in our lives might be similar to this—good things that still get in the way of immediate obedience? ([01:08:43])
4. The third person wanted to say goodbye to family before following. Why is it so hard to let go of the “sure things” in our lives? What does it mean to “burn the plows” in our context? ([01:14:28])

Application Questions

1. The sermon asks, “What has your best yes right now?” What is one area of your life where you sense Jesus is asking you to say yes, even if it costs you something? ([01:20:03])
2. Where in your life do you struggle to surrender control? Is there a specific situation or relationship where you find it hard to let Jesus lead? What would it look like to open your hands and trust Him this week? ([56:27])
3. The first would-be disciple was challenged about making room for Jesus. Are there areas in your heart or life that are “crowded” with pride, busyness, or comfort? What is one step you could take to make more space for intimacy with Jesus? ([01:03:49])
4. The second person delayed obedience because of other obligations. Is there something you keep putting ahead of following Jesus—maybe a habit, a relationship, or a fear? What would it look like to put obedience to Christ first? ([01:08:43])
5. The third person wanted to keep one foot in the familiar. Are there “plows” in your life—old patterns, comforts, or securities—you need to “burn” in order to follow Jesus more fully? What is one practical way you could do that this month? ([01:14:28])
6. The sermon gave examples of people counting the cost through confession, generosity, and service. What is one practical act of obedience you could take this week to advance God’s kingdom—at home, at work, or in your neighborhood? ([01:20:03])
7. When you think about the “me first” mentality, where do you see it showing up in your life? How can you intentionally choose a “kingdom first” mindset in your decisions this week? ([01:18:45])