Counting the Cost: True Discipleship in Christ

Summary

In our journey as followers of Christ, we are called to understand the profound cost of discipleship. Reflecting on Luke 14, we are reminded that being a disciple of Jesus is not merely about accepting an invitation but involves a deep commitment to prioritize Him above all else. Jesus challenges us to consider the cost of following Him, emphasizing that our allegiance to Him should surpass all other relationships and personal desires. This is not a call to neglect our loved ones but to ensure that our love for Christ is so profound that all other affections pale in comparison.

The narrative of my journey to Scotland and the story of my relationship with Sarah illustrate the sacrifices and decisions we make in our personal lives, which mirror the spiritual decisions we must make as disciples. Just as I was willing to go beyond my means to express my love for Sarah, we are called to give our all to Christ, even when it seems beyond our capacity. Jesus' words in Luke 14 remind us that we must be willing to forsake everything, including our own lives, to truly follow Him.

Moreover, Jesus uses the metaphor of carrying the cross to illustrate the daily commitment and sacrifice required of His followers. This is not a burden we carry alone; Jesus shares the load with us, just as Simon of Cyrene helped carry His cross. The path of discipleship is marked by self-denial and a willingness to endure hardship for the sake of Christ. It is a one-way journey, a commitment to follow Him wherever He leads, without turning back.

As disciples, we are also called to be the salt of the earth, preserving and adding flavor to the world around us. Our lives should reflect the goodness of God, drawing others to taste and see that the Lord is good. This requires us to live authentically, aligning our actions with our words, and ensuring that our lives are a testament to the transformative power of Christ.

Ultimately, the cost of discipleship is significant, but the reward is eternal. We are called to live lives that are structured around Christ, sacrificing everything for His sake, and seasoning the world with His love and truth. Let us be willing to count the cost, forsake all, and be the salt and light in a world that desperately needs the hope of Jesus.

Key Takeaways:

1. Prioritizing Christ Above All: True discipleship requires us to prioritize our relationship with Christ above all other relationships and desires. Our love for Him should be so profound that it makes all other affections seem secondary. This is not about neglecting our loved ones but ensuring that our allegiance to Christ is supreme. [46:13]

2. The Cost of Discipleship: Following Jesus involves a willingness to forsake everything, including our own lives. This commitment is not about blind faith but a conscious decision to prioritize Christ above all else. The cost of discipleship is significant, but the reward is eternal. [49:15]

3. Carrying the Cross: Jesus calls us to take up our cross daily, a metaphor for the self-denial and sacrifice required of His followers. This journey is not one we undertake alone; Jesus shares the load with us, just as Simon of Cyrene helped carry His cross. [52:06]

4. Being the Salt of the Earth: As disciples, we are called to be the salt of the earth, preserving and adding flavor to the world around us. Our lives should reflect the goodness of God, drawing others to taste and see that the Lord is good. This requires authentic living, aligning our actions with our words. [01:00:02]

5. Living with a Willing Mind: Discipleship involves having a willing mind, ready to submit to God's direction and will. Our hearts may deceive us, but a mind set on Christ ensures that we live according to His purpose, sacrificing everything for His cause. [01:02:51]

Youtube Chapters:

- [0:00] - Welcome
- [41:59] - Understanding the Cost of Discipleship
- [42:42] - Personal Journey and Sacrifices
- [43:16] - The Story of Love and Commitment
- [46:13] - Prioritizing Christ Above All
- [47:46] - Allegiance to Christ
- [49:15] - The Cost of Following Jesus
- [50:40] - Daily Self-Denial
- [52:06] - Carrying the Cross
- [53:02] - The Journey of Martyrs
- [54:17] - Reasonable Service to Christ
- [56:29] - Counting the Cost
- [57:22] - Sacrificing Everything
- [58:18] - Forsaking All for Christ
- [01:00:02] - Being the Salt of the Earth
- [01:02:51] - Living with a Willing Mind
- [01:03:41] - Authentic Christian Living

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Luke 14:25-35

Observation Questions:
1. What does Jesus mean when He says that a disciple must "hate" their family and even their own life? How does this relate to prioritizing Christ above all else? [46:13]
2. How does the metaphor of carrying the cross illustrate the daily commitment required of Jesus' followers? [52:06]
3. What does it mean to be the "salt of the earth," and how does this metaphor relate to the life of a disciple? [01:00:02]
4. In the sermon, what examples were given to illustrate the cost of discipleship? [49:15]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of prioritizing Christ above all other relationships challenge common societal values? [47:46]
2. What are the implications of Jesus' call to forsake everything for His sake? How does this affect a believer's daily life and decisions? [49:15]
3. How can the metaphor of being "salt" guide a believer's interactions with the world? What does it mean to lose one's "saltiness"? [01:00:02]
4. How does the sermon illustrate the balance between self-denial and the joy of following Christ? [52:06]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current priorities. Are there relationships or desires that you place above your relationship with Christ? How can you realign these priorities? [46:13]
2. Consider a recent decision you made. Did you count the cost of discipleship in that decision? How might you approach similar decisions differently in the future? [56:29]
3. What does carrying your cross look like in your daily life? Identify one specific area where you can practice self-denial for the sake of following Christ. [52:06]
4. In what ways can you be the salt of the earth in your community? Identify one practical step you can take this week to add "flavor" to the world around you. [01:00:02]
5. How can you cultivate a willing mind to submit to God's direction and will? What specific actions can you take to ensure your mind is set on Christ? [01:02:51]
6. Think of a situation where you might be tempted to compromise your faith. How can you prepare to stand firm in your commitment to Christ in that situation? [49:15]
7. Identify one person in your life who needs to "taste and see that the Lord is good." How can you intentionally share the love and truth of Christ with them this week? [01:00:02]

Devotional

Day 1: Prioritizing Christ Above All
In the journey of discipleship, prioritizing Christ above all else is essential. This means that our relationship with Him should be the most significant aspect of our lives, surpassing all other relationships and desires. It is not about neglecting our loved ones but ensuring that our love for Christ is so profound that it makes all other affections seem secondary. This commitment requires a conscious decision to place Christ at the center of our lives, allowing His love and guidance to shape our actions and decisions. By doing so, we align ourselves with His purpose and experience the transformative power of His presence. [46:13]

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 desire in your life that you need to reevaluate to ensure Christ remains your top priority? How can you practically make this shift today?

Day 2: The Cost of Discipleship
Discipleship involves a willingness to forsake everything, including our own lives, to follow Jesus. This commitment is not about blind faith but a conscious decision to prioritize Christ above all else. The cost of discipleship is significant, requiring us to let go of personal ambitions and desires that conflict with His will. However, the reward is eternal, as we gain a deeper relationship with Christ and the promise of eternal life. Embracing this cost means trusting in His plan and being willing to sacrifice for His sake, knowing that He is worth every sacrifice we make. [49:15]

Matthew 16:24-25 (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.'"

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: Carrying the Cross
Jesus calls us to take up our cross daily, a metaphor for the self-denial and sacrifice required of His followers. This journey is not one we undertake alone; Jesus shares the load with us, just as Simon of Cyrene helped carry His cross. Carrying the cross involves enduring hardships and challenges for the sake of Christ, trusting that He is with us every step of the way. It is a daily commitment to follow Him, regardless of the difficulties we face, and to rely on His strength to persevere. By carrying our cross, we demonstrate our dedication to Him and our willingness to endure for His sake. [52:06]

Galatians 2:20 (ESV): "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

Reflection: What is one specific challenge or hardship you are currently facing that you can offer to Jesus as part of carrying your cross? How can you invite Him to share this burden with you today?

Day 4: Being the Salt of the Earth
As disciples, we are called to be the salt of the earth, preserving and adding flavor to the world around us. Our lives should reflect the goodness of God, drawing others to taste and see that the Lord is good. This requires authentic living, aligning our actions with our words, and ensuring that our lives are a testament to the transformative power of Christ. By being the salt of the earth, we influence those around us positively, sharing His love and truth in a world that desperately needs hope. Our actions and words should consistently point others to the goodness and grace of God. [01:00:02]

Colossians 4:5-6 (ESV): "Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."

Reflection: In what specific ways can you be the salt of the earth in your community or workplace this week? How can your actions and words reflect the goodness of God to those around you?

Day 5: Living with a Willing Mind
Discipleship involves having a willing mind, ready to submit to God's direction and will. Our hearts may deceive us, but a mind set on Christ ensures that we live according to His purpose, sacrificing everything for His cause. A willing mind is open to the leading of the Holy Spirit, ready to embrace the changes and challenges that come with following Christ. It requires intentionality and a desire to align our thoughts and actions with His will, trusting that His plans are greater than our own. By cultivating a willing mind, we position ourselves to experience the fullness of His purpose in our lives. [01:02:51]

Romans 12:2 (ESV): "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to cultivate a more willing mind to follow God's direction? How can you begin to renew your mind in this area today?

Quotes

1) "When it comes to the cost of discipleship, we often underestimate. We underestimate what it means to be a Christian. What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus Christ? What does it mean to be a missionary? What does it mean to be a pastor? What does it mean to be in full-time Christian service? In Luke chapter 14, in Jesus' own words, he begins to break this down for us. My wife, the song that she had sung at the piano is a song that she wrote. She writes many songs on the field, but this is one called Overcome. And I love it because it emphasizes very much the understanding of what it means to be Christian. Christian. There's a lot that we have to overcome, but we don't do it on our own. It's all by dependence on Christ." [42:42] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "See, our allegiance to Christ should seem as if we hated everyone else, including ourself, in comparison. See, between Jesus and every other person in the world, there is no possible term of comparison. So it's not like loving the president and, oh, I'm just going to love the president, I'm going to vote for the president, I'm so excited about the president. And people say they're so passionate about those things, but they're not as passionate about Christ. And there is no one in comparison in this world to Jesus Christ. See, Jesus founded his empire upon love, and at any hour, millions of men and women would be willing to die for him. No other person in the world has that." [49:15] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "The greatest threat to us is putting Jesus as second in our life. See, our own relationships, our own life is not a bad thing. It's not a bad thing to have relationships. What is bad? It becomes evil when it takes the place of Jesus Christ. This verse is powerful. I mean, I'd like to spend an hour just expounding on it. But when it comes to how we ought to live in our life, there is a conditional discipleship, a conditional discipline that we have in our life. But not only that, but notice verse 27. And he says, He shows us even as we structure our life that there's also this companion's duty." [50:40] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "The task to be a disciple of Jesus Christ is excruciating. It's a difficult task. See, when enlisting in the military, it's more than just accepting an invitation. It's a commitment to forsake all to defend home and country. And here Jesus is asking us, I want you to forsake all. I want you to even deny your own self. Take up your cross. Take up your cross and follow me. See, I love how Jesus uses that phrase, come after me, because he's denoting that future scene that would take place on his way to the cross. When Simon the Cyrene would come and he would take up the back end of the cross as Jesus began carrying it." [52:06] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "We have to count the cost because in verse 33, he reminds us, he says, so likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. He's telling us what it means to not be my disciple. To not be a disciple. See, if you're not sacrificing everything, you can't be. It's costly. See, Jesus said that if you do not forsake all, then you can't be my disciple. I mean, I want you to understand that if we don't consider the cost, then we're not doing it the right way. And I'll say this as well. The cost is greater rejecting than it is accepting." [59:06] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6) "See, when we preach the gospel, we're not preaching that your life will simply be prosperous because the Bible says, all who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. First Thessalonians chapter three says that we as believers were appointed to affliction. He tells us, forsake all. In other words, Jesus is instructing us to say goodbye to everything we have and trusting it all to him. It's a costly devotion for every person. Are we willing to sacrifice everything or do we have reservations? Because now, today, is the day to take care of that. We ought to structure our life emphatically. We ought to sacrifice everything." [01:00:02] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7) "The cost of discipleship is being able to understand that even a portion of your life lived outside of Christ damages your effectiveness. It damages it. When we say we desire to be used by God, even like 2 Corinthians 8, the Bible says that they had a willing mind. Now understand the complexity behind this because as Jeremiah says, our heart's deceitful above all things, desperately wicked. That means your heart deceives you. You may say, well, I just don't really feel the burning sensation to be a follower of Christ. Your heart is deceitful." [01:02:51] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8) "We ought to be a valuable follower of Christ. Sometimes we just don't take the time to calibrate how we are living. We think we can just get by. We think we can deceive. We can deceive people. Look at the way that I dress. Look at the way that I talk. Look at the way that I operate. Nobody really cares. They say, oh, they're a really good Christian and kind of move on. It's what happens Monday, right? What happens at work? What can I get away with while I'm in secret, when nobody's watching? Nobody knows about those things. I can get away with it. And here it affects us." [01:03:41] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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