Embracing the Cost of True Discipleship
Summary
Walt Grayum delves into the challenging aspects of Christian discipleship, emphasizing that while it may seem daunting, it is ultimately rooted in God's goodness and faithfulness. He begins by referencing Luke 14, where Jesus speaks to the multitudes following Him, presenting them with the stark reality of what it means to be His disciple. Jesus uses strong language, stating that unless one is willing to prioritize Him above family and even their own life, they cannot be His disciple. He illustrates the cost of discipleship through the analogies of a builder considering the cost of construction and a king contemplating the outcome of war.
Grayum explains that discipleship involves a commitment that goes beyond mere belief. It is about actively living out one's faith, acknowledging Jesus as both Savior and Lord. This means recognizing Jesus' authority and following His lead in all aspects of life. He points out that while salvation is a gift that costs nothing, discipleship involves a life of good works prepared by God.
The hard side of following Jesus, as Grayum outlines, includes the potential of having to walk away from loved ones, living with tension in relationships, and saying no to personal desires and ambitions. He shares personal anecdotes to illustrate these points, including his own journey of faith and the challenges he faced with his family after becoming a Christian.
Grayum stresses that being a disciple is not an optional aspect of Christianity; it is the expected growth and maturation of every believer. He confronts the uncomfortable truth that a professed Christian who shows no interest in discipleship should examine the authenticity of their faith. He reassures that while the journey is not easy, believers are not left to their own strength; God enables and empowers them to live out their calling.
He further clarifies the seemingly harsh command of Jesus to "hate" one's family, explaining that in the cultural context of the time, Jesus was using a comparative term to establish priorities. The true meaning is that allegiance to Jesus must come before all other relationships. Grayum emphasizes that this does not mean neglecting or abandoning love for family but rather ensuring that Jesus holds the supreme place in one's life.
In conclusion, Grayum encourages believers to take the first step in following Jesus wholeheartedly, trusting in His goodness and the rest He promises to those who take His yoke upon them. He reminds them of the peace and rest found in surrendering to Jesus' lordship and the assurance of His constant presence and help.
Key Takeaways:
- Discipleship is an integral part of the Christian faith that involves a deep commitment to living under the lordship of Jesus Christ. It is not merely about accepting Jesus as Savior but also about following Him as Lord, which includes a willingness to prioritize Him above all else, including family and personal desires. This commitment is rooted in the understanding that Jesus' authority is paramount in a believer's life. [31:44]
- The cost of discipleship may involve difficult decisions and sacrifices, such as walking away from loved ones or enduring tension in relationships for the sake of faithfulness to Christ. These challenges are not to be taken lightly but are part of the transformative process that God uses to shape believers into the image of His Son. The journey of discipleship is marked by a series of such hard choices, each one drawing the believer closer to the heart of God. [49:08]
- The concept of "hating" one's family, as mentioned by Jesus, is a hyperbolic expression used to illustrate the level of commitment required of His followers. It is not a literal command to harbor animosity but a call to ensure that love for Jesus surpasses all other affections. This radical reordering of priorities is essential for true discipleship and reflects the believer's ultimate allegiance to Christ above all other loyalties. [44:15]
- Genuine faith in Christ is expected to produce a life of discipleship. A believer who shows no interest in growing and maturing in their faith should carefully consider the reality of their salvation. The internal transformation that accompanies genuine faith will inevitably lead to a desire to follow Jesus and live according to His purposes. This is a challenging but necessary reflection for anyone professing to be a Christian. [41:34]
- The journey of discipleship is not one that believers undertake in their own strength. God provides the grace and power needed to live a life that honors Him. When believers commit to following Jesus, they discover that His yoke is easy and His burden is light, contrary to initial fears. This divine enablement brings peace and rest to the soul, affirming that the path of discipleship, though hard, is also filled with God's goodness and faithfulness. [59:44]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Luke 14:25-33 (ESV)
> "Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, '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. 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." Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.'"
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Jesus mean when He says that one must "hate" their family to be His disciple? ([44:15])
2. How does Jesus illustrate the cost of discipleship in Luke 14:28-32?
3. According to the sermon, what is the difference between being a believer and being a disciple? ([34:13])
4. What does it mean to "bear your own cross" as mentioned in Luke 14:27?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Jesus use such strong language about hating one's family in Luke 14:26? How does the cultural context help us understand this command? ([44:15])
2. How does the analogy of building a tower or going to war help us understand the commitment required for discipleship? ([28:33])
3. What does it mean to acknowledge Jesus as both Savior and Lord, and how does this impact a believer's daily life? ([31:44])
4. How does the concept of "counting the cost" apply to modern-day Christians? What are some examples of costs that believers might face today? ([28:33])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there relationships or personal desires that you need to re-prioritize to put Jesus first? How can you begin to make those changes this week? ([47:03])
2. Have you ever experienced tension in your relationships because of your faith? How did you handle it, and what did you learn from that experience? ([49:43])
3. What are some personal ambitions or desires that you might need to say "no" to in order to follow Jesus more closely? How can you practically surrender these to God? ([54:11])
4. Think about a time when you felt God calling you to make a difficult decision for the sake of your faith. How did you respond, and what was the outcome? ([49:08])
5. How can you rely on God's strength and grace to live out your calling as a disciple? What are some practical steps you can take to seek His help daily? ([42:53])
6. Jesus promises rest and peace to those who take His yoke upon them. How can you find rest in Jesus amidst the challenges of discipleship? ([59:06])
7. Identify one specific area in your life where you need to trust in God's goodness and faithfulness more. What steps can you take this week to grow in that trust? ([59:44])
Devotional
Day 1: Prioritizing Christ Above All
True discipleship demands placing Jesus at the forefront of our lives, above every personal relationship and desire. This radical commitment may lead to difficult choices, but it is the essence of following Christ. It is a call to evaluate our priorities and ensure that our allegiance to Jesus surpasses all other loyalties. [31:44]
Luke 14:26 - "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."
Reflection: Who or what have you been prioritizing over your relationship with Jesus, and what steps can you take to reorder your priorities?
Day 2: Embracing the Cost of Discipleship
The path of discipleship is paved with sacrifices and hard choices, reflecting a believer's commitment to Christ. It is a transformative journey that may involve relinquishing close relationships or personal ambitions for the sake of faithfulness to Jesus. These sacrifices are not in vain but draw us closer to God's heart. [49:08]
Matthew 16:24-25 - "Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.'"
Reflection: What sacrifice is God calling you to make in your walk with Him, and how can you find the courage to follow through?
Day 3: Reordering Our Affections
The command to "hate" our family is a hyperbolic expression used by Jesus to illustrate the depth of commitment required from His followers. It is about loving Jesus supremely, not neglecting our loved ones but ensuring that our devotion to Christ is unparalleled. This reordering of affections is a hallmark of true discipleship. [44:15]
Matthew 10:37-38 - "Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me."
Reflection: How can you demonstrate that your love for Jesus is greater than your love for anyone else, while still honoring and loving your family?
Day 4: Examining the Authenticity of Faith
A genuine faith in Christ naturally leads to a life of discipleship. If there is no interest in growing and maturing in faith, one must question the authenticity of their salvation. The desire to follow Jesus and live out His purposes is a sign of true transformation within a believer. [41:34]
James 2:17 - "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
Reflection: In what ways does your life reflect an active and growing faith, and what areas need more attention and commitment?
Day 5: Relying on Divine Enablement
The journey of discipleship is not by human strength but through the grace and power provided by God. Committing to follow Jesus reveals the ease of His yoke and the lightness of His burden, bringing peace and rest to our souls. This divine enablement is a testament to God's goodness and faithfulness in our lives. [59:44]
Philippians 2:13 - "For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose."
Reflection: Where do you need God's strength in your discipleship journey, and how can you more fully rely on His enablement in your daily life?
Quotes
1) "A disciple is a person who puts his faith in Christ as Savior and Lord and lives accordingly." [31:44]
2) "When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die. It's hard, isn't it, to follow Christ, you're talking about giving up your life and everything that goes along with it." [30:37]
3) "The best thing you could ever do for your loved ones and for yourself is to put Jesus first." [55:26]
4) "If you find yourself fearful of going all in with Jesus, remember who he is and remember what he's like. This is the one who's calling you." [59:06]
5) "You can't really say you're a believer and not be. It's possible to have a surface faith and never have personally come into that relationship with Jesus." [36:10]
6) "Believers should grow to be mature disciples; that's God's intent. When a believer does not grow to mature as a disciple, that's unacceptable." [37:19]
7) "If you've been saved and you're very not interested in that discipleship stuff, and it doesn't bother you, you may very well not be saved." [41:34]
8) "Jesus says here if you don't live this way, you can't be my disciple, which would imply about their belief." [38:32]
9) "You never know the truth about this yoke until you put it on. When you say I'm going to follow Jesus, you discover it's better than you thought." [59:44]
10) "God won't light your second step until you've taken the first one. So you're here today saying, 'What do I need to do?'" [01:01:35]
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