Following Christ: The True Cost of Discipleship

Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound encounter between Jesus and the rich young ruler as depicted in Mark 10:17-31. This passage challenges our understanding of wealth, discipleship, and what it means to truly follow Christ. The rich young ruler, a man of wealth, influence, and moral standing, approached Jesus with a question that resonates with many of us: "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus, in His wisdom, did not immediately provide an answer but instead challenged the man's understanding of goodness and righteousness. He pointed out that true goodness is found only in God, thereby inviting the man to reflect on his own self-righteousness.

Jesus then addressed the core issue in the man's heart: his attachment to wealth. By asking him to sell all he had and follow Him, Jesus was not merely calling for a life of poverty but was inviting the man to replace his material wealth with the richness of a relationship with Christ. This call to discipleship is not about the loss but about gaining Christ, who is the ultimate treasure. Jesus' invitation is a reminder that anything we place above God becomes an idol, and only by letting go of these idols can we truly follow Him.

The disciples, witnessing this interaction, were perplexed, questioning who could be saved if not the wealthy. Jesus' response, "With man it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God," highlights the grace that makes salvation possible. It is not through our efforts or possessions but through God's grace that we are saved.

As we reflect on this passage, we are reminded that following Jesus may require sacrifices, but the reward is far greater. Jesus promises that those who give up earthly treasures for His sake will receive a hundredfold in this life and eternal life in the age to come. This is not a promise of material wealth but of the richness found in a life devoted to Christ and His mission.

Key Takeaways:

1. True Goodness and Righteousness: Jesus challenges the rich young ruler's understanding of goodness, emphasizing that true goodness is found only in God. This invites us to reflect on our own self-righteousness and recognize that our worthiness comes from God alone. [41:48]

2. The Call to Discipleship: Jesus' invitation to the young man to sell his possessions and follow Him is a call to prioritize our relationship with Christ above all else. It is a reminder that anything we place above God becomes an idol, and true discipleship requires letting go of these idols. [45:33]

3. The Possibility of Salvation: The disciples' question about who can be saved highlights the grace of God. Jesus assures them that while salvation is impossible for man, it is possible with God, emphasizing the role of divine grace in our salvation. [54:31]

4. The Reward of Sacrifice: Jesus promises that those who sacrifice for His sake will receive a hundredfold in this life and eternal life in the age to come. This is not a promise of material wealth but of the richness found in a life devoted to Christ and His mission. [57:45]

5. Jesus is Enough: The ultimate message of this passage is that Jesus is enough. No matter what we are called to sacrifice, the reward of knowing and following Christ far outweighs any earthly possession or status. [59:18]

Youtube Chapters:

- [0:00] - Welcome
- [21:32] - Opening Prayer
- [34:39] - Greetings and Reflections
- [35:42] - Introduction to the Gospel of Mark
- [36:39] - The Rich Young Ruler
- [37:40] - Jesus' Challenge to Wealth
- [38:48] - Discipleship and Sacrifice
- [39:48] - Understanding True Greatness
- [40:57] - The False Notion of Goodness
- [41:48] - Jesus' Invitation to Follow
- [45:33] - The Core of Our Being
- [46:39] - Wealth and Idolatry
- [48:06] - Jesus as Our Substitute
- [49:17] - The Cost of Discipleship
- [54:31] - The Possibility of Salvation
- [57:45] - The Reward of Sacrifice
- [59:18] - Jesus is Enough
- [01:00:22] - Closing Reflections and Benediction

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Mark 10:17-31

#### Observation Questions
1. What question does the rich young ruler ask Jesus, and how does Jesus initially respond to him? [41:48]
2. How does Jesus challenge the rich young ruler's understanding of goodness and righteousness? [42:36]
3. What specific instruction does Jesus give to the rich young ruler, and what is the man's reaction? [45:33]
4. How do the disciples react to Jesus' teaching about wealth and salvation, and what is Jesus' response to them? [54:31]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Jesus emphasize that true goodness is found only in God, and how does this challenge the rich young ruler's self-perception? [42:36]
2. What does Jesus' instruction to sell all possessions and follow Him reveal about the nature of discipleship? [45:33]
3. How does Jesus' statement, "With man it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God," highlight the role of divine grace in salvation? [54:31]
4. In what ways does Jesus' promise of receiving a hundredfold in this life and eternal life in the age to come redefine the concept of reward and sacrifice? [57:45]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own understanding of goodness and righteousness. How might you be relying on self-righteousness rather than recognizing your worthiness comes from God alone? [42:36]
2. Consider any "idols" in your life that might be taking precedence over your relationship with Christ. What steps can you take to prioritize your discipleship? [45:33]
3. How does the concept of divine grace challenge your understanding of salvation? In what ways can you rely more on God's grace rather than your own efforts? [54:31]
4. Jesus promises a hundredfold reward for those who sacrifice for His sake. How can you shift your focus from material wealth to the richness found in a life devoted to Christ? [57:45]
5. The sermon emphasized that "Jesus is enough." Identify an area in your life where you struggle to believe this truth. How can you remind yourself of Jesus' sufficiency in that area? [59:18]
6. Reflect on a time when you had to make a sacrifice for your faith. How did that experience impact your relationship with Christ, and what did you learn from it? [57:45]
7. How can you actively participate in the mission of making Christ known in your community, even if it requires personal sacrifice? [59:52]

Devotional

I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:

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Day 1: True Goodness is Found in God Alone
Description: The encounter between Jesus and the rich young ruler in Mark 10:17-31 challenges our understanding of goodness and righteousness. Jesus points out that true goodness is found only in God, inviting the young man to reflect on his self-righteousness. This is a call for us to recognize that our worthiness and righteousness come from God alone, not from our own efforts or moral standing. By acknowledging this, we are invited to a deeper relationship with God, where we rely on His grace rather than our own perceived goodness. [41:48]

Psalm 16:2-3 (ESV): "I say to the Lord, 'You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.' As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you find yourself relying on your own goodness rather than God's grace? How can you shift your focus to recognize God's goodness in those areas today?

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Day 2: Prioritizing Christ Above All Else
Description: Jesus' invitation to the rich young ruler to sell his possessions and follow Him is a profound call to discipleship. It is not merely about giving up material wealth but about prioritizing our relationship with Christ above all else. Anything we place above God becomes an idol, and true discipleship requires letting go of these idols. This call challenges us to examine our own lives and identify what we might be holding onto that prevents us from fully following Christ. [45:33]

Matthew 6:24 (ESV): "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."

Reflection: What is one thing in your life that you might be placing above your relationship with Christ? How can you begin to let go of this idol and prioritize your walk with Him?

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Day 3: Salvation Through Divine Grace
Description: The disciples were perplexed by Jesus' interaction with the rich young ruler, questioning who could be saved if not the wealthy. Jesus' response, "With man it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God," highlights the grace that makes salvation possible. It is not through our efforts or possessions but through God's grace that we are saved. This truth invites us to rest in the assurance of God's grace, knowing that our salvation is secure in Him. [54:31]

Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV): "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Reflection: How does understanding that salvation is a gift of grace change the way you view your relationship with God? In what ways can you express gratitude for this grace today?

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Day 4: The Richness of Sacrifice
Description: Jesus promises that those who sacrifice for His sake will receive a hundredfold in this life and eternal life in the age to come. This is not a promise of material wealth but of the richness found in a life devoted to Christ and His mission. The call to sacrifice is an invitation to experience the fullness of life that comes from following Jesus wholeheartedly. It challenges us to consider what we might be called to give up for the sake of gaining Christ. [57:45]

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (ESV): "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

Reflection: What is one sacrifice you feel God is calling you to make for His sake? How can you trust in the promise of the richness that comes from following Him?

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Day 5: Jesus is the Ultimate Treasure
Description: The ultimate message of the encounter with the rich young ruler is that Jesus is enough. No matter what we are called to sacrifice, the reward of knowing and following Christ far outweighs any earthly possession or status. This truth invites us to find our ultimate satisfaction and treasure in Jesus, recognizing that He is the source of true fulfillment and joy. [59:18]

Colossians 2:2-3 (ESV): "That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

Reflection: In what ways are you seeking fulfillment outside of Christ? How can you begin to find your ultimate treasure and satisfaction in Jesus today?

Quotes

1. "The lectionary in the months of September and October is taking us through these middle chapters of the Gospel of Mark. And they're all about discipleship. They're all about helping us understand what discipleship looks like. And it really should be no surprise to us that Jesus, in this passage this morning, is going to challenge our understanding of wealth, of what it means to have material possessions. Because Jesus is already pressed on so many subjects. If you go back and look at chapters 9 and 10, you'll see that Jesus has turned upside down. Our understanding of power, that he who is greatest will be a servant to all, for instance, of what it means to be great in the kingdom of God." [38:48] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Jesus says, I've not come to be served, but to serve, to give my life as a ransom for many. He'll say that in a few verses at the end of chapter 10. What our responsibility is towards our neighbors, that we're to be keeping account. If we call someone to sin, that it would be better for us to have, if we call someone to sin, that it would be better for us to have, that it would be better for us to have a millstone wrapped around our necks and to be cast into the sea rather than to call someone to sin. That's a high level of accountability. That's getting into our stuff in a way that we're probably not very comfortable with." [39:48] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "The disciples are caught up in a first century understanding of wealth. Which basically has the idea that if you're wealthy, clearly you have the blessing of God. And so if you have material possessions, it shows that God has blessed you and God is with you. And sometimes I think probably in our own culture, we have the same idea. Successful things, God must be blessing them. Whether it's business or the church or government or anything else, that God is behind it. And Jesus clearly challenges that." [40:57] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "What does this teaching of Jesus have to say to you and me this morning? Not just to this man who comes and sadly goes away heavy hearted, disheartened, as the scripture tells. What is it that Jesus wants to say to us? What is he getting at in the life of this man? And what does it say to us as would-be disciples of Jesus? Well, first of all, I want you to recognize that what Jesus does here is he removes a false notion of goodness. Who is acceptable in God's sight?" [41:48] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Jesus, we read in verse 21, loves this man. It's not his attempt to draw out his hypocrisy. He's not trying to challenge him or catch him. He's, he cares for this man. He loves this man. And the word love there is the, the Greek word that we get the word agape from, the, the very God-like love, the unconditional love, that love that only God can truly express. This is the type of love that, that Jesus has towards this man. It is his heart that he is after." [44:04] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Tim Keller, the Presbyterian pastor from Redeemer in New York City, said that if anything becomes more fundamental to your, your happiness than God, that thing for you has become an idol. God begins, Jesus begins to explore with this man out of his love for him. What is at the core of his being? What is at the core of his, his care and the center of, as we say, the heart of him, the very essence of who he is." [45:02] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "Jesus has uncovered that in this young man's life or this man, if whether he's young or not is he at the score of his, his being, what is essential to his happiness, in fact is his material wealth. Now Jesus is not saying this is true for everyone. Jesus does not call everyone into poverty. St. Francis of Assisi famously renounces all of his worldly possessions. I believe that Francis was called, called to that and Francis lived a unique life." [46:01] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Ultimately, James Edwards, a biblical scholar written the commentary on this passage says that Jesus in that verse offers himself as a substitute for the man's wealth. You see, if you just read this passage and you see this man is being called to sell all his possessions, then it seems like a total loss. But when you put it in light of the fact that Jesus is offering himself in place of the wealth, he says, yes, I'm calling you to sell all you have, but I'm offering you myself. I'm taking the place of that." [48:06] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "Jesus is consistent with what he's been saying all along to follow him is to deny ourselves is to take up our cross. And that will look different. Differently in all of our lives, but ultimately it becomes about coming to what Dallas Willard says that Jesus is enough. No matter what the sacrifice, no matter what it costs or what I'm called to give up, Jesus is enough." [49:17] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "Jesus says to this man, yes, I'm calling you to give up your wealth, but I'm offering you myself. I want to remove the barrier. I want to remove the barrier. That would keep you from giving yourself to me. How difficult Jesus says it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God. Jesus knows how extreme the call on this man's life. He knows what he's calling us to. And yet he also knows the things that occupy our hearts." [52:12] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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