Radical Commitment: The True Cost of Discipleship

Devotional

Day 1: Authentic Faith and Trust

Believing in Jesus is not enough; He must also believe in us. This requires a life of genuine discipleship, where our actions and hearts align with His will. Jesus knows our innermost thoughts and seeks those who are truly committed to Him, not just in word but in deed. This means living a life that reflects His teachings and commands, demonstrating our faith through our actions. It is a call to examine the depth of our relationship with Christ and ensure that it is not superficial but rooted in true commitment and obedience. [01:08]

John 14:21 (ESV): "Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him."

Reflection: In what ways can you demonstrate your commitment to Christ through your actions today, ensuring that your faith is not just in words but in deeds?

Day 2: Seeking God's Approval

Striving to please men disqualifies us from being true servants of Christ. Our allegiance must be to Christ above all else, including family and personal desires. This is a call to live a life that is pleasing to God, even if it means standing alone or facing opposition. It challenges us to evaluate where our loyalties lie and to prioritize God's approval over human acceptance. This may require difficult decisions and sacrifices, but it is essential for true discipleship. [03:37]

Galatians 1:10 (ESV): "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."

Reflection: Identify a situation where you are tempted to seek human approval over God's. How can you choose to prioritize God's approval in this situation today?

Day 3: The Cost of Discipleship

True discipleship demands that we prioritize Christ above all, take up our cross daily, and relinquish our possessions to Him. This is not about material poverty but about a heart posture that holds nothing back from God. In doing so, we find true freedom and fulfillment in His service. It is a call to examine what we are holding onto that may hinder our relationship with Christ and to be willing to let go for the sake of following Him fully. [40:02]

Luke 14:33 (ESV): "So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple."

Reflection: What is one possession or attachment you find difficult to relinquish to God? How can you begin to surrender it to Him today?

Day 4: The Great Commission

The mission of the church is twofold: preaching the gospel to all creation and making disciples of all nations. This requires us to come under Christ's authority, ensuring that our lives reflect His teachings. Discipleship is not just about conversion but about teaching others to obey all that Jesus commanded. It involves a commitment to spreading the message of Christ and nurturing others in their faith journey, helping them grow in obedience and understanding of His word. [20:00]

Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV): "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Reflection: Who is someone in your life you can encourage in their faith journey? How can you intentionally invest in their spiritual growth this week?

Day 5: Living a Life of Radical Commitment

Following Jesus may bring division, even among our closest relationships, but our love for Him must surpass all. We are called to lose our lives for His sake, finding true life in Him. This involves a radical commitment to Christ, where we are willing to sacrifice everything for His kingdom. It challenges us to evaluate our priorities and ensure that our love for Christ is above all else, even when it is difficult or costly. [08:59]

Matthew 10:37-39 (ESV): "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and 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?

Sermon Summary

In today's reflection, we delved into the profound truths found in John 2:23-25, where many believed in Jesus, yet He did not entrust Himself to them. This passage challenges us to examine the depth of our faith and relationship with Christ. It's not enough to merely believe in Jesus; He must also believe in us. This requires a life of genuine discipleship, where our actions and hearts align with His will. Jesus knows the innermost parts of our hearts, and He seeks those who are truly committed to Him, not just in word but in deed.

We explored the importance of seeking God's approval over man's. Paul, in Galatians 1:10, emphasized that striving to please men disqualifies us from being true servants of Christ. This is a call to live a life that is pleasing to God, even if it means standing alone or facing opposition. Our allegiance must be to Christ above all else, including family and personal desires. Jesus' words in Matthew 10:34-39 remind us that following Him may bring division, even among our closest relationships, but our love for Him must surpass all.

Furthermore, we discussed the twofold Great Commission: preaching the gospel to all creation and making disciples of all nations. This mission requires us to come under Christ's authority, ensuring that our lives reflect His teachings. Discipleship is not just about conversion but about teaching others to obey all that Jesus commanded. This involves a radical commitment to Christ, where we are willing to lose our lives for His sake, finding true life in Him.

Lastly, we examined the cost of discipleship as outlined in Luke 14:26-35. True discipleship demands that we prioritize Christ above all, take up our cross daily, and relinquish our possessions to Him. This is not about material poverty but about a heart posture that holds nothing back from God. In doing so, we find true freedom and fulfillment in His service.

Key Takeaways

1. Authentic Faith and Trust: Believing in Jesus is not enough; He must also believe in us. This requires a life of genuine discipleship, where our actions and hearts align with His will. Jesus knows our innermost thoughts and seeks those who are truly committed to Him, not just in word but in deed. [01:08]
2. Seeking God's Approval: Striving to please men disqualifies us from being true servants of Christ. Our allegiance must be to Christ above all else, including family and personal desires. This is a call to live a life that is pleasing to God, even if it means standing alone or facing opposition. [03:37]
3. The Cost of Discipleship: True discipleship demands that we prioritize Christ above all, take up our cross daily, and relinquish our possessions to Him. This is not about material poverty but about a heart posture that holds nothing back from God. In doing so, we find true freedom and fulfillment in His service. [40:02]
4. The Great Commission: The mission of the church is twofold: preaching the gospel to all creation and making disciples of all nations. This requires us to come under Christ's authority, ensuring that our lives reflect His teachings. Discipleship is not just about conversion but about teaching others to obey all that Jesus commanded. [20:00]
5. Living a Life of Radical Commitment: Following Jesus may bring division, even among our closest relationships, but our love for Him must surpass all. We are called to lose our lives for His sake, finding true life in Him. This involves a radical commitment to Christ, where we are willing to sacrifice everything for His kingdom. [08:59]
** [08:59]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:10] - Introduction to John 2:23-25
[00:54] - Jesus' Trust in Believers
[02:14] - Seeking God's Approval
[03:37] - Pleasing God vs. Pleasing Men
[05:59] - The Sword of Division
[08:16] - Loving Christ Above All
[10:19] - True Conversion and Self-Denial
[12:19] - Losing Life to Find It
[13:37] - The Cost of Discipleship
[16:02] - The Great Commission
[20:00] - Making Disciples
[26:00] - Teaching Obedience to Christ
[30:09] - Building a Spiritual Skyscraper
[40:02] - Taking Up the Cross
[53:42] - Relinquishing Possessions
[57:07] - Conclusion and Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- John 2:23-25
- Galatians 1:10
- Luke 14:26-35

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Observation Questions:

In John 2:23-25, what was Jesus' response to those who believed in Him, and why did He not entrust Himself to them? [01:08]
According to Galatians 1:10, what does Paul say about seeking the approval of men versus God? How does this relate to being a servant of Christ? [03:37]
What are the three conditions of discipleship mentioned in Luke 14:26-35, and how do they relate to prioritizing Christ in one's life? [15:24]
How does the sermon describe the difference between true conversion and a superficial belief in Jesus? [10:19]

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Interpretation Questions:

What does it mean for Jesus to "believe in us," and how does this concept challenge our understanding of faith and discipleship? [01:08]
How might seeking God's approval over man's approval impact one's daily decisions and relationships, according to the sermon? [03:37]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that the Great Commission involves more than just preaching the gospel? How does it emphasize the importance of discipleship? [20:00]
How does the sermon interpret the cost of discipleship in terms of personal sacrifice and commitment to Christ? [40:02]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on your own faith journey. Are there areas where you feel Jesus might not "entrust Himself" to you? What steps can you take to deepen your commitment to Him? [01:08]
Consider a situation where you have sought the approval of others over God's approval. How can you shift your focus to prioritize pleasing God in similar situations in the future? [03:37]
The sermon discusses the potential division that following Christ can bring to personal relationships. Have you experienced this in your life? How did you handle it, and what might you do differently now? [08:59]
Identify one area of your life where you can take up your cross and follow Jesus more closely. What practical steps can you take this week to make this a reality? [40:02]
The sermon emphasizes the importance of making disciples. Who in your life could you begin to disciple, and what is one action you can take this week to start that process? [20:00]
Reflect on your possessions and what you hold dear. Is there anything you need to relinquish to God to live a life of true discipleship? How can you begin to do this? [53:42]
How can you ensure that your love for Christ surpasses all other loves in your life? What specific changes might you need to make to prioritize your relationship with Him? [08:59]

Sermon Clips

"Jesus was not so excited about these people believing in him because it says in verse 24 and this is a pl we have to be careful because many of us also believe in Jesus in the same way these Jews believed but we need to think of verse 24 and 25 in connection with ourselves." [00:57:55]

"Paul said he never sought the approval of men, he says in Galatians in chapter 1 and verse 4, oh sorry verse 10 Galatians chapter 1 verse 10 Paul understood this that some who believed in Jesus Jesus did not commit himself to them and he was concerned that Jesus should commit himself to him." [02:51:28]

"Am I now seeking the favor of men or of God? If you want to follow Jesus brothers and sisters say that to yourself, am I seeking to the favor of men or of God, am I striving to please somebody stop striving, seek only to please the Lord if I was still trying to please men I cannot be a bond servant of Christ." [03:28:40]

"Matthew 10 34 he said don't think I came to bring peace on the earth, you know at Christmas time people sing the song the angel sang peace on earth and goodwill towards men, but if you read the full words that the angel said that time, it is peace on earth and good will towards men in Luke 2 14 with whom he is pleased." [06:18:39]

"He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me that's what he means that the Lord has come to bring a sword that prevents a man from loving his father or mother more than Christ if you're a god-fearing person you grow up respecting your parents and that's right and you love father and mother." [08:46:24]

"True conversion is not just about wanting to go to heaven when you die, it's a hating of sin more than a wanting to go to heaven that makes a person have a proper relationship with Christ the hating of this self-life that has produced all the sin in our life if there's no hatred of that, it's a very selfish type of Christianity." [10:18:08]

"Matthew 10 39 he was found his life will lose it but he loses his life for my sake will find it and there he's not referring to martyrdom he's not referring to our giving up our physical life the word there in verse 39 is our soul life there are different words in the original language for soul life and physical life." [11:21:04]

"Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation to every person and this is a very simple statement we've got to go and preach to everyone in the whole world and he who believes and is baptized will be saved this is the elementary gospel and he who does not believe no mention of baptism there he who does not believe will be condemned." [16:26:16]

"Go and make disciples in the whole world in every nation that's the same as saying the whole world there it was mark 16 go and preach the gospel to all the world here it is go and make disciples in the whole world and why should I go now most missionary challenges are there's a need out there so you should be go." [20:10:88]

"Teach them to obey every single thing I commanded you see that's why we took ten studies on the sermon on the mount I mean that's not everything Jesus commanded but that's a major part of what Jesus commanded and it says here if you become a disciple then you have to learn and understand and obey all that Jesus commanded." [26:22:24]

"Discipleship means building the skyscraper not just saying I accepted the lord and got baptized I don't think I would want a single person like that in a church where I'm an elder not even one person who just wants to say I want to go to heaven when I die I say brother go and find some other church." [32:20:79]

"Don't let your love for any human being be more than your love for Christ Christ must be supreme he must be a possession of every part of your life every area of your life and the second condition of discipleship is in verse 27 it's it's included a little in verse 26 where he says you've got to hate your own life as well." [44:26:63]

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Radical Commitment: The True Cost of Discipleship

Devotional

Day 1: Authentic Faith and Trust

Day 2: Seeking God's Approval

Day 3: The Cost of Discipleship

Day 4: The Great Commission

Day 5: Living a Life of Radical Commitment

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Radical Commitment: The True Cost of Discipleship

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