Radical Discipleship: Embracing Sacrifice and Service

 

Summary

In the concluding session of Intentional Faith Week 5, the focus is on the profound teachings of Jesus as recorded in Luke chapter 14, verses 25 through 35. The message delivered is a clarion call to live a life that mirrors the sacrificial and intentional faith of Jesus Christ. The essence of the message is to understand the cost of true discipleship and the radical commitment it demands.

The message begins by addressing the large crowds that followed Jesus, highlighting the challenging words He spoke to them. Jesus emphasized that to be His disciple, one must be willing to prioritize Him above all else, including family and even one's own life. This is not a call to despise loved ones but to understand the supremacy of commitment to Christ above all earthly ties. The message further explores the metaphor of carrying one's cross, which signifies a willingness to endure suffering and persecution for the sake of following Jesus.

The message then delves into the parables of building a tower and a king going to war, both of which underscore the importance of counting the cost of discipleship. The speaker explains that these parables are not about financial recklessness but about a deeper renunciation of values, morals, and worldviews that are contrary to the teachings of Jesus. It is a call to abandon the societal norms and expectations that conflict with the kingdom of God.

The speaker also emphasizes the importance of context in understanding scripture. By examining the cultural, linguistic, and historical background of the text, one gains a clearer understanding of its meaning. The speaker warns against the practice of "stacking" verses from different parts of the Bible without considering their individual contexts, which can lead to misinterpretation.

Throughout the message, the speaker illustrates how Jesus modeled the life of giving up everything for the sake of the kingdom. Jesus touched the untouchable, helped the helpless, and forgave the unforgivable. He lived outside the margins of societal acceptance, challenging both the legalism of Judaism and the liberalism of Rome. In doing so, He became the embodiment of salt, preserving and purifying the world around Him.

The speaker shares personal stories of engaging with those society has rejected, such as visiting a person with AIDS when fear and misinformation were rampant. These actions exemplify the call to be salt in the world, to bring healing and hope where there is pain and despair.

The message concludes with a powerful reminder that discipleship is not about pursuing personal ambitions but about seeking God's purpose and calling. It is a life marked by sacrifice, service, and transformation. The speaker invites the congregation to respond to this call by accepting Jesus, praying for wisdom, and embracing the courage to step out in faith to touch lives.

Key Takeaways:

- True discipleship requires a radical reordering of our priorities, where allegiance to Jesus surpasses even the closest of familial bonds. This is not a message of hate but one of supreme love and commitment to Christ, who calls us to a higher purpose and a deeper relationship with Him. [00:32]

- The parables of counting the cost, whether building a tower or preparing for war, serve as poignant reminders that following Jesus is not a decision to be taken lightly. It involves a thorough assessment of what it means to live out one's faith in a world that often stands in opposition to the values of the kingdom of God. [01:15]

- Being the salt of the earth is an active, intentional pursuit. It means stepping into the brokenness of the world to bring healing and restoration. Just as Jesus reached out to touch the leper, we are called to reach out to those whom society has cast aside, offering the touch of compassion and the hope of redemption. [15:05]

- The transformational power of the gospel is not limited to personal salvation but extends to societal impact. When we embrace the call to discipleship, we become agents of change, helping others to find new momentum in life and to become self-sustaining members of the community who can, in turn, assist others in need. [19:26]

- The message of forgiveness and new creation is central to the Christian faith. By facilitating God's forgiveness, we participate in the divine work of helping people become new creations in Christ. This transformative process is exemplified in the story of the woman who anointed Jesus, as well as in the lives of those who have been touched by the church's ministry. [30:06]

Study Guide

### Bible Reading
- Luke 14:25-35: "Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: '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. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.'"

### Observation Questions
1. What does Jesus mean when He says that one must "hate" their family and even their own life to be His disciple? ([00:32])
2. How does the metaphor of carrying one's cross relate to the concept of discipleship in this passage? ([00:32])
3. What are the two parables Jesus uses to illustrate the cost of discipleship, and what do they signify? ([01:15])
4. According to the sermon, what does it mean to be the "salt of the earth"? ([11:01])

### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Jesus use such strong language about hating one's family and life in the context of discipleship? How does this align with the overall message of love in the Gospel? ([00:32])
2. What does it mean to "carry your cross" in today's context? How can this be practically applied in our daily lives? ([00:32])
3. How do the parables of building a tower and going to war help us understand the importance of counting the cost of discipleship? ([01:15])
4. In what ways can Christians today be the "salt of the earth"? How does this concept challenge societal norms and expectations? ([11:01])

### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current priorities. Are there areas in your life where your commitment to Jesus is being compromised by other relationships or responsibilities? How can you realign these priorities? ([00:32])
2. Think about a time when you had to endure suffering or persecution for your faith. How did you handle it, and what did you learn from that experience? ([00:32])
3. The sermon mentioned the importance of understanding the context of scripture. How can you improve your approach to studying the Bible to avoid misinterpretation? ([03:39])
4. Jesus modeled a life of sacrificial love and service. Identify one specific way you can reach out to someone in need this week, following Jesus' example. ([15:05])
5. The speaker shared personal stories of engaging with marginalized individuals. Is there a group or individual in your community that you feel called to serve? What steps can you take to begin this outreach? ([16:57])
6. How can you actively participate in being the "salt of the earth" in your workplace, school, or neighborhood? What practical actions can you take to bring healing and hope to those around you? ([11:01])
7. Reflect on the concept of giving up everything for the sake of the kingdom. What is one thing you feel God is asking you to surrender, and how can you take steps to do so this week? ([11:46])

Devotional

Day 1: Prioritizing Jesus Above All
True discipleship demands placing Jesus at the forefront of one's life, above all personal relationships and desires. This radical reordering of priorities is not about diminishing the love for family but about elevating the commitment to Christ to the highest place. It is a call to recognize the supremacy of Jesus and to align one's life accordingly. This means making difficult choices and sometimes standing alone in one's faith, but it is in this space that a deeper relationship with Christ is forged.

"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." (Matthew 10:37 ESV)

Reflection: Consider the relationships in your life. Is there any relationship or personal desire that you are placing above your commitment to Christ? How can you begin to reorder your priorities to reflect Jesus as your foremost love? [00:32]

Day 2: Counting the Cost of Discipleship
The journey of following Jesus is akin to a builder considering the cost before constructing a tower or a king contemplating the outcome before going to war. It is a sobering process that requires full awareness of the sacrifices and challenges that come with being a disciple. This path involves a deep renunciation of values and worldviews that conflict with the teachings of Jesus. It is about being prepared to face opposition and to stand firm in faith, even when it is countercultural.

"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?" (Luke 14:28 ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on your own journey with Christ. Have you considered the cost of following Him? What does it mean for you to build your life with the foundation of Jesus' teachings, and are you prepared to face the challenges that may come? [01:15]

Day 3: Being Salt in a Broken World
To be the salt of the earth is to actively engage with the world's brokenness, bringing healing and hope. This means stepping out of comfort zones to touch lives that society has often neglected or rejected. It is a call to embody the compassion and redemption that Jesus demonstrated, reaching out to those in need with a touch that brings transformation and life.

"You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet." (Matthew 5:13 ESV)

Reflection: Who are the marginalized or neglected individuals in your community, and how can you be 'salt' in their lives? What is one tangible action you can take this week to bring the healing and hope of Christ to someone in need? [15:05]

Day 4: Agents of Societal Transformation
The transformative power of the gospel extends beyond personal salvation to societal impact. As disciples, we are called to be agents of change, helping others find new momentum in life. This involves assisting others to become self-sustaining and contributing members of the community, thereby creating a ripple effect of transformation that can impact the broader society.

"And he said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.'" (Mark 16:15 ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you contribute to societal transformation through your faith? Identify one area in your community where you can make a difference and outline a plan to start making an impact. [19:26]

Day 5: Facilitating Forgiveness and New Creation
The message of forgiveness and the promise of becoming a new creation in Christ are central to the Christian faith. By extending God's forgiveness, we participate in the divine work of transformation, helping individuals experience the profound change that comes from encountering Jesus. This process reflects the heart of the gospel, where lives are renewed and destinies are reshaped.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV)

Reflection: Is there someone in your life who needs to experience God's forgiveness through you? How can you facilitate this process of new creation for them, and what steps will you take to reach out with the message of redemption? [30:06]

Quotes

1) "Jesus understood this guy needs more than just to be healed of leprosy; he needs human contact...sometimes the wounds that need healed aren't the ones you can see; they're the ones on the inside." [15:05] (Download)

2) "We help people become a new creation; we give up our safety, we give up our time, we give up everything so that we can do these things because in giving up everything we become salt." [35:35] (Download)

3) "We facilitate God's forgiveness in a way that helps people become a new creation...Jesus gave forgiveness, helping her to become a new creation." [30:06] (Download)

4) "We help people get a new momentum in life...we're not just about helping people, we're helping them to get a momentum that they've lost that's created the need." [19:26] (Download)

5) "We reach people that consider themselves our enemy...we step in arenas where they don't even like us and say we're here to help anyway." [29:22] (Download)

6) "Giving up everything is what makes us salt...I'm not pursuing the American dream, I'm pursuing God's purpose for my life, His calling, His design for my life." [11:01] (Download)

7) "We have a lot of people who are trying to merge American values with Christianity...you have to make a choice; there's no merging of the two." [08:31] (Download)

8) "We don't coward, we don't run...when people run, we walk in. That's salt. Salt goes where there's infections, salt goes where it's bad." [18:11] (Download)

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?