Radical Discipleship: The Cost of Following Christ
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound encounter between Jesus and the rich young ruler as recorded in Mark 10. This narrative challenges us to reflect on the essence of gospel conversations and the cost of discipleship. The rich young ruler, despite his wealth, power, and moral standing, approached Jesus with a sincere desire to inherit eternal life. However, his understanding of goodness and salvation was flawed, as he believed eternal life could be earned through good deeds. Jesus, in His wisdom, revealed the young man's idol—his wealth—and challenged him to forsake it, illustrating that true discipleship requires surrendering all that we hold dear for the sake of following Christ.
This encounter teaches us that the gospel is not merely about adding Jesus to our lives but involves a radical transformation and reorientation of our priorities. Jesus' call to "take up the cross and follow me" is a call to die to self and live for Him. It is a reminder that salvation is not a transaction or a checklist but a lifelong journey of faith and repentance. The rich young ruler's sorrowful departure underscores the reality that the cost of following Jesus is high, but the treasure found in Him is infinitely greater.
As we engage in gospel conversations, we must be faithful in presenting the full message of the gospel, including the cost of discipleship. We are not called to manipulate or water down the message but to present it truthfully, trusting God to work in the hearts of those we share with. Our role is to plant and water seeds, leaving the growth to God. In doing so, we must be prepared to let people walk away if they are not ready to accept the gospel, knowing that a half-hearted acceptance is no acceptance at all.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Cost of Discipleship: Following Jesus requires a willingness to forsake all idols and surrender completely to Him. True discipleship is not about adding Jesus to our lives but about a radical transformation that prioritizes Him above all else. This involves daily repentance and faith, not a one-time decision. [31:03]
2. Understanding Goodness: The rich young ruler's encounter with Jesus challenges us to examine our understanding of goodness. True goodness is measured against God's perfect standards, not human comparisons. We must recognize our need for a Savior, as our own righteousness falls short. [39:35]
3. Letting People Walk Away: In gospel conversations, we must be faithful to present the full message, even if it means allowing someone to walk away. Our role is to plant and water seeds, trusting God to bring growth. A genuine acceptance of the gospel is better than a coerced or incomplete one. [42:01]
4. The Power of Repentance: Repentance is not merely turning away from sin but turning towards Jesus, who offers something far greater. It is about recognizing the beauty and worth of Christ, which surpasses any temporary pleasure sin may offer. [45:21]
5. The Treasure of the Gospel: The gospel is like a hidden treasure that, once discovered, compels us to give up everything else to obtain it. The rich young ruler's story reminds us that the cost of following Jesus is high, but the reward is infinitely greater. [48:00]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[22:29] - What Constitutes a Gospel Conversation?
[23:21] - The Rich Young Ruler's Question
[24:17] - Jesus' Challenge to the Young Man
[26:10] - Misunderstanding Goodness
[27:07] - The Futility of Earning Salvation
[27:54] - Daily Repentance and Faith
[28:48] - The Commandments and True Righteousness
[29:51] - Jesus' Love and the Young Man's Idol
[31:03] - Forsaking Idols for Christ
[32:29] - The Tragic Decision
[34:00] - Counting the Cost of Discipleship
[35:13] - The Standard of Goodness
[37:23] - The Bar of Discipleship
[38:22] - Genuine Desire vs. True Salvation
[42:01] - Letting People Walk Away
[45:21] - The Power of Repentance
[46:54] - The Beauty of the Gospel
[48:00] - The Treasure of the Gospel
[52:43] - Closing Prayer and Worship
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Mark 10:17-22
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Observation Questions:
1. What question does the rich young ruler ask Jesus, and how does Jesus initially respond to him? ([23:21])
2. How does Jesus challenge the young man's understanding of goodness and eternal life? ([26:10])
3. What specific command does Jesus give to the rich young ruler, and what is the young man's reaction? ([31:03])
4. How does the sermon describe the rich young ruler's departure after his encounter with Jesus? ([32:29])
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Interpretation Questions:
1. Why does Jesus question the young man's use of the word "good" when addressing Him, and what does this reveal about the young man's understanding of goodness? ([26:10])
2. How does the sermon explain the concept of "taking up the cross" in the context of discipleship? What does this mean for believers today? ([31:03])
3. What does the sermon suggest about the role of wealth and possessions in the young man's life, and how does this relate to the concept of idolatry? ([31:03])
4. How does the sermon address the idea of letting people walk away from gospel conversations, and what is the significance of this approach? ([42:01])
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there any "idols" or possessions that you find difficult to surrender to follow Jesus fully? How can you begin to address these attachments? ([31:03])
2. The sermon emphasizes the cost of discipleship. What are some practical ways you can "take up your cross" in your daily life? ([31:03])
3. Consider your understanding of goodness. How does it align with God's standards, and what steps can you take to align your life more closely with His expectations? ([39:35])
4. In your gospel conversations, how can you ensure that you are presenting the full message of the gospel, including the cost of discipleship, without watering it down? ([42:01])
5. The sermon discusses the importance of repentance. What does true repentance look like in your life, and how can you turn towards Jesus more fully? ([45:21])
6. Think about a recent gospel conversation you had or could have. How can you be more prepared to let someone walk away if they are not ready to accept the gospel, trusting God with the outcome? ([42:01])
7. Identify one person in your life who might be struggling with the concept of goodness or salvation. How can you engage them in a meaningful conversation about these topics this week? ([39:35])
Devotional
Day 1: Radical Surrender to Christ
True discipleship demands a complete surrender of our idols and a reorientation of our lives to prioritize Christ above all else. The rich young ruler's encounter with Jesus in Mark 10 illustrates the high cost of following Jesus. Despite his wealth and moral standing, the young man was challenged to forsake his wealth, which had become an idol in his life. Jesus' call to "take up the cross and follow me" is a call to die to self and live for Him. This involves daily repentance and faith, not a one-time decision. The sorrowful departure of the young ruler underscores the reality that the cost of following Jesus is high, but the treasure found in Him is infinitely greater. [31:03]
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 2: True Goodness and Our Need for a Savior
The encounter between Jesus and the rich young ruler challenges us to examine our understanding of goodness. The young man believed that eternal life could be earned through good deeds, but Jesus revealed that true goodness is measured against God's perfect standards, not human comparisons. This realization highlights our need for a Savior, as our own righteousness falls short. We must recognize that salvation is not a transaction or a checklist but a lifelong journey of faith and repentance. [39:35]
Isaiah 64:6 (ESV): "We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away."
Reflection: In what ways have you been relying on your own goodness or deeds for your sense of worth or salvation? How can you shift your focus to rely on Christ's righteousness instead?
Day 3: Faithful Gospel Conversations
In gospel conversations, we must be faithful to present the full message, even if it means allowing someone to walk away. Our role is to plant and water seeds, trusting God to bring growth. A genuine acceptance of the gospel is better than a coerced or incomplete one. The rich young ruler's story reminds us that we are not called to manipulate or water down the message but to present it truthfully, trusting God to work in the hearts of those we share with. [42:01]
1 Corinthians 3:6-7 (ESV): "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth."
Reflection: Think of a recent conversation where you shared your faith. How can you ensure that you are presenting the full message of the gospel, even if it means risking rejection?
Day 4: The Transformative Power of Repentance
Repentance is not merely turning away from sin but turning towards Jesus, who offers something far greater. It is about recognizing the beauty and worth of Christ, which surpasses any temporary pleasure sin may offer. The rich young ruler's story illustrates the futility of trying to earn salvation through good deeds and highlights the need for a heart transformation that only comes through repentance and faith in Christ. [45:21]
Acts 3:19-20 (ESV): "Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus."
Reflection: What is one sin or habit you need to turn away from today? How can you turn towards Jesus and embrace the greater joy and fulfillment He offers?
Day 5: The Incomparable Treasure of the Gospel
The gospel is like a hidden treasure that, once discovered, compels us to give up everything else to obtain it. The rich young ruler's story reminds us that the cost of following Jesus is high, but the reward is infinitely greater. True discipleship involves a radical transformation and reorientation of our priorities, where Christ becomes the ultimate treasure in our lives. [48:00]
Matthew 13:44 (ESV): "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."
Reflection: What is one thing you are holding onto that is preventing you from fully embracing the treasure of the gospel? How can you begin to let go of it today to pursue the greater reward in Christ?
Quotes
"Help us to know that you are worth us surrendering everything, that you are far more precious and greater and more valuable than anything we have. Help us as Christians to know that our calling as a disciple is to surrender, is to die to self. And so Father, I just pray that you have your way in this message, God, that you brought people in here for different reasons, for different times. That they know. That they know how much you love them today. I pray that they're different and I pray that difference continues outside these doors where they tell people about Jesus Christ. Give us boldness. Give us opportunities. We ask these things in Jesus' name, amen." [00:24:17]
"This man is eager to see and talk to Jesus. The text says he's running and you didn't know. No, Jewish men didn't run. It's not what they did. He runs to Jesus and then he shows humility and he kneels before Jesus. Something I want to push across this morning to you guys is he was genuine. He was sincere. This man is not putting on a front. He genuinely wanted Jesus until Jesus asked too much from him." [00:25:38]
"There are no amount of good deeds that will earn you eternal life because you are born guilty by your nature. A person cannot be saved by their performance. We are saved by Jesus' performance in life and on the cross. This was a guy that was used to getting things done. He was used to earning things. Things came easy to him. Salvation cannot be earned. It is only by grace." [00:26:45]
"If you truly want to follow Jesus, you have to forsake your idols. If you had this conversation with Jesus this morning, what would the thing be in your life? It might not be money, but what would it be? What are you unwilling to give up? What are you unwilling to stop? What is too important to you? What do you love more than God?" [00:31:21]
"Jesus is saying, die to who you thought you were, and find a new life in me, and that's a lot to ask. But he's telling him, there's more treasure in me than you have in your home and your bank account. He's saying, this is what repentance would look like for you. This is what salvation would look like for you. This is what taking up your cross would look like." [00:32:11]
"At the end of the day, you know the reason this man walked away? Is because the cost of following Jesus was too high. When we share the gospel with somebody, we want to make it as easy as possible because in our heart we want them to believe, but what is it we're wanting them to believe? We need to make sure they understand that there's a cost in following Jesus." [00:34:13]
"Tell them what it might cost. Tell them what discipleship might actually look like. Don't ever shy away from that. Jesus never once lowered the bar so somebody would believe. In fact, he was always raising it way too high so that they would believe. They would know the real gospel. You might have to share with somebody. You need to get rid of this sin if you're going to follow Jesus." [00:35:16]
"Sometimes we don't make seeds grow. We just plant them, and we just water them, but God makes them grow. Your job is to be obedient and faithful. Some people aren't ready to be saved, and I would rather them come back to a whole gospel someday than assent to a false gospel. I'd rather you leave this church and be mad at me than me bend the truth and you think you're saved." [00:41:50]
"Let me say this, and I'll say it till I die. We can't run after Jesus and pursue our sin at the same time. Isaiah 55, 7, let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Let him return to the Lord and he will have mercy on him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon." [00:44:27]
"I've heard it said that repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin. And I think I've made this mistake sometimes. We may be talking about sin too much. It's not that you're just turning from your sin, it's that you're turning to Jesus who is far greater and far better than your sin and offers you more than your sin will ever." [00:45:27]
"The only way to get rid of an affliction is through sin. The only way to get rid of an affliction is through sin. You have to have a healthy attachment, but the only way to get rid of an unhealthy attachment is to be attached to something greater. So if my message is stop sinning then I am not preaching a gospel message." [00:46:27]
"There's a story in Greek literature that I love, you've heard of the sirens and sing those songs. seduce sailors. And in Homer's Odyssey, Odysseus was so curious about the sirens that when he passed their island, he had all his sailors stick beeswax into their ears so they wouldn't hear them, but they'd at least get to see them. And they tied him to the mast so he wouldn't do anything stupid. Well, also Greek tradition, there's Jason of the Argonauts. And he did something really different on the suggestion of a guy named Chiron. He brought a great musician with him named Orpheus on his travels. And when the sirens started singing, Orpheus pulled out his lyre and began to play better music. And I think that's like the beauty of the gospel, right? Jesus plays better music." [00:47:14]
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