Total Commitment: Being 'All In' with Jesus
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored what it means to be "all in" with Jesus, drawing from Luke 14:25-35. The journey of discipleship is not about accumulating head knowledge but about living a life transformed by Jesus' teachings. We began with a personal anecdote from my time as a high school soccer coach, emphasizing the importance of being fully committed, much like the dedicated soccer players who were "all in." This set the stage for understanding Jesus' call to discipleship, which demands total commitment and prioritization of Him above all else.
Jesus' teachings in Luke 14 challenge us to count the cost of following Him. He uses strong language, such as "hating" one's family, to stress the importance of placing Him first in our lives. This isn't about literal hatred but about prioritizing our relationship with Him above all other relationships and pursuits. Jesus also speaks about carrying our cross, symbolizing the need to submit our will and desires to His authority.
We examined three parables to further understand this commitment. The first parable about building a tower teaches that a life without Jesus lacks true purpose and meaning. Jesus is the ultimate builder, and our lives must be founded on Him. The second parable about a king going to war illustrates the futility of opposing God and the necessity of making peace with Him through Jesus. The final parable about salt emphasizes the importance of living an uncorrupted, biblically-centered life that stands out in a broken world.
In conclusion, being a disciple of Jesus means daily submitting our lives to His teachings and allowing Him to transform us from the inside out. This commitment is not about perfection but about a continual, intentional effort to prioritize Jesus in every aspect of our lives.
### Key Takeaways
1. Total Commitment to Jesus: Being a disciple of Jesus requires placing Him above all other relationships and pursuits. This means prioritizing our relationship with Him over our family, career, and personal desires. Jesus must hold the first position in our lives, and everything else should fall under His authority. [13:46]
2. Counting the Cost: Following Jesus involves understanding and accepting the cost of discipleship. This includes carrying our cross, which symbolizes submitting our will, desires, and life to Jesus. It’s about recognizing that true discipleship demands total surrender and daily commitment to His teachings. [16:37]
3. Foundation of Life: Our lives must be built on the foundation of Jesus. Without Him, our lives lack true purpose and meaning. Jesus is the ultimate builder, and only a life founded on Him can withstand the trials and challenges we face. This foundation is essential for living a life of significance and legacy. [21:55]
4. Making Peace with God: The parable of the king going to war illustrates the necessity of making peace with God through Jesus. No matter how powerful or self-sufficient we think we are, we need Jesus. Ultimately, every person will bow to Jesus, and it’s crucial to recognize His authority and make peace with Him now. [25:25]
5. Living an Uncorrupted Life: As followers of Jesus, we are called to live lives that are distinct from the brokenness of the world. This means maintaining biblical purity and commitment to Jesus, which serves as a testimony to others. An uncompromised life is essential for effectively witnessing to the transformative power of Jesus. [28:50]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[0:45] - Opening Prayer
[1:30] - Introduction: Soccer Coaching Story
[7:01] - The Importance of Being "All In"
[8:15] - What It Means to Be a Disciple
[9:34] - Learning vs. Living Truth
[10:59] - Jesus' Counter-Cultural Call
[12:35] - Counting the Cost vs. Counting the Score
[13:46] - Prioritizing Jesus Above All
[15:15] - The Challenge of Modern Priorities
[16:37] - Carrying Our Cross
[18:05] - Daily Submission to Jesus
[19:25] - Parable of the Tower
[21:55] - Jesus as the Ultimate Builder
[24:05] - Parable of the King Going to War
[25:25] - Making Peace with God
[27:00] - Parable of the Salt
[28:50] - Living an Uncorrupted Life
[30:26] - Truly Listening to Jesus
[31:22] - Invitation to Follow Jesus
[32:43] - Practical Steps for Believers
[33:17] - Prayer for New Believers
[34:25] - Personal Announcement: Moving to South Carolina
[35:46] - Gratitude and Reflections
[37:29] - Excitement for the Future of the Church
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Luke 14:25-35
- Hebrews 3:4
- John 15:5
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Jesus mean when He says we must "hate" our family to be His disciple? How does this align with the rest of His teachings? ([10:59])
2. In the parable of the tower, who is the ultimate builder, and what does the foundation represent? ([21:55])
3. What is the significance of carrying our cross as mentioned by Jesus? ([16:37])
4. How does Jesus describe the role of salt in the life of a disciple? ([27:42])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Jesus use such strong language about hating family members to describe the cost of discipleship? What is He trying to emphasize? ([10:59])
2. How does the parable of the tower illustrate the importance of having Jesus as the foundation of our lives? ([21:55])
3. What does it mean to carry our cross daily, and how does this concept challenge modern priorities and values? ([16:37])
4. In what ways does living an uncorrupted life serve as a testimony to others about the transformative power of Jesus? ([28:50])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current priorities. Is there anything in your life that has taken the first position over Jesus? How can you realign your priorities to place Jesus first? ([13:46])
2. Jesus calls us to count the cost of following Him. What are some personal sacrifices you might need to make to be fully committed to Jesus? ([16:37])
3. Think about a recent decision or action. Was it based on your own desires or on submitting to Jesus' teachings? How can you practice daily submission to Jesus in your life? ([18:05])
4. Identify an area in your life where you need to make peace with God. What steps can you take this week to reconcile that area with Jesus' authority? ([25:25])
5. Consider how you can live an uncorrupted life in your current environment. What specific actions can you take to maintain biblical purity and stand out in a broken world? ([28:50])
6. How can you ensure that your life is built on the foundation of Jesus? What practical steps can you take to deepen your relationship with Him? ([21:55])
7. Reflect on the concept of being "all in" with Jesus. What does this look like in your daily life, and how can you encourage others in your small group to pursue the same level of commitment? ([23:18])
Devotional
### Day 1: Prioritizing Jesus Above All
Description:
Being a disciple of Jesus requires placing Him above all other relationships and pursuits. This means prioritizing our relationship with Him over our family, career, and personal desires. Jesus must hold the first position in our lives, and everything else should fall under His authority. Jesus uses strong language, such as "hating" one's family, to stress the importance of placing Him first in our lives. This isn't about literal hatred but about prioritizing our relationship with Him above all other relationships and pursuits. [13:46]
Bible passage:
"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." (Luke 14:26, ESV)
Reflection:
What is one relationship or pursuit in your life that often takes precedence over your relationship with Jesus? How can you intentionally prioritize Jesus in that area today?
### Day 2: Understanding the Cost of Discipleship
Description:
Following Jesus involves understanding and accepting the cost of discipleship. This includes carrying our cross, which symbolizes submitting our will, desires, and life to Jesus. It’s about recognizing that true discipleship demands total surrender and daily commitment to His teachings. Jesus calls us to count the cost, meaning we must be aware of the sacrifices and challenges that come with following Him. This commitment is not about perfection but about a continual, intentional effort to prioritize Jesus in every aspect of our lives. [16:37]
Bible passage:
"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." (Matthew 10:38-39, ESV)
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 3: Building on the Foundation of Jesus
Description:
Our lives must be built on the foundation of Jesus. Without Him, our lives lack true purpose and meaning. Jesus is the ultimate builder, and only a life founded on Him can withstand the trials and challenges we face. This foundation is essential for living a life of significance and legacy. The parable of the tower teaches that a life without Jesus lacks true purpose and meaning. Jesus is the ultimate builder, and our lives must be founded on Him. [21:55]
Bible passage:
"For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 3:11, ESV)
Reflection:
Think about the foundation of your life. Are there areas where you have built on something other than Jesus? How can you begin to rebuild those areas on the foundation of Christ?
### Day 4: Making Peace with God
Description:
The parable of the king going to war illustrates the necessity of making peace with God through Jesus. No matter how powerful or self-sufficient we think we are, we need Jesus. Ultimately, every person will bow to Jesus, and it’s crucial to recognize His authority and make peace with Him now. This parable emphasizes the futility of opposing God and the necessity of making peace with Him through Jesus. [25:25]
Bible passage:
"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1, ESV)
Reflection:
Is there an area of your life where you are resisting God's authority? What steps can you take today to make peace with God in that area?
### Day 5: Living an Uncorrupted Life
Description:
As followers of Jesus, we are called to live lives that are distinct from the brokenness of the world. This means maintaining biblical purity and commitment to Jesus, which serves as a testimony to others. An uncompromised life is essential for effectively witnessing to the transformative power of Jesus. The parable of the salt emphasizes the importance of living an uncorrupted, biblically-centered life that stands out in a broken world. [28:50]
Bible passage:
"Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world." (Philippians 2:14-15, ESV)
Reflection:
In what ways can you live a life that stands out as a testimony to others? How can you maintain biblical purity in your daily actions and decisions?
Quotes
1. "What Jesus does is, in this passage, he invites us to be all in by becoming what's called a disciple. Now, disciple is an ancient word. What it really means is a student or a learner of a teacher. In this case, the teacher is Jesus. Now, unlike our education system today, where we basically teach for knowledge or the ability to then apply that knowledge into something, we're really teaching how much information can you hold in your head and then bring out for the test and then forget within 24 hours." [09:34] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Being a disciple is not about learning for head knowledge how much we can retain. It's actually a much richer and deeper meaning. The meaning of being a disciple is not about learning for is learning living truth that actually transforms how we do life. So how we live out the moments of our life looks radically different because of the life-transforming truth that Jesus speaks into you and I as his followers." [09:34] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "So as Americans, we're taught to count the score. And Jesus is saying, I actually want you to count the cost. See, in America, our value as an individual is often based on what we've accomplished, what we have, what position we hold, how hard we work, what value we've gained in a nice home, nice cars and stuff. And then what happens is we're taught as Americans to compare ourselves to each other. So we count the score every day." [12:35] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "What Jesus does in this passage is he goes, actually, life is not about you. You're not about me. Life is about counting the score. Life is about counting the cost. And I want to teach you a completely different way to do life. So Jesus starts out and says, anyone who wants to be one of my disciples, anyone who wants to come after me has to hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters, even his own life." [12:35] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "So Jesus says, hey, you want to be my disciple? I've got to be first in your life. So what you and I have to do, church, is we have to look at our lives and we have to say, Jesus, do you hold first position? Because if you don't hold first position in my life, then something needs to shift. If my career's gotten in the way, if my retirement goals have gotten in the way, if my kids have gotten in the way, if anything's gotten in the way of you, Jesus, I need to shift that in my life." [15:15] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "If I don't take up my cross daily and follow Jesus, in other words, if I don't submit everything of myself to his truth and his teaching, I literally can't be one of his disciples. See, Jesus is not one of you go, I want to add a little Jesus to my life and keep living life. Jesus is actually somebody who takes over your entire life. You can't add a little bit of Jesus. You literally either go, Jesus, I'm 100% in or I'm all out." [16:37] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "So if we want to leave this world with a legacy of faith behind us, it's not based on how well we can do it. It's based on us submitting our lives to Christ. So that he can work in and through us. Now, on the bottom of your sheet, I'm going to give you your filling, and then we're going to keep hitting this throughout. Okay, here it is. Just a simple question. Am I all in with Jesus?" [23:18] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "So you and I have a choice. How are we going to go through this life? Are we going to go through this life rejecting God, fighting God, or are we going to recognize God's ultimate power? And at the end of the day, every single one of us is going to be a victim of God. Every single one of us, believer or otherwise, is going to have to bow the knee to Jesus. That's the heart of the parable." [26:18] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "So if we want to be followers of Jesus, we need to maintain a level of biblical purity and commitment to following Jesus that doesn't look like anything else in our culture. Why would somebody want to be a Christian if I look like they do? There's no reason, right? There's no reason to want to follow Jesus if my life looks like their life. So an uncompromised life. That is critical to our ability to speak into a broken culture about what it looks like to follow Jesus." [28:50] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "If we want to be disciples, if we want to be true followers of Jesus, we've got to be all in. It's not perfection. It's a daily decision to go, Jesus, if there's anything in front of you, it needs to move. If there's anybody in front of you, they need to move. If I'm not personally submitting an area of my life to you, it needs to change. That's what it looks like to follow Jesus on a daily basis." [31:22] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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