Sermon Tone Analysis

Same account in Matthew 8:18-22.

Fair weathered friends - has anyone every had one?

You know the type, the ones that want to be around when everything is going good.

The ones who enjoy the benefits of friendship, at least when until hard times or troubles rear their ugly heads.

Reaps the benefits, without putting forth any work.

We have a breakfast at church with a work day…and they show up to eat but then miraculously have a “previous engagement” when work begins.

Thomas Paine, a patriot during the time of the American Revolution described a set of people known as “summer soldiers”, or “sunshine patriots”.

Mr. Paine was describing two types of men, ones who would plant their crops then fight the British until harvest time and would return home, and others who, when the snow started falling, and a bad situation became harsh, left their ranks to return to their hearths, leaving the battles for others to wage.

With that thought in mind, it made me think of our churches and the declines we have seen.

Now, I have told our church many times that I see many Burger King humans - they attend or belong to organizations as long as they can get it “their way”.

They may be seen as “persuasive” or “influential”.

We have spoiled humans, those who feel they have arrived and do not need anyone else to support them.

They may call themselves “independent”.

We may even know of people who are leeches, always relying on others to support their activities.

They may be viewed as “resourceful”.

But in all these examples, we find people who are most miserable.

They’ve missed the mark in so many ways.

Today, many of our churches are filled with similar people.

People who come to church looking for what “church” can give them.

People who exert authority during business meetings because, right frankly, that may be the only place they feel they have any authority.

People who act like they are God’s private consultant.

As a result, we have many churches who are failing to follow through with the great commission because they are too busy worrying about what is going on within the church to worry about those outside the church.

We have turned church into a country club.

And we wonder why so many un-churched look at those in our churches and don’t want anything to do with us.

We, as Christians, are called to a different life than many of us are living though.

We are called to be imitators of Christ, ones who are more concerned about where the lost will spend eternity.

In these verses we find there is a cost to following Jesus.

You see, He sacrificed Himself for us (forgiveness of our sins) and in return we must sacrifice ourselves for Him.

True discipleship costs us everything.

What is Discipleship?

Christ has again been teaching the disciples that His life would soon be coming to an end.

While the words were spoken, the disciples did not fully understand what He had told them.

Jesus was focusing on His return to Jerusalem and had sent some disciples to prepare the way, but as they entered Samaria they rejected Jesus.

Why?

Because He was headed to do His Fathers business in a place the Samaritans despised.

Now think of this - they rejected their source of salvation because of their dislike of someone else.

Shew, that could be a sermon in itself…but on His way to Jerusalem others were following Him.

Now, how many of you “follow” someone.

Whether it be on social media, athlete, movie star, or a music group/band you enjoy.

Many people can quote statistics , song release dates, lyrics, birth dates, we can go on and on about interesting facts and figures.

The same was with Christ, people knew Him and followed Him.

One such man was a fanatic fan “Lord, I will follow you wherever you go”.

Do you think He really knew what He just said?

He made a promise to follow the Lord.

Notice the 12 Jesus had chosen.

Now, this guy is wanting to choose Jesus.

But do you think he really knew what he was saying?

In Matthew, we learn this man was a scribe, a learned man, a scholar.

Someone who normally was in direct conflict with His teaching.

There was a legitimate desire to earn and follow Christ.

He enjoyed being around Jesus, and no doubt he sat at His feet and soaked up His teaching, and wanted to study under the feet of the Master.

But Jesus calls this man to consider the cost.

Jesus required total sacrifice.

There would be no luxuries, no comforts, only denial to self.

There was a sacrifice to be made - all he was and all he had.

Jesus set that example as He denied himself completely.

He tells the man even the animals and birds have homes, but He has not home, no place to lay His head.

Would he be willing to sacrifice even his bed to sleep in at night?

He had to be willing to give it all up, deny himself, to follow Christ.

Even today, we must receive the calling of God BEFORE we have the ability to choose God.

We don’t just wake up one day and think, I want to be a Christian.

There must be a calling, a conviction, an urging of the Holy Spirit.

Once we have received that calling, we must respond, and once we respond, we must be willing to sacrifice.

I ask that you get out a pen or pencil and your bulletin or a piece of paper.

I would like for us to consider the following questions:

What have I done for Christ:

Today

Yesterday

Last Week

Last Month

Last Year

And most importantly:

Tomorrow

The Rest of Our Lives

Too often, we have a different view.

We ask God for our wants and desires, but we never ask God what He wants from us.

We are told a few verses before this, the requirements of becoming a disciple of Jesus is to deny ourselves.

We Must Deny Ourselves

What are the requirements?

Deny ourselves

We tend to want to do what “we” want, indulging our desires.

But, a Christian should be disciplined, controlled, loving, caring, giving, helping, and ministering to the needs of others.

This is the example Christ set for us, and one we should mimic in our lives.

Take up His cross daily

Christ would set the example of what it was like to take up the cross.

This doesn’t mean just the stuff we deal with in our lives that are burdens, but we are to literally die to self and to sin.

Our minds change.

Our desires change.

Our lives change.

We take on the mind of Christ - even to the point of death to self and instead live in Christ.

His will, His desires, His wants, His ways are what we should be focused on.

If our sins are then dead by the cross, then we have been made alive in Christ.

3. As one made alive in Christ, we should then follow Him.

One of the things we discussed this weekend was the fact that everything we do should have God as the central authority.

If we are looking for a place to volunteer, there are plenty of service organizations and clubs out there.

But fully surrendering to God is to move from volunteering in ministry to serving Christ.

Unfortunately there are some churches where people put way too much emphasis on tradition, the past, and even the pastor and NOT on the Master.

You see, to follow the Master means we must answer the call.

Answer the Call

In contrast to the scribe who wanted to follow Jesus, now Jesus calls another to “Follow Me”.