5: Responding to the Invitation to Follow Jesus

WHY PARABLES - why SPEAK in STORIES?

Jesus taught in parables because stories stick.

Someone once said:

“Jesus could turn people’s ears into eyes.”

WHAT ARE PARABLES?

DEFINE PARABLE:

Parables are everyday stories revealing eternal truths.

Last week we learned What a Disciple of Jesus Looks Like.

Disciples of Jesus love God, but they also love people.

THE GOOD SAMARITAN (Luke 10:29-37)

Disciples of Jesus are to care for people they might not like, and might not be like.

Luke 10:36-37 (NLT)

Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

My neighbor could be someone I’ve never met, who has a need I can meet.

ETERNAL TRUTH: Jesus expects His disciples to show genuine care for people in need.

DINNER GUESTS (Luke 14:7-14)

Where Jesus was at a dinner and noticed people trying to sit in the places of honor. He told His disciples NOT to do that, but to be humble and take the lowest place at the table.

Luke 14:12–14 (NLT)

Then he turned to his host. “When you put on a luncheon or a banquet,” he said, “don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back, and that will be your only reward. Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.”

ETERNAL TRUTH: Jesus expects His disciples to be humble people who serve people who can’t serve them back.

GO FIND 5 people (2 that you’re close with and 3 that you don’t know very well) and give a quick word of encouragement.

TONIGHT WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF...

Responding to the Invitation to Follow Jesus

After speaking to this issue, a person who was sitting near Jesus at that banquet spoke up.

Parable to Great Feast

Luke 14:15–17 (NLT)

Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, “What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God!” Jesus replied with this story: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’

Luke 14:18-20 (NLT)

But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

These were all excuses. In other words, they’ve got more important stuff to do. Like many of us.

What EXCUSES get in the way of seeking Jesus and His KINGdom first?

Luke 14:21-22 (NLT)

The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’

Remember, these are the same kinds of people Jesus had just told His disciples to invite to their meals - people who others thought weren’t as valuable - people who couldn’t pay you back.

Luke 14:23-24 (NLT)

So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full. For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.’ ”

ETERNAL TRUTH: Responding to the invitation of Jesus should be our first priority, not put on the back burner.

There is coming a day that this invitation will no longer be extended. Guess what happens to those who aren’t a part of this banquet? They will be punished forever in a lake of fir.

Cost of Being a Disciple

Luke 14:25–26 (NLT)

A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.

Like us, this large crowd was willing to follow Jesus when things were good. Who wouldn’t want to follow the greatest teacher and miracle worker or all time? But when persecution started coming, when Jesus gets crucified on a cross, when things got difficult, we must...

ETERNAL TRUTH: Love Jesus above anyone or anything.

Luke 14:27-28a (NLT)

And if you do not carry your own cross and follow Me, you cannot be my disciple. But don’t begin until you count the cost.

Luke 14:28b-30 (NLT)

For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’

Luke 14:31-32 (NLT)

Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away.

Luke 14:33-35 (NLT)

So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own. “Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!”

Jesus doesn’t mean that we immediately take off our clothes, move out of our homes, and give away everything. So, what’s He saying?

ETERNAL TRUTH: Love Jesus above anyone or anything.

And then there’s that part about salt. What’s that mean?

Those who LOVE Jesus and LIVE for HIM will live different and make a difference.

Those who sell out to Jesus will, like salt, make a difference in what they touch. But the person who isn’t different, won’t make a difference - just like salt that loses its saltiness.

DO YOU LOVE JESUS ABOVE ANYONE OR ANYTHING?

ARE YOU TREATING THE INVITATION OF JESUS LIKE IT’S FIRST PRIORITY OR BACK BURNER?

FEET2FAITH

Turn from your sin. Trust Jesus with your life.

Seek the KING. Obey the King.

Get in the Scripture the 1st thing every morning - 10 minutes in a Gospel - write down what your insights and questions. Then share that with a Christian friend or mentor.

Go live your faith every day. Don’t just READ about it - LIVE IT!

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Group Questions:

How did it feel to ENCOURAGE OTHERS and BE ENCOURAGED by others tonight? Why should Christians be known for caring for all people?

Remember the parable of the GREAT FEAST? Why didn’t everyone who was invited show up? How is that similar to many of us when it comes to how we seek Jesus and His KINGdom?

What was the ETERNAL TRUTH behind this parable? (You might need to look back at your notes.) What are some practical ways that we can make Jesus our FIRST PRIORITY instead of putting His will on the back burner?

Read Luke 14:25-26. Why is this so difficult for us? Does Jesus really want us to hate other people and ourselves? LEADER SAYS: This is hyperbole: an exaggeration to make a point. What IS that point? (Have students look back at the ETERNAL TRUTH: Love Jesus above anyone or anything.)

Why should we count the cost to follow Jesus before saying “We’re all in!”? What IS the cost of following Jesus? (e.g. friends might ditch us, some people might make fun of us, some parents might not understand/like our love for Jesus and His people)

Read Luke 14:27-35. Talk about some ways we can LOVE JESUS above ANYONE or ANYTHING. What differences should be seen in Christians compared to non-Christians? (e.g. language, jokes we tell, how we treat people, serving instead of expecting to be served, reading Scripture, praying)

Share prayer needs and pray together. Remind students that you are AVAILABLE to talk about any needs they have. Communicate your LOVE for them!

GO SEE EVERNOTE for parables in Matthew, Mark, & Luke

PRAYER: Friend at Midnight (Lk 11:5-13)

GOD’s GRACIOUSNESS & FORGIVENESS: Laborers receive the same wages (Mt 20:1-16) Parable of the unforgiving servant (Mt 18:21-35)

Religious vs Righteous: 2 Sons (Mt 21:28-32)

Marriage Feast (Mt 22:1-14)

Living Like Jesus is Returning, Preparing for Eternity: Faithful Servant (Mt 24:45-51), Ten Virgins (Mt 25:1-13), Investing the Master’s Stuff (Mt 25:14-30), The Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31)