Sermon Tone Analysis
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Today we approach a somewhat perplexing piece of scripture.
It is perplexing for two reasons.
One Jesus has a large crowd in which he seems to discourage from following him around.
I mean this is a total foreign concept to us as american Christians.
In the american ideal isn't more always better?
Secondly, Jesus seems to recognize that not all of his admirers or fans actually have any real intention of heeding his instructions.
I mean if we think about it, It is a really strange phenomenon.
People are willing to follow him around for days at a time, yet the message ultimately falls on deaf ears.
If they admired him enough to hear him speak in inconvenient situations, than why weren’t they willing to imitate him?
Let’s explore today’s text together and search for the answers.
Notice that he stopped to say these things not to gather a crowd but rather because their was a great crowd.
Jesus did not shy away from stating truth to keep a crowd.
In fact, he used the opportunity to teach the hardest truths.
This is not the American way of thinking is it?
We are taught to avoid offense at all cost.
Often we allow ourselves to be pressured into silence when we are out numbered.
Truth is never dependent on the majority.
A crowd is an opportunity not a barrier to the truth.
A crowd should be seen as a platform.
Of course I am not saying we intend to be inflammatory.
We don’t have to be the truth inflames as it is.
So lets look at this hard truth together
Hard Truth #1
In order to follow Jesus you must give Him priority.
There is no room for divided loyalty among the disciples of Christ.
The word “hate” as it is used through out scripture does not always refer to malice, bitterness, or ill-will.
This becomes obvious from other teachings of Jesus from the sermon on the mount.
Jesus is not referring to the type of hate that involves malice and forgiveness nor is he referring to a state of emotion, but rather a state of mind.
While the Hebrews naturally had a whole range of such emotions ranging from outright death-seeking malice to mere preference, disregard, and rejection, they had no suitable words to express different shades of meaning.
Thus words such as “love” and its opposite “hate” (Heb.
kānēʾ; Gk. miséō) were used to express the idea of preference.
In calling people to Himself Jesus is stating your going to have to make up your mind of where your priorities lie.
A call to discipleship is a call to undivided devotion.
This means that you will have to prioritize following Jesus above even the approval of your own family.
Why? because even in the church their are families who are fans and admirers of Jesus, but are not disciples.
Their devotion to the savior begins and ends with an hour on Sunday Morning.
So some will have to decide with they will follow the pattern of their family or will choose to be a true disciple of Christ.
Jesus call us into a true devotion to him.
Trans:Which leads us to Hard Truth #2.
This one actually begins in the second part of verse 26.
—yes, and even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.
Hard Truth #2
To carry ones cross means to choose the instrument of death that would bring new life.
When we look at the account of Jesus death he carried the very instrument that would be used to take his life, the cross.
Yet it was the very means by which eternal life would be given to all who believe.
It is in this likeness our faith demands us to die to self and yet in this death is granted new life in Christ.
In this we realize that our faith will often be the very thing that causes us trouble in this world.
The cross we bear is our faith.
It causes us to die to self.
Your faith will cause you to endure suffering in this life.
Yet in the same way a faith that leads to repentance and death to self will grant you eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
You cannot be His disciple if your faith is one that avoids death to self.
Hard Truth #3
This section of the passage creates an interesting tension.
It seems that these two scenarios create the following two questions.
The first one is
Can I afford to follow Jesus?
While the second is
Can I afford to not follow Jesus?
In the first scenario Jesus gives us the example of a man who is going to build a tower.
Most likely the imagery is that of a guard tower.
He states that anyone who takes on such a massive undertaking should first investigate weather or not they can afford to be committed to the project.
In other words as one commentator puts it:
discipleship requires a conscious advance commitment, made with a realistic estimate of the ultimate personal cost.
And this idea is consistent with the previous teaching.
He is saying look to be my disciple means that you must put me above even your highest earthly priority even your own life.
Consider this before you claim you want to follow me.
We see this idea in other instances of scripture as well.
The assumption is that he turned back.
But then we see this next illustration of two kingdoms at war.
When one realizes that he cannot afford the battle he sends out an emissary to secure peace.
In the first scenario one should consider weather or not they have truly committed themselves and in the second we see one should consider weather or not he can afford the war.
In this we see this unique tension.
On the one hand it will cost you everything and on the other you cannot afford to not be at peace with God.
While you are expecting me to now ask have you counted the cost?
Are you truly committed to being a disciple?
There is another question I want to address in the American church that seems to be limiting our commitment and effectiveness as disciples.
It seems that sense we have often divorced the gospel from discipleship.
We find that instead of asking the question I just mentioned; our way of life suggest that we are asking the following one instead.
What is the least I can commit too and still make it into heaven?
Because we mostly focus on our salvation we do not often take seriously this idea of discipleship.
If I were to ask the question, In the honesty of your heart, How many of you have been saved?
probably most of us would raise our hands.
But if I were to ask how many of you, in the honesty of your heart are so committed to the discipleship process that you have already made up your mind to sacrifice everything for it?
How many could raise your hands?
Do you see how often the church is focused on the minimum requirements instead fully surrendering our lives to Christ and his mission?
So my question to you this morning is not to question your salvation but rather your focus.
How many of us would say today that because of our salvation, because we feel we have secured eternity, we have not taken this teaching of discipleship seriously?
It’s almost as if our attitude is one of…I can have the best of both worlds.
I can enjoy my present life the way I want too and then enjoy heaven as well later.
In Christ God has created you to be so much more than to live for the minimum.
But if this is the path you ultimately choose.
He ends with this warning.
Your life could have little value in the kingdom of God.
This isn’t to say God doesn't love you or that you are necessarily lost.
We are not saved by works although scripture is clear a regenerate person will bear fruit.
This next passage of scripture seems to indicate there will be those who are in heaven that forfeit their reward.
When we understand the goodness of God’s grace that even those who wasted their life and will receive no reward can be saved.
What fear do you have in committing to such a gracious king?
What’s holding you back from becoming a true disciple of Jesus Christ.
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