Costly Discipleship 2/4/24

Establishing Authority

The lineage - Messiah

The Temptation

The Word

The Power

Before you get to the Parables in chapter 13, Matthew has made it abundantly clear who Jesus is

Now we ask the question - “Is Jesus looking for a large crowd to follow Him, or for disciples to learn from Him and worship God?”

1 Peter 2:9 ESV

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

A discourse on the truth of human rebellion against the sovereignty of God - beginning in the garden. He alone is the one who defines good, and in contrast, reveals evil

Are you willing to follow?

2 examples - 1 eager, 1 lagging/ hesitant

ease and comfort in following Jesus is sometimes not present. Our assignment as disciples and ambassadors takes place behind enemy lines so to speak, we are called to move through the darkness with a certain amount of uncertainty in the details, walking by faith.

Navy Seals often times are called into situations where they do not have much intel, but they do have much training.

to follow Jesus is to also understand who you are following. Son of Man - designation that Jesus most often communicates about Himself - revealing His nature as the humble, suffering servant, but also the glorious King and Judge who will ultimately reign eternally in all glory, honor, and power.

Jesus’ statement calls the scribe to answer internally the question “Do you know who you are following?”

The Hesitant

the man’s Father could currently be alive and simply in old age, or he might have already died and they are waiting the customary year for the decomposition of the body so that they may store the bones in a box and bury that.

in either case, the priority is in following Jesus, even though we are called to honor Father and Mother

Matthew 10:37–39 ESV

37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

example: not meeting very many future pastors in seminary

“Dont sit here in class and think about ministry, commit to it!”

current issue: I will follow Jesus up to the point it costs me - then He has to follow me. WE do not like breaking up with the world to follow Jesus

James 4:1-10 - read

Is He Worthy?