It’s Going to Cost You Something

Introduction

NLT

27 And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.

28 “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? 29 Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. 30 They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’

I want to play a game with you all! This is how the game works. You will be shown an item and you have to guess how much that item costs! After the cost of the item is shown you’re going to raise your hand and tell me if that item is worth it.

(Play a few iterations of the game)

https://guesstheprice.net

What determines how much something is worth to you?

How do you determine the value of something?

Does anyone know the cost of following Jesus ? Have you ever thought about it ?

Before I start I just want to be clear that Salvation IS A GIFT

For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; (Eph 2:8) AMP

Romans 6:23 CSB

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Salvation isn’t something that you can earn

Salvation isn’t something that you can perform for

Salvation isn’t something that you would ever be able to pay for. You wouldn’t even be able pay for Salvation.

Salvation is less about you and more about him

How many of us struggle with feeling that we have to perform to receive from other people ? You struggle with rejection ? or the need to be accepted by people ? (If you raised your hand I empathize with you because that is something that I have struggled with in the past it feels like for me whole life) Let the truth of God set you free today that you cannot earn salvation.

We are going into a series about the fruits of the Spirit. Specifically Mrs. Regina will be talking about two of them (Peace and Gentleness). You might be saying Randy how does this correlate. I’ll show you

Someone read Galatians 5:22-24

Galatians 5:22–24 CSB

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Can someone read verse 24 again ? What does that mean to you ?

I’ll give you an example how many of you all like to get revenge ? Don’t be shy raise your hand? Because you belong to Christ you can’t get revenge! You have to crucify your desire to get revenge and nail the desire to the cross. You have to count the cost in following Jesus. Are you willing to substitute your need for revenge with peace?

When you become a Christian the Sprit of God takes residence in you. And because the Holy Sprit resides in you the fruit of Gods Sprit resides in you as well. However, just like any fruit you have to grow them. You have partner with the Holy Spirit in order for the fruits of the Spirit to grow in your lives. Are you willing to crucify your flesh, passions and desires to walk by fruits of the Spirit. Now Mrs Regina will talk about peace and gentleness