All In

Intro: Back in 2019 I was talking to a man who mentioned that he had some family that invested in Apple back in the early 80's when the price was really low. Now, that family member is a multimillionaire! That same man told me, "If I could go back to 1981 and live on the streets for 3 months, I'd invest all of my earnings into Apple."

How many of us would express similar sentiments? Quite a few, right? And the reason behind this, is that we are sure about where Apple's market value is right now. We know that the investment would be well worth going "all in."

Today, I want to talk about what it means to be "ALL IN" as a church member and a disciple.

Investments can be tricky. People have found their fortunes in the investment world and by the same token, people have lost their fortunes in the investment world. Some people never venture into investments because of fear and uncertainty of what the outcome could be. But what if you knew the outcome? And what does that mean in the context of church membership?

Our goal here at GNBC, our mission as a church is to make disciples of Christ that impact the world with the Gospel.

We have just started a series entitled The Way, the Truth, and the Life. This series will take us through the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John as we look at Jesus' life and His teachings. A lot of emphasis will be placed on the subject of the cost of discipleship, and though Jesus also spoke quite a bit about the cost of true discipleship, he also spoke of the outcome, the benefit of true discipleship.

Today, I want to look at three things: The Importance of Counting the Cost, The Cost Analyzed, The Cost Rewarded

We will look at these things as you answer the question, Are You an "All In" Disciple?

PRAY

The Importance of Counting the Cost

Turn with me to Luke 14:28-30 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

We see here the Lord telling his disciples the importance of counting the cost. This certain man that was planning on building a tower needed to sit down and analyze whether or not he had enough to give to that project. Why? Because if it he started work on the tower and didn't have enough to complete the project, he would quickly become the laughing stock of the town for starting something and not having the wherewithal to finish.

It would be a good thing to know what he was getting into before getting into it. It would be a good thing to know how much that particular tower was going to cost before he started building it. Taking on a building project is not something you rush into and just do on a whim; you plan it, you analyze costs, and you make sure you can finish what you started.

Jesus gives this parable, or example in reference to discipleship. This parable was not about salvation, but of the committed discipleship of the believer. Lets look back at V.25-27, 33

And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

What was happening here? There was a crowd of people following Jesus around, and Jesus turns to the multitudes and says, "If you really want to follow me, you need to understand that it is going to cost you, and you need to count the cost, or analyze that cost and see if you are willing to pay it."

The Cost Analyzed

I think we understand the importance of analyzing costs. That is what the parables in V. 28-32 were about. But before you can count the cost, you have to know what the cost is. You will notice that I will make a lot of correlation between a disciple and a church member. The reasons are these: 1) Every church member should be a disciple, and 2) there is no instance that occurs in the Bible where a disciple was not a church member. Every letter written to the churches encouraged the members to be more like Christ, to follow Him more closely, individually and as a church. There is no provision in the Bible for members that don't follow Christ.

So every member is expected to be a disciple of Christ. Therefore, every member of Good News Baptist Church must take a moment and consider and count or analyze the cost of true discipleship.

The cost of true discipleship is not a mystical knowledge that we must find out throughout the course of following Jesus just like the cost of the tower was not something mystical and unfathomable for the man that wanted to build it. Jesus gives clearly the cost of discipleship in this passage and others.

Let's look at it again. Luke 14:26-27, 33 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

In this passage, as Jesus turns to the crowd, he takes it for granted that they are following him intent on becoming His disciples. He turns and tells them (and us) what it could cost to become a disciple.

1. V. 26a If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters... he cannot be my disciple. The cost could involve putting aside that which is most dear to us. He names a few things - father, mother, wife, children, and siblings which we will call family. It means that I am willing to please Christ above family. I will follow Christ no matter who in my family agrees or disagrees, supports or criticizes, leaves or stays.

2. V. 26b ...yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. The cost also involves putting aside not only those that are dear to us, but even our own selves and all that we have. Ephesians 5 says "No man ever yet hated his own flesh..." but we are to love Christ more than we love ourselves. More than we love our comforts, more than we love our safety, more than we love what is familiar, we must love Him more. And we must remember that love is not a sentiment or a feeling. Biblical love is actions. Love, in and of itself, IS sacrifice. When we indeed love Christ, we will sacrifice all for Him.

3. But the cost of following Christ involves not just the putting aside things, but the putting on of something else. V.27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. We must be willing to bear the load of a cross. A cross symbolizes suffering and it symbolizes submission. To truly be Christ's disciples, we must be completely submitted to His will. That means the sacrificing of our plans and goals. And you know what? That hurts sometimes. Sometimes it will mean literal suffering. Sometimes, being fully dedicated to God will hurt you physically, will hurt you emotionally, will hurt you financially. Christians throughout the ages, and still even today, suffer physical persecution for being followers of Christ.

Christians around the world suffer the rejection of family and friends and loved ones. Disciples of Christ the world over are emotionally invested in the lives of their brothers and sisters, and sometimes that takes a heavy toll. Suffering is a real thing, and when you decide to become a disciple of Jesus, you sign up to help bear the burdens of others, and sometimes it leaves your back scarred too.

Being an "all in" disciple might mean that you will hurt financially. Preferring Jesus over your job is not something that is well looked upon. You may run into situations where you will lose promotions, bonuses, overtime pay, etc. for living a life that prioritizes Jesus Christ. When you chose to prioritize Jesus at work, you will suffer for it. You'll suffer for it when you decide to ministry and disciple-making is more important than overtime. You'll suffer when you decide that maintaining a lifestyle that is God-honoring is more important than schmoozing with the partners at the bar.

It was the summer of 2012. I was a youth pastor in Fort Worth, Texas and was taking teens to camp in a couple of weeks. I was working for the Arlington School District as a security guard at one of the high schools and had obtained permission well in advance to go to this camp for that week. Two weeks before I was to go, I received an email stating that my PTO was revoked, they needed all hands on deck for that week. After two weeks of going through all the channels, even sending an email to the superintendent of the district (to which I never got a response), the last email I received was from the head of the security department stating, "If you go to that church camp, plan on turning in your equipment and uniform the day you get back as you will no longer be employed by the AISD." So, the Saturday before I left for camp, I finished my shift, changed out of my uniform, and turned in my equipment and a letter of resignation. I went to camp two days later, married, three kids (Ian, Mia, and Ethan), bills to pay, unemployed, and no prospects for future employment. I have never had a job where following Christ and putting Him first did not cost me financially somehow. Not a single job.

The cross symbolizes suffering, but it also symbolizes death, but not a natural or timely death. It is a gruesome, violent, and painful death.

We cannot wait to follow Jesus fully only after our plans do or do not pan out. We cannot wait until the day where we naturally give our plans and goals to God, because that day won't come. We must forcefully and violently give death to our will to be fully committed to His. And this is painful, but it is the only way to follow Christ.

But not only does it speak of a death to self, it speaks of the willingness to be obedient even to physical death. Matthew Henry's commentary on this verse states, "Though the disciples of Christ are not all crucified, yet they all bear their cross, as if they counted upon being crucified."

4. The cost in of being a disciple involves going after Him, pursuing Him. Following wherever He leads. That means that we are focused on Him. Distractions and problems may abound around us, but we can only follow Christ if our eyes are set intently on Him.

In short, the cost of being a disciple of Jesus is going all in for Him. Laying everything about you on the altar, and leaving it there. Going all in: The term and phrase "going all in" is derived from the card game poker. It refers to an all or nothing bet when a player risks his entire remaining table stake on one hand. Win, or step away from the table---you've lost.

Jesus now proceeds to make two analogies, building without counting the cost and engaging in a battle without proper manpower. V. 33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

Note the words "So likewise..." Just like the man that didn't properly prepare for building the tower, just like the king who didn't have the power to win the battle against greater numbers, just like those two men is the man that tries to follow Jesus without forsaking everything. If you're not all in, you simply cannot be a real disciple of Christ, like the man who couldn't finish building his tower. And much like the king who cannot face a stronger enemy, you will not have the power to live the Christian life.

I'll ask you to turn now to Mark 10:28. As you find it, I'll give you the context of this passage. Jesus has just finished talking to a rich, young ruler who has asked how he can inherit eternal life. Jesus tells him to keep all the commandments, to which the young man responds that he has observed them all from his youth. Then Jesus looks at him with loving eyes and tells him that there is but one thing to do: sell all he has, give the money to the poor, take up his cross, and follow Him. You probably know what happens next: the man walks away sadly because he could not bring himself to sell everything he had. The investment was too high for him to even consider.

And this is what Peter saw: Peter saw this young man run to Jesus. He saw him kneel. He heard from the man's mouth a question concerning eternal life and not temporal goods. Peter heard a rich, young ruler call Jesus "master," the same way that he often had called Jesus, "master." Peter heard this young man give witness that he was not encumbered with gross moral sins, and that he had kept a good life.

He observed of this young man what the whole of Jewish culture thought, that because he was rich and good that he had the ability to be more good than those without money; that God had placed His hand on this young man and therefore this rich, young ruler had an inherent capacity to be closer to God through his good works than others that did not enjoy his status and riches. But then Peter saw this young man turn and go away and heard his Master say, "How hard it is for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!"

Peter begins to think to himself, "If this man couldn't make it, then who could?" Jesus quickly responds that with men it would be impossible, but with God all things are possible.

So Peter now voices a concern of his own in V.28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. The book of Matthew records Peter finishing this with a question "What shall we have therefore?"

"Lord, we left everything, we follow you; what about us? That man didn't, but we have; what about us?"

And I want to dwell on Jesus' words for a moment. Words that have become so very real in my life. Words that when I read them, I think, "Jesus said that about me. I am currently living this right now." Words that some of you are living right now, and words that some of you are on the brink of living, if you'd just go all in.

V. 29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,

Remember what Jesus said of those that wanted to be his disciples? He says it again here and adds lands to it. Relationships, personal aspirations, and possessions. All in. Nothing spared, everything risked, everything gambled on Christ.

But then He gives in V. 30 the payout But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

There is reward in serving Jesus. I hope you will stay for the Life Group times as we discuss more in depth what the rewards are for going All In for Christ.

Right now, however, is the time for invitation.

Invitation: I will ask each of you to bow your heads and listen carefully. I am about to ask you a question. This question is not about you making a commitment, that question will come later. This question will simply ask you if you understand what was being said in scripture. This is the question: Do you understand the cost of discipleship? I am not asking if you will commit to being an all in disciple, just if you understand what the cost is.

How many of you with an uplifted hand would be able to say, "I pretty much understand what the cost of discipleship is."

To sum it up in one word, the cost of being a disciple who is all in is: EVERYTHING.

Now here come the question that are meant to make you think and analyze your life.

How many of you would say, "I am confident that I am an All In disciple of Jesus Christ. There is nothing and no one that I am withholding from Jesus. I hold everything, absolutely everything, in an open palm toward Jesus. I am an all in disciple, and my life can prove it."

How many would say, "I cannot lie. If I analyze my life, I can clearly see that I am not an all-in disciple, but I would like to fix that today. Today, I would like to be completely surrendered to what God wants for me. I want to be a real disciple that really follow Jesus no matter what. I have counted the cost, and now I am ready to go All In."

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Life Groups

The Cost Rewarded

What does it mean to go all in for Christ? What does it mean to be a church member that is truly seeking to be a disciple of Jesus? It means this:

1) Nothing is yours anymore. Relations, possessions, goals, and personal ambitions: everything is placed in Christ hands. We entrust Him and only Him for our well-being, our future, and our satisfaction. We look for and pray for things to give up for Christ's sake.

2) Daily focus on Christ and His guidance in your life, in every aspect of your life, in every circle of your life.

3) But it also means that He can finally take care of us like he wants to take care of us. V. 30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.. His blessings are abundant to the disciple and he has an eternal life waiting for us.

Let me tell you, I am excited about being in heaven. But I am excited about being here on church days too! In this group of people gathered here today, Tahsha and I have found our family. We've left parents and siblings and family and friends, but we have found it all here. Y'all are family. Many times, y'all are closer than actual family. I am living proof of the truthfulness of Mark 10:30. Throughout our marriage, Tahsha and I have gone all in for Christ. It doesn't mean we're perfect; it doesn't mean that there haven't been times where we have taken things back. But I can confidently say that we make (because this is ongoing) the conscious decision to go all in. We have made this our motto to the Lord: Whenever, wherever, whatever. And not once has God disappointed or not kept His promise.

I want you to notice something in that verse. Along with the blessings, it also mentions persecutions. Remember that cross we are compelled to carry? Jesus doesn't sugar coat it. 2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

There is persecution in the Christian life. There are hard times; there will be times when people hate you or turn your back on you. There will be times of suffering emotionally and physically and spiritually. But with all of this, if you're all in, you won't be alone, you won't be destitute, and you will still have the security of eternal life in heaven.

That is what it means to be all in.

There are members of our church that have no satisfaction in their life. They've placed conditions on God about their service to Him. There is no anticipation when they join other members in days like today. They have no purpose to pray with or for others. They find no satisfaction in the church. They find no place in this body to serve. There seems to be no power in their lives. They feel out of place.

I submit that 9 times out of 10, that can be traced back to a life that is not all in for Christ, His church, and His mission.

Are you all in for Christ? Are you all in for His church? Do you look at others here and wonder, "How is it that they can be so joyful? Why does it seem that they are so connected with others?" It's because they are all in.

Are you all in? Or are you holding something back? If you are all in as long as work lets you? You're not all in.

If you are all in as long as it doesn't move you away from home, you're not all in.

... as long as you don't have to give up certain activities...

... as long as it doesn't make you uncomfortable...

How can you make sure you're all in? Take inventory of your life. This is counting the cost. Then take every piece of inventory and lay it at the feet of Jesus:

Life

Spouse

Kids

Family

Friends

House

Car/Truck

Work

Hobbies

Plans/ambitions/goals

Past

Etc.

You will never understand what it means to be all in, until you are all in.

In a game of chance, to go all in is to risk losing everything. In the Christian life, to go all in, is to surely gain what you never could otherwise.