All In: When Faith Costs Everything

Introduction: The Fine Print

We’ve all seen it: “Free Trial! No Commitment!” You click “Sign Up Now,” and only later realize the fine print is where the real cost hides. That “free” trial suddenly wants your credit card, auto-renews, and drains more than you bargained for.

But Jesus had the opposite problem. Crowds flocked to Him thinking discipleship was easy, exciting, and full of perks. They saw miracles, heard about free meals, and figured following Jesus was the best deal in town.

Jesus didn’t bury the cost—He put it in bold print. No surprises. No bait-and-switch. He didn’t soften the message to keep the crowd; He sharpened it to sift the crowd.

In Luke 14, He turns to the masses and says, “Before you follow Me, let’s talk about the cost.” What He says next flips our assumptions and forces us to ask: Do we really understand what it means to follow Him?

Let’s read together from Luke 14:25–33—and hear Jesus speak with clarity, not caution.

[Prayer of Illumination]

I. JESUS MUST COME FIRST IN EVERYTHING

Text Focus: Luke 14:26–27

You know those moments when a single sentence changes everything? Your doctor says, “We need to talk.” Your boss calls you in unexpectedly. Your spouse says, “We need to have a serious conversation.” Your stomach drops—you know something big is coming.

That’s the moment Jesus creates. The crowd is buzzing—expecting more miracles, maybe a political announcement, maybe another free meal. But instead, He turns and drops a spiritual bombshell:

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” —Luke 14:26 (ESV)

Wait—hate our families? That sounds extreme. But Jesus isn’t promoting hostility—He’s demanding priority.

In Jewish culture, “hate” often meant to love less or choose against. Jesus is saying: your love for Him must be so strong that every other loyalty fades in comparison.

It’s like being a Lions fan this Sunday. Someone asks, “Would you ever root for the Packers?” and you say, “Absolutely not—I hate them all!” You don’t mean you despise every player. You mean your loyalty to Detroit runs so deep, there’s no room for divided allegiance.

That’s the kind of devotion Jesus is talking about. He’s not asking you to mistreat your family or hate yourself—He’s asking you to love Him so completely that everything else comes second.

Then He adds:

“Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” —Luke 14:27 (ESV)

In Jesus’ day, the cross wasn’t a metaphor—it was a death sentence. It was Rome’s tool of shame, reserved for criminals and rebels. To carry a cross meant public humiliation, physical agony, and total surrender. You didn’t carry a cross to go somewhere—you carried it because you were going to die.

Jesus is saying: If you’re going to follow Me, you have to embrace that kind of surrender. Not just physical discomfort—but the loss of reputation, control, and pride. You have to be willing to be misunderstood, mocked, and even rejected for His sake.

This isn’t about minor inconvenience. It’s about laying down your rights, your reputation, your comfort, and your control. It’s about saying, “Jesus, You get everything—even the parts I want to keep for myself.”

Following Jesus isn’t a weekend hobby—it’s a whole-life surrender. When your will and His collide, He wins.

Jesus said it twice: “You cannot be My disciple unless…” That’s not a suggestion—it’s a line in the sand.

But here’s the truth: You won’t carry your cross out of duty alone. You’ll only carry it if you love Him more than anything else.

Do you love Jesus enough to follow Him into discomfort? Into rejection? Into surrender?

Because that’s what discipleship demands. And that’s what love empowers.

So before we say yes to following Him, we need to ask: Have we counted the cost?

Jesus doesn’t just ask for your heart—He asks for your head. He wants you to love Him deeply, but also follow Him wisely. That’s why He tells two stories next—not to entertain, but to warn. Both parables carry the same message: Don’t follow Me until you’ve counted the cost.

Section I Summary: Jesus doesn’t want part-time followers—He demands first place in everything.

II. JESUS WANTS YOU TO COUNT THE COST HONESTLY

Text Focus: Luke 14:28–32

“For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost…” —Luke 14:28 (ESV)

It’s like breaking ground on a new church building without a budget or a plan. You pour the foundation, but then the money runs out—and the whole town drives by wondering what went wrong.

Jesus isn’t just talking about construction. He’s talking about commitment. Don’t start what you’re not willing to finish. Discipleship isn’t about hype—it’s about endurance.

And here’s the hard truth: Some people start strong but stall out. They get baptized, join a group, serve with passion—but when pressure comes, the foundation cracks. Not because they didn’t love Jesus—but because they didn’t count the cost.

Jesus is warning us: Don’t build on emotion alone. Because the storms will come. And if your commitment isn’t anchored in surrender, the structure won’t hold.

Then He gives another example:

“Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate…” —Luke 14:31 (ESV)

Same principle. Different picture. The builder faces unfinished plans. The king faces overwhelming opposition. Both must pause, reflect, and ask: “Can I afford this?”

Following Jesus isn’t just a build—it’s a battle. You’re not fighting people—but you are fighting comfort, pride, distraction, and compromise. And if you don’t prepare, you’ll surrender to something weaker than Christ.

This is spiritual warfare—not with swords, but with surrender. And the enemy isn’t just out there—it’s in here. It’s the part of us that wants Jesus without cost. Faith without friction. Salvation without sacrifice.

Jesus is saying, “Don’t follow Me just because the music moved you or the sermon inspired you. Count the cost.”

This will cost you—time, comfort, relationships, and control. But it’s worth it.

Discipleship isn’t a blueprint—it’s a build. And Jesus wants you to finish what you start.

So let me ask: What part of your life have you started building—but never finished? Where did the excitement fade and the cost feel too high?

Maybe it’s forgiveness. Maybe it’s obedience. Maybe it’s generosity. Maybe it’s the quiet discipline of prayer when no one’s watching.

Jesus isn’t asking for perfection—He’s asking for perseverance. He’s not trying to scare you away. He’s trying to prepare you to stay.

Section II Summary: Don’t follow Jesus on emotion alone—follow Him with endurance.

III. JESUS EXPECTS TOTAL SURRENDER

Text Focus: Luke 14:33

“So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.” —Luke 14:33 (ESV)

This is the moment of decision. Not emotion. Not inspiration. Decision.

Jesus is saying: “If you’re going to follow Me, I get everything.” Not just your Sunday mornings. Not just your beliefs. Everything.

Your time. Your money. Your relationships. Your reputation. Your future. Not because He wants to take from you—but because He wants to lead you.

And this isn’t just theory—it’s real.

C.T. Studd was a national sports hero in England. Wealthy, famous, admired. But when Jesus called him to missions, he didn’t negotiate—he surrendered. He gave away his inheritance, left behind his fame, and spent the rest of his life preaching in China, India, and Africa. He endured sickness, isolation, and loss. And yet, he said:

“If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.”

That’s Luke 14:33 in action. He didn’t just admire Jesus—he obeyed Him. He didn’t just believe—he belonged.

This is where discipleship becomes real. You don’t just follow Jesus when it’s easy—you follow when it costs you something. And here’s the paradox: the moment you surrender everything is the moment you finally become free.

Section III Summary: Jesus doesn’t want your leftovers—He wants your life.

Closing Challenge

We began with the fine print—the idea that most deals hide the cost. But Jesus didn’t hide it. He put it in bold print.

“You cannot be My disciple unless…” —Luke 14:26, 27, 33

That’s not a suggestion. That’s a line in the sand.

So here’s the challenge: If Jesus is worth everything, then He deserves everything. Not just your Sunday. Not just your beliefs. Your whole life.

This week, don’t settle for halfway. Go all in. Because when faith costs everything, Jesus gives you more than you ever imagined.

Let Him lead you into surrender. Let Him stretch your loyalty. Let Him carry you through the cost.

And here’s a tangible next step: Take one act of costly obedience this week. Maybe it’s forgiving someone. Maybe it’s giving generously. Maybe it’s saying yes to something God’s been nudging you toward. Whatever it is—don’t delay. Count the cost, and take the step.

But don’t forget this: The grace of God in Christ is what makes this possible. Jesus isn’t asking you to do something He hasn’t already done. He carried His cross first. He gave everything—so you could follow Him freely. He paid the price you couldn’t pay, so you could walk the path you couldn’t earn.

This isn’t about earning salvation—it’s about responding to it. Grace doesn’t lower the cost—it empowers you to pay it. Because when you see what Jesus gave for you, surrender stops feeling like loss—and starts looking like love.

The cross isn’t the end—it’s the beginning. And the moment you give Him everything is the moment you finally become free.

Let’s follow Him—fully, faithfully, and without holding back. Amen.