Ghana Teaching Day 3 - The Cost of Discipleship: Following Christ With Total Surrender

Teaching Outline

Discipleship Is Not Cheap

I. Introduction:

If you’ve been around church for any length of time, you’ve probably heard the word discipleship tossed around. It’s one of those words that we know is important, but if you asked ten different Christians to define it, you might get ten different answers. Some would say discipleship is going to Sunday School, or signing up for a class, or maybe being part of a small group. Others might say it’s about learning how to pray, read your Bible, and live a moral life.

None of those things are wrong. They can all be part of discipleship. But at its core, discipleship isn’t about a program you attend—it’s about a relationship you enter.

A Biblical Picture

When Jesus called the twelve disciples, He didn’t hand them a workbook and say, “Meet me every Wednesday night for a study.” He invited them into His life. “Come, follow me,” He said (Matthew 4:19). They walked with Him, ate with Him, listened to Him teach, watched Him heal, saw Him confront sin, and even witnessed His moments of sorrow. Discipleship meant living life together, not just downloading information.

Paul described it the same way. In 1 Corinthians 11:1 he wrote, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”That’s discipleship in one sentence—inviting someone to follow Jesus alongside you.

Why It Matters

Here’s the truth: Jesus never commanded us to “go and make converts.” He said, “Go and make disciples of all nations”(Matthew 28:19). A disciple is a learner, a follower, an apprentice of Jesus. That means discipleship isn’t optional—it’s the mission of every believer.

But too often, we’ve outsourced discipleship. We think it’s the preacher’s job, or the missionary’s job, or maybe the church staff’s job. The reality is that discipleship is every Christian’s calling. If you’re following Jesus, you’re called to invest in someone else.

Discipleship is the lifelong process of following Jesus by denying self, submitting to His lordship, obeying His teaching, and being transformed into His likeness for the glory of God.

A disciple is one who responds to Jesus’ call, leaves former allegiances, abides in Him, learns from Him, lives under His authority, and joins His mission of making other disciples.

Core Truth

Discipleship is costly, intentional, and demanding. Jesus never softened the call.

Key Phrases to Emphasize

“Salvation is free, but discipleship costs everything.”

“Jesus did not sell Christianity. He proclaimed surrender.”

“You cannot have the promises without the process.”

Teaching Emphasis

Many want Jesus as Savior but not as Lord.

Shallow discipleship produces shallow believers.

Strong discipleship produces endurance, authority, and fruit.

Connect to Ghanaian values of loyalty and perseverance, now redeemed for Christ.

II. Jesus Defines the Cost of Discipleship

The Three Requirements of Discipleship

Deny yourself

Take up your cross daily

Follow Me

These are not suggestions. They are requirements.

III. Deny Yourself

Primary Scripture

Luke 9:23 “Then He said to them all, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.’”

Supporting Scripture

Matthew 16:24–25 “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.’”

Teaching Explanation

Self denial is surrender of ownership.

You lay down the right to rule your own life.

You stop following your will and submit to His.

Key Phrases

“You cannot follow Jesus and still be your own lord.”

“Discipleship begins where self rule ends.”

“You cannot say yes Lord with a no life.”

IV. Take Up Your Cross Daily

Scripture

Luke 9:23 “Then He said to them all, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.’”

Teaching Explanation

The cross was an instrument of death, not inconvenience.

Jesus calls for the death of the old self.

This is daily, intentional surrender.

Key Phrases

“The cross is where competing desires die.”

“Daily surrender produces lasting transformation.”

“Discipleship is not an event. It is a lifestyle.”

V. Follow Me

Scripture

Luke 9:23 “Then He said to them all, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.’”

Teaching Explanation

Following requires movement, obedience, and direction.

Discipleship is relational, not theoretical.

Direction matters more than perfection.

Key Phrases

“Discipleship is not passive. It is obedient.”

“Consistency is stronger than enthusiasm.”

“Jesus is looking for those who finish well.”

VI. The Cost Illustrated in Scripture

A. Divided Loyalty

Scripture

Luke 14:25–33 LSB

25 Now many crowds were going along with Him, and He turned and said to them, 26 “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. 27 “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 “For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? 29 “Lest, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 “Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 “Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 “So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.

Supporting Scripture

Matthew 10:37–39 “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.”

Key Phrases

“Jesus demands highest loyalty.”

“You must count the cost before you commit.”

“Partial surrender is not discipleship.”

B. The Rich Young Ruler

Scripture

Mark 10:17–22 “Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, ‘Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?’ So Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments.’ And he answered and said to Him, ‘Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.’ Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.’ But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”

Key Phrase

“Jesus will always touch what we refuse to surrender.”

VII. The Inner Death Required for Discipleship

A. The Old Self Must Die

Scripture

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Scripture

Romans 6:6–7 “Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin.”

Key Phrases

“The old self cannot follow Jesus.”

“Discipleship refuses resurrection of the flesh.”

“Bring pride, lust, anger, and ambition back to the cross.”

B. Justice and Mercy Empower Obedience

Teaching Emphasis

We surrender because we are accepted.

Obedience flows from gratitude, not fear.

God’s justice is satisfied. God’s mercy empowers.

Key Phrase

“We do not obey to be loved. We obey because we are loved.”

VIII. The Cost of Discipleship in Real Life

A. Personal Cost

Turning from hidden sin

Choosing holiness over comfort

Enduring suffering without compromise

Saying yes even when it is uncomfortable

B. Ministry Cost

Serving without recognition

Preaching truth without applause

Faithfulness in hidden places

Carrying unseen burdens

Key Phrase

“Nothing given to Christ is ever wasted.”

IX. Cultural Connection for Ghana

Teaching Emphasis

Endurance and loyalty are already honored.

Jesus redirects these strengths toward holy obedience.

Grace sustains what sacrifice begins.

Key Phrase

“The cost is real, but the grace is greater.”

X. The Reward of Discipleship

A. Christ Himself

Deeper intimacy

Clearer guidance

Stronger presence

B. Eternal Reward

Scripture

Revelation 2:10 “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

C. Transformation Now

Peace

Authority

Purpose

Christlike character

Key Phrase

“Discipleship changes who you are, not just what you do.”

XI. Invitation and Ministry Time

Reflection Questions

What is Jesus asking you to surrender?

Where are you resisting the cross?

What part of the old self is still alive?

Closing Declaration

“The call of discipleship is a call to die so that you may live.”

Closing Prayer

(Use the prayer you provided. It is strong, clear, and theologically sound.)

———-

Discipleship Is Not Cheap

Today we are looking at the cost of discipleship. This is one of the most important teachings Jesus ever gave, and yet it is one of the most ignored. Many people want the blessings of Jesus without the life of Jesus. They want the promises but not the process. They want salvation but not surrender. But Jesus never hid the cost of following Him. He always told the truth.

Discipleship will cost you something. It will cost you comfort. It will cost you pride. It will cost you the right to do whatever you want with your life. It will cost you the old self. Salvation is a free gift. But following Jesus will cost you everything.

This message is vital for ministry students, because you are the ones who will disciple others. And if your understanding of discipleship is shallow, the people you lead will be shallow. But if you embrace the true call of Jesus, your life and ministry will carry strength and authority.

In Ghana, loyalty and endurance are honored values. People understand perseverance. They understand sacrifice. Jesus calls us to a spiritual version of this. Not cultural loyalty but holy loyalty. Not cultural endurance but Christlike endurance.

Let us hear the words of Jesus clearly today.

2. Jesus Defines the Cost of Discipleship

When Jesus calls us to follow Him, He gives three clear instructions. Deny yourself. Take up your cross daily. Follow Me.

These are not suggestions. These are the requirements of discipleship.

2.1 Deny yourself

Jesus begins with self denial. In Luke 9:23, Jesus says, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

In Matthew 16:24 to 25, Jesus repeats this call and adds, “Whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”

What does this mean? It does not mean you hate yourself. It does not mean you reject your identity or value. It means you surrender the self ruled life. You lay down the right to be your own master. You stop following your own will and begin following His.

You cannot be a disciple and still be the lord of your own life. You cannot say “Yes Lord” while telling Him “No” in your actions. Discipleship begins when you give up ownership of your life and place everything in His hands.

2.2 Take up your cross daily

Next Jesus says, “Take up your cross daily” (Luke 9:23).

The cross was not an inconvenience. It was not a small annoyance. It was a tool of death. When Jesus says “take up your cross,” He means you must accept the death of the old self. The cross is the place where everything that competes with obedience must die.

This is not a one time event. Jesus said daily. Every morning you wake up and choose the cross again. Every day you reject the desires that contradict God’s will. Every day you surrender your will to His. Every day you die to the old self so that the life of Christ can rise within you.

Following Jesus is not one emotional moment. It is a lifestyle of daily surrender.

2.3 Follow Me

And then Jesus says, “Follow Me” (Luke 9:23).

Following means direction. It means obedience. It means movement. It means you walk where He walks, do what He says, imitate His character, and obey His commands. Discipleship is not passive. It is relational. You follow a Person, not a principle.

Discipleship is not about perfection. It is about direction. You may stumble, but you stumble while following. You may struggle, but you struggle while reaching for Him. In discipleship consistency is more powerful than enthusiasm. Anyone can start strong. But Jesus is looking for people who finish strong.

3. The Cost Illustrated in Scripture

Jesus does not hide the cost. He illustrates it clearly in several passages.

3.1 Jesus warns about divided loyalty

In Luke 14:25 to 33, Jesus tells the crowd that they must count the cost before following Him. He uses the example of a man building a tower who must calculate the cost, and a king going to war who must consider the strength of his enemy.

In Matthew 10:37 to 39, Jesus says that anyone who loves father or mother more than Him is not worthy of Him. He also says that whoever does not take up their cross and follow Him is not worthy of Him.

Jesus is not telling you to reject family. He is telling you that loyalty to Him must outweigh every other loyalty.

3.2 The rich young ruler

In Mark 10:17 to 22, a young man comes to Jesus wanting eternal life. He is moral, sincere, and spiritually curious. But Jesus asks him to surrender one thing: his wealth.

The young man walks away grieving because he wanted Jesus without surrender. His possessions became his idol. Jesus will not accept partial obedience. Discipleship requires full surrender.

4. The Inner Death Required for Discipleship

Understanding discipleship requires understanding the cross. Not the physical cross Jesus carried, but the spiritual cross we carry daily.

4.1 The old self must die

In Galatians 2:20, Paul says, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”

In Romans 6:6 to 7, Paul teaches that our old self was crucified with Christ so that sin would no longer rule us.

This is the foundation of discipleship. The old self cannot follow Jesus. The old self resists obedience. The old self wants control. So God brings the old self to the cross.

Discipleship is the process of refusing to resurrect the old self. Every time pride tries to rise, you bring it back to the cross. Every time lust, anger, bitterness, or selfish ambition tries to rise, you bring them back to the cross.

4.2 God’s justice and mercy empower our surrender

Because Christ satisfied divine justice, God is fully for the believer. The cost of discipleship is not about earning forgiveness. You do not surrender to gain acceptance. You surrender because you have already been accepted. You obey not to be loved, but because you already are.

Real discipleship grows from gratitude. It grows from the revelation that God gave His Son for us, and now we give our lives back to Him.

5. The Cost of Discipleship in Real Life

Let us now make this practical.

5.1 Personal cost

Discipleship requires laying down sinful desires. It means turning from hidden habits. It means rejecting pride and arrogance. It means choosing holiness when temptation is strong. It means enduring suffering without abandoning your faith. It means saying “yes” to Jesus even when He sends you into uncomfortable places.

5.2 Ministry cost

For those called to ministry, the cost is often deeper.

You will serve without applause. You will love people who may not appreciate you. You will preach truth even when it is unpopular. You will work faithfully in hidden places before God gives you visible ones. You will face spiritual warfare. You will carry burdens others never see.

But every sacrifice has eternal value. Nothing given to Christ is wasted.

5.3 Cultural connection for Ghana

Ghanaians understand endurance. You honor perseverance and loyalty. Jesus now calls you to take that strength and apply it to your discipleship. The cost is real, but the grace is greater. The cross is heavy, but the reward is eternal.

6. The Reward of Discipleship

Following Jesus is costly, but the reward is immeasurable.

6.1 Christ Himself

The greatest reward is not blessings, success, or ministry opportunities. The greatest reward is Christ Himself. As you die to self, you discover a deeper life in Him. His presence becomes more real. His voice becomes clearer. His love becomes stronger.

6.2 Eternal reward

In Revelation 2:10, Jesus says, “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

Every sacrifice you make for Jesus carries eternal weight. God sees every act of obedience. Nothing you surrender is ever forgotten.

6.3 Transformation in this life

Discipleship produces peace, joy, holiness, authority, and purpose. God forms the character of Christ in you. He is not only changing your behavior. He is transforming your nature. Discipleship changes who you are, not just what you do.

7. Invitation and Ministry Time

Let us close with reflection.

What is Jesus asking you to surrender today? Where are you resisting the cross? What part of your old self is still alive? Are you ready to give Him everything?

The call of discipleship is not soft. It is a call to die so that you may truly live. A call to surrender so that you may be free. A call to lose your life so that you may find it in Christ.

Let us pray.

“Lord Jesus, thank You for calling us to follow You. Thank You that You never hid the cost, and You never hid the reward. Today we surrender our lives again. We lay down every desire that competes with obedience. We bring our pride, our sins, our fears, our ambitions, and our comfort to the cross. Form Christ within us. Give us endurance, purity, courage, and devotion. Strengthen us to carry our cross with joy. Make us faithful disciples who finish our race well. In Jesus name, amen.”