Cross as Requirement for Discipleship

Luke 14:26–28 ““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. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?”

There’s many aspects of the cross that we’ll cover tonight and tomorrow but right now:

Cross as a requirement for discipleship -

Let’s talk about discipleship

Following Jesus before and After

It was really cool to follow Jesus at first

You get to see miracles

You never go hungry or thirsty

you’re in the center of the hype and attention

You’re so cool that you become exclusive - not letting people through to Jesus

*sometimes I feel churches may become these cool kids clubs, right?

There was a climax of being a disciple of Jesus:

Jesus entered Jerusalem with pomp and festivity - and you’re with him.

You’re also special :)

Illusion that everyone’s following Jesus - Even Pharisees started to worry that the ENTIRE world is following Jesus (Mark 11:9)

People use religion for their benefit:

In the 90’s in Soviet Union after the collapse, religion was very popular. Go with the flow

Many that wanted to move to US would pretend that they are believers and want to go to a free country.

If Christianity is convenient, I’ll do it.

Many people followed Jesus for miracles and food

The big crowd of disciples is an illusion. Not all are disciples.

There’s two groups of people in the crowd:

True disciples AND “In the name ONLY”

Here’s a $1M question - Do you think there’s a similar illusion that everyone here is a disciple of Jesus?

Illusion that everyone going to GNC is a disciple

“In the name only” christians are not true disciples although they are in the crowd

Some are leading the way and want Jesus to follow them.

THe crowd wanted Jesus to be their King and overthrow Roman empire - to revolt

Do you have your expectations of Jesus?

Some just got caught up in the wave

Some of you just happen to be born to christian families… got caught up

Why are you here today?

It’s ok if parents made you or you came for friends.

We’re happy you came :)

But you may miss the most important

Many Christians today follow Jesus like the disciples did before Golgotha

Christianity of comfort

Prosperity Gospel

Mutual benefit - I give to God for exchange of better good

After Jesus started to overturn tables in the Temple and define His rule and then go to the cross - the crowd was not there.

“You’re ruining our way of life, Jesus”. We do our religio our way.

Was Jesus not clear about who he wants his disciples to be?

Mark 8:34 “And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

People ignored that requirement then and they ignore that requirement today

What’s Discipleship?

Difference between believing and following

What it means to be a student or disciple today:

To learn something

Pick up information

Discipleship back then:

Drink, sleep, eat, journey with Teacher

you mimic the teacher

Following Jesus is walking in his footsteps

Following Jesus is like following a sapper (deminer) on battle field

following exactly in His steps. Step to the right and it will cost you dearly

This is why his path is narrow

(Matthew 7:13–14 ““Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”)

Three aspects of being a disciple of Jesus:

Following Jesus consistently, Daily

Jesus says elsewhere:

Luke 9:23 “And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

Consistency is hard and boring

Camps can be emotional highs. I’m repenting today but then tomorrow we’re back to normal life and emotions are not there

You may come to church on Sunday but act differently throughout the week

We get into “Christian” mode or “Ministry” mode

You know what I’m talking about?

I was coming from a missions trip once and getting back to US the next day I went to school and I thought - my behavior is very different!

Last week I was in “Missionary” mode and now I’m in “normal life” mode

Some people temporarily receive the Gospel but then fall away:

Matthew 13:20–21 “As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.”

They only endure for a while… not consistent

Can you make a commitment to follow Jesus regularly throughout the week?

What events do you attend? What do you listen and read throughout the week?

Disciple in all aspects of life

If I were to ask your teacher, your boss, your friends, your neighbors - do you know him as a disciple of Christ?

what would they say? How would they respond?

Accurately following Him

Following Jesus means doing it carefully and accurately

God rewards those that carefully follow him. Here’s an example about Joshua

Joshua 14:9 “And Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land on which your foot has trodden shall be an inheritance for you and your children forever, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God.’”

Joshua 14:14 “Therefore Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed the Lord, the God of Israel.”

Why are we talking about old testament? Those were examples for us to follow or not to follow.

Today we’re told that you don’t have to follow Jesus in His footsteps. Why are you so prescriptive?

Whatever floats your boat.

We do have freedom in Jesus and we’re grace, not the law. However, don’t you thin people are taking it too far?

Galatians 5:13 “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

God values when you do discipleship not your way but His way.

Are you following Jesus where He’s going today?

Revelation 14:1,4 “Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads... It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. ”

What areas of life do you not want to follow Jesus?

Where is he calling you and you don’t want to go?

In what areas of life do you run away like Jonah?

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

You need to come AFTER jesus or behind Jesus

Sometimes going ahead of the Lord thinking you know what to do

Joshua 9:14 “So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the Lord.”

They were tricked but could have avoided it if ONLY they depended on Jesus

They were behind Jesus in decision-making

Being disciple = paying cost

Luke 14:27–28 “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?”

Before you pay the cost, you need to calculate the cost.

Crowd follows Jesus as long as their expectations are met

Everyone is laying down their clothes when Jesus is entering Jerusalem BUT several days later crying “Crucify HIM!”

Same people! - They’re not true disciples

You will be tested!

Peter said - I’m ready to die for you and go wherever you go!

Shortly after he rejects Jesus

You know how? Were they torturing Peter? Was he on trial?

Jesus was captured and not even sentenced yet but he feared for his life!

WHAT IF…

WHAT IF I am laughed out?

What if it cost my Job?

WE RUN even before starting to incur the cost

What other reasons did people leave Jesus?

John 6:66 “After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.”

stopped following when something was uncomfortable

You know what they heard?

Jesus said - “I came done from heaven”

“My flesh is true food”

Believers will eat my flesh (referring to

What difficult part of Christianity makes you not want to be a christian?

When I have my plans and Christianity doesn’t allow for that, we part ways

You will read from Luke 9:57

People had good reasons NOT to follow Jesus or NOT yet

Are you thinking to follow Jesus AFTER you do x,y,z?

People may have THEIR requirements to follow him

Luke 9:62 “Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.””

PUT IT DIFFERENTLY, we need to ask ourselves:

Am I truly a follower of Jesus if my cost of following is small? What should the cost of following Jesus be in the US?

What area of your life is hardest for you to place under Jesus’ authority?

I’ll TELL YOU SOMETHING SHOCKING -

Jesus is not forcing you to be his disciple.

In fact this is what he told his 12 disciples! HIs Core team!

John 6:67 ESV

So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?”

I want to ask you - Are you ready to pay the cost of discipleship or do you want to walk away from Jesus?

PRAY

We’ll split up into discussion groups after. 6 groups. get outside your comfort zone and stick to discussion group tomorrow as well.

Luke 9:57–62 “As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.””