The High Cost for the Called

CHILD DEDICATION

INTRO

MINISTER: It is the privilege of the church to encourage and assist parents in the proper training and development of their children. Therefore, it is appropriate for home and church to unite in this service of dedication for parents and children. The act of dedication is in keeping with the teaching of God’s Word. An example is the dedication of Jesus by his parents.

In this service of dedication we are first to give thanks to God for the creation and birth of these children.Secondly(, we are to make a solemn promise as parents and as a church that, relying on the grace of God and working together as home and church, we will endeavor to provide guidance for these children in instruction, discipline, salvation experience, and growth in the Lord. In the third place, we are to pray for God’s blessings upon these children, in the presence of his Spirit, remembering how the Lord Jesus Christ took little children and blessed them.

These Scriptures all remind us of the importance of our work as a parent.

READING OF SCRIPTURE

Listen to the instruction of God to Israel in Deuteronomy 6:4-7

Deuteronomy 6:4–7 ESV

4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Then in Psalm 103:17-18 the Psalmist reaffirms the importance of raising our children in the Lord saying.

Psalm 103:17–18 ESV

17 But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, 18 to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.

TO THE CHURCH

Jesus affirms the importance of taking care of children for the church also. Notice what he says in Mark 9:36-37

Mark 9:36–37 ESV

36 And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

This morning we acknowledge all the parents standing before you who are presenting their children before God and this church family.

NAMES OF FAMILIES (INSERT)

Caroline and William Baker with their Daughter Charlotte Louise Baker

Katherine and Ben Hill with their daughter Arielle Aliese Hill

Elizebeth and Scott Moore with their Daughter Charlotte Ann Moore

Lindsay and Fernando Morales with their daughters Camila Ann Morales, Leo Isabella Morales, and Sophia Lynn Morales

Cassidy and Clay Smith with their daughter Winnie Roe Smith

Kristin and Lucas Williams with their son George Francis Williams

THE COMMITMENT

MINISTER TO THE PARENTS:

In presenting your child or children to the Lord, do you promise in dependence upon God’s grace and upon the partnership of the church, to teach them the truths of the Christian faith, to set a Christian example before them, to bring them up in the instruction and discipline of the Lord, and to encourage them to accept Christ as their Saviour under the guidance of the Holy Spirit?

PARENTS:

We do.

MINISTER TO THE CONGREGATION:

Congregation Please stand:

Do you, as members of the church, promise to join these parents in the teaching and training of these children that they may be led in due time to trust Christ as Saviour and to confess him in baptism and church membership? If you accept this responsibility, will you say Amen?

Pray over families

_______________________________

The High Cost for the Called

Text Acts 21:1-16

Intro

Sermon Title: The High Cost of Consecration

Text: Acts 21:1–16

Central Idea: True Christian devotion obeys God’s call even when suffering is the guaranteed outcome.

If you have your Bibles please turn to Acts 21 we will be in the first sixteen verses shortly, as you find your place I have a question to ask you: "At what price point does your obedience to Jesus Christ come to an end?"

We live in a world obsessed with the return policy. We want thirty-day free trials, money-back guarantees, and "cancel anytime" contracts. We look closely at the fine print, searching for warranties and escape clauses because modern culture promises that commitment should always be convenient, comfortable, and safe.

Jesus Christ never hid the cost in the fine print. He put the cross right on the front cover. He looked at prospective disciples and said plainly: 

Matthew 16:24 ESV

24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

In Acts 21, the Apostle Paul is on his way to Jerusalem. He is not wandering aimlessly; he is marching under orders. Every stop along the Mediterranean coastline brings a fresh warning: chains are waiting. Affliction is waiting. The question facing Paul is the same question staring every modern believer in the face: Are you willing to serve the Lord Jesus even when you know it will cost you your comfort, your reputation, or your life?

Please stand as we read God’s word,

Acts 21:13 ESV

13 Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

1. Following God’s will can lead to a road of suffering.

Acts 21:1–11 ESV

1 And when we had parted from them and set sail, we came by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. 2 And having found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. 3 When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload its cargo. 4 And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. 5 When our days there were ended, we departed and went on our journey, and they all, with wives and children, accompanied us until we were outside the city. And kneeling down on the beach, we prayed 6 and said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home. 7 When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for one day. 8 On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 9 He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied. 10 While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ”

Paul sails south from Miletus, stops at Tyre, and visits Caesarea. In verse 4, disciples at Tyre warn him through the Spirit about Jerusalem. In Caesarea, a prophet named Agabus arrives from Judea. Agabus performs an enacted prophecy: he takes Paul’s belt, binds his own hands and feet, and declares: "Thus says the Holy Spirit: ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles’" (v. 11).

The Exegetical Insight:

Was Paul disobeying the Spirit by going to Jerusalem? No. In Acts 20:22, Paul stated he was "compelled by the Spirit" to go. The Holy Spirit was giving information, not an inhibition. God revealed the certainty of chains so that Paul’s obedience would be conscious, deliberate, and free from shock.

The Application:

Many modern believers operate under the false assumption that open doors mean God’s will, and closed doors or suffering mean God’s displeasure. If trials arrive, we assume we must have taken a wrong turn.

God does not hide the storm from His servants; He equips them to face it. A faith that cannot be tested is a faith that cannot be trusted. If you follow Jesus with integrity in your workplace, your family, or your community, friction is not an accident—it is an appointment.

Illustration:

 When young recruits take the oath of enlistment for military service, or when firefighters join a department, the danger is not obscured. No recruit is surprised when they are issued body armor or turnout gear. The gear exists precisely because the danger is real. Christ never promised smooth sailing, but He did promise a safe landing.

2. Following God’s will can bring pressure from well-meaning loved ones.

Acts 21:12–13 ESV

12 When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

When the believers heard Agabus’s prophecy, the reaction was immediate: "Both we and the people there pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem" (v. 12). Notice Luke writes "we"—even Paul’s faithful travel companions joined the chorus. They wept. They begged.

Paul responds with agonizing tenderness: "What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart?" (v. 13a). The Greek term for "breaking" (synthruptō) pictures pounding something into pieces or crushing it under weight.

The Exegetical Insight:

The greatest temptation to abandon God’s will rarely comes from angry enemies; it comes from well-meaning friends. The believers at Caesarea loved Paul, but their love was operating on human logic rather than divine mission. They confused safety with God's will. This echoes Matthew 16, where Peter pulled Jesus aside after the first prediction of the cross and said, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!" Jesus had to tell Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."

The Application:

When you determine to obey God at great personal cost—to tithe when finances are tight, to stand for biblical truth when your career may suffer, or to answer a call to overseas missions—the people who try hardest to stop you are often those who love you most. They will say:

"Be reasonable."

"God wouldn't want you to be unhappy."

"Think about your security."

Pity without purpose is a spiritual hazard. You must love your friends, but you cannot let human affection veto divine direction.

Illustration:

In John Bunyan’s classic allegory The Pilgrim’s Progress, the protagonist, Christian, discovers that the City of Destruction is slated for judgment. He must run for the Wicket Gate.

Who tries hardest to turn him around? It is not the Apollyon, and it is not the judges of Vanity Fair. It is his wife and his children standing on the front porch, weeping and calling after him. Bunyan notes that the hardest step Christian ever took was the very first one out of his front yard, because natural affection pleaded with him to choose the safety of home over the call of the King. Christian had to put his fingers in his ears and run forward, crying, "Life! Life! Eternal life!"

3. Following God’s will requires valuing Christ above comfort.

Acts 21:13 ESV

13 Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Paul was not suicidal; he was surrendered. He was not pursuing martyrdom as a trophy; he was pursuing the glory of Jesus Christ as his ultimate treasure.

The Exegetical Insight:

The phrase "I am ready" translates the Greek hetoimōs echō—a military state of preparedness. Paul had already settled the issue of his life before he ever reached the port of Caesarea. You cannot intimidate a man who has already considered himself dead in Christ (Galatians 2:20). Notice the motive: not for personal honor, not to prove his courage, but "for the name of the Lord Jesus."

The Application:

What holds you back from radical obedience today?

Is it fear of losing a promotion?

Is it fear of social rejection?

Is it fear of physical discomfort?

A shallow Christian says, "Lord, I will serve You as long as my health holds up, my bank account is full, and my reputation stays clean." A consecrated Christian says, "Lord, my life is on the altar. If You lead me into prosperity, I will praise You; if You lead me through pain, I will glorify You. My comfort is negotiable; Your glory is not."

Illustration: 

Most people approach God like a business contractor. We draft an agreement, list all the conditions we are willing to tolerate—good health, a safe neighborhood, a stable salary, reasonable hours—and then ask God to sign at the bottom.

Real consecration turns the paper around. You do not dictate the terms to the Lord of Glory. Consecration is taking a blank check, signing your name at the bottom, handing it to Jesus Christ, and saying, "Lord, You fill in the amount, You choose the date, and You dictate the cost. I am already committed." Paul had already signed his name at the bottom of the ledger; whether God wrote "chains" or "crowns," the check was cashed.

4. Following God’s will provides peace through surrender.

Acts 21:14–16 ESV

14 And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.” 15 After these days we got ready and went up to Jerusalem. 16 And some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us, bringing us to the house of Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we should lodge.

They packed their luggage and went up to Jerusalem, accompanied by older disciples like Mnason of Cyprus, who opened his home to host them.

The Exegetical Insight:

The word "ceased" (hēsychazō) means to become quiet, to rest, to be at peace. The weeping stopped. The arguing stopped. Once the believers realized Paul’s resolve was bound to God’s calling, they laid down their preferences and rested in God’s sovereignty: "The will of the Lord be done." That is the heart of whatJesus uttered in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:42).

The Application:

Surrender is the only place where true peace begins. As long as you fight God’s will, trying to protect your own perimeter, your heart will remain unsettled. When you finally release your grip—on your children, your retirement, your comfort, your reputation—and say, "Lord, not my will, but Yours be done," the panic leaves and the peace of God takes its place.

Mnason in verse 16 is called an "early disciple." He had walked with God for decades. He knew what Paul was walking into, yet he opened his door to shelter and support the mission. Faithfulness in the face of suffering is contagious. When one believer stands firm, others find the courage to stand with them.

Illustration

Science / Water Safety (The Ocean Rip Current)

Every year, coastal lifeguards warn swimmers about the danger of rip currents—powerful channels of water that pull away from the shore into open ocean. Hundreds of swimmers drown in rip currents every year, but oceanographers point out that the current itself does not drag a person underwater.

What kills the swimmer is panic and resistance. The swimmer feels the pull, panics, and desperately tries to paddle straight back against the surge toward the beach. Within minutes, their muscles exhaust, fatigue sets in, and they slip beneath the water.

The water safety manual gives one counterintuitive command: Stop fighting the current. Float on your back, yield your momentum, and let the current carry you until its force dissipates, and then swim parallel to the shore.

As long as you thrash against God’s sovereign purpose, trying to force your own safety, you will exhaust your spiritual strength. Peace comes the moment you stop fighting the current of God's providence and rest in the power of His hands.

Closing

Look across the landscape of your life today. We have examined the Apostle Paul standing on the coastline of Caesarea. He heard the warning. He saw the chains. He felt the tears of the people who loved him tugging at his sleeves. And yet, with unshakeable resolve, he looked toward Jerusalem and said, "I am ready."

Friend, the Christian life is not a cafeteria line where you pick and choose the commands that suit your comfort. Jesus Christ is not an insurance policy you tuck into your pocket to stay out of hell while you run your life your own way. He is not looking for casual admirers; He is looking for fully surrendered disciples. He never asked anyone to casually tip their hat to Him on Sunday morning. He looked prospective followers in the eye and said: "Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple."

What is your life worth to you compared to the glory of Jesus Christ?

For many of us, the tragic truth is that we have tried to negotiate with the Lord. We have given Him our spare time, our spare change, and our surplus energy. We tell Him, "Lord, I’ll serve You—as long as my family is secure, as long as my bank account is safe, as long as my reputation remains untouched."

God does not want your terms; He wants your surrender.

Today, God is asking you to hand Him a blank check.

Take the pen of your will, sign your name at the bottom of your life, hand it across the altar to the nail-pierced hands of Jesus, and say: "Lord, You fill in the amount. If it costs my reputation, You write it in. If it costs my comfort, You write it in. If it means stepping out of my comfort zone, opening my home, changing my career, or enduring the misunderstanding of people I love—Lord, here is my life. Cash it however You see fit."

Why would you do that? Why would anyone surrender their freedom like that?

Because two thousand years ago, outside the gates of Jerusalem, Jesus Christ did not negotiate for your soul. He did not ask for an escape clause in the Garden of Gethsemane. When the cup of God’s wrath was placed before Him, He drank it down to the bitter dregs for you. He went to a cross, bore your sins, absorbed your curse, and purchased your redemption with His own precious blood.

He gave His all for you. How can you offer Him the crumbs of your life in return?

The Call to Respond

First, to the believer:

You know Christ, but you have been riding the brakes. You have been hesitating because you are afraid of what obedience will cost. You are worried about what people will say. You are gripping your plans with white knuckles.

Right now, open your hands. Lay your career, your retirement, your children, and your ambitions on the altar. Pray in your heart: "Lord Jesus, I take my hands off the wheel. The will of the Lord be done."

Second, to those who have never truly surrendered to Christ:

Perhaps you have religion, but you do not have Jesus. You have been trying to save yourself, or you have kept God at arm's length. Jesus died for your sins and rose from the grave to conquer death. Salvation is a free gift, but to receive a gift, your hands must be empty. You cannot hold onto your sin and take the hand of a holy Savior.

If you want to be saved, turn from your sin today and cast yourself entirely on His mercy. Pray from the depth of your soul right now:

"Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I cannot save myself. I believe You died for my sins on the cross and rose again. Right now, with all that I am, I turn from my sin and put my trust in You. I surrender my life to You as my Savior and my Lord. Take my life—it belongs to You. Amen."