What is the Cost of Discipleship

Good morning church, before we get going on the Bible teaching for this morning, I want to introduce you the topic for July. This next month we are going to look at the subject of getting through what you are going through. We all have those challenges that come into our lives. For some of you might be a loss of a job, or the loss of a relationship, or even the loss of a loved one. Maybe your loss is not one of these, but it is one the thousands of losses, that, no less painful, change you life forever.

So how do you face the challenges, the difficulties, the losses that come our way. What do you do to get through what you are going through? That is the focus for the month of July. If you have friends, or family members who are dealing with a loss, this would be great time to invite them to join you in church. This would be your way of helping them get through what they are going through.

Now lets turn to the teaching for this morning.

When I say the word, discipleship, what comes to mind for you? Just take a few seconds and think about it. (Wait 10 seconds). What did you come up with. (Listen and response).

When I say the word, discipleship, what comes to mind for you? Just take a few seconds and think about it. (Wait 10 seconds). What did you come up with. (Listen and response).

I know for me the word discipleship means, classes. Membership classes, Bible study classes, Sunday School classes. ect. But I not sure that is what Jesus meant when he said you will be disciples.

When we think of discipleship our minds often turn to class room setting with a teacher up front and students listening. That was not the way schools worked in the time of Jesus. It fact, school looked nothing like our modern concept.

Discipleship is one of those

Instead, if you wish to be a student of a teacher, you would go, and ask if you could follow the teacher around. If the teacher said, Yes. You would begin to follow the teacher, and if you were really lucky, you would be invited to live with the teacher. Your education was absorbed as much as taught. You did life together. You became associated with that teacher. You became a student of that teacher.

That is why Jesus could say, as he does here, “A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.” The student’s goal was not to excel his teacher, but to be like his teacher. Jesus afirms this when he said, “It is enough for a student to be like his teacher, and servant like his master.”

Now Jesus comes the crutz of the matter. Look at verse 25 again. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebud, how much more the members of his household.

Would if help to understand that is means to be called Beelzebud? Well, this was the name for the Lord, or Master of the dung heap. So Jesus is saying, I have been call the CEO of a pile of … well you know what dung means. If not, it is what pastures are full of, and no I did not say pastors, though...

Jesus is telling his follower, his student, his disciples, expect to be critized, to be rejected to be insulted. Yes, Jesus said, that if he was insulted and rejected, we can expect the same thing.

Now wait a minute pastor, I did not sign us to critisim, rejection, and insults? Well according to Jesus you did.

DA Carson said,

Here Jesus forbids the disciples from being surprised when they suffer persecution. If they follow him, they should expect no less.

Expect Rejection

Matthew 10:28 NIV84

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Know That God Cares

Matthew 10:31 NIV84

So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.