Sermon Tone Analysis

There are times when even the strongest believers wonder if it really is worth it to Follow Jesus.

Once you make that commitment … there are commands you are obligated to obey … some pleasures you forego … sacrifices you are to make.

Sometimes it’s hard to follow … is it really worth the trouble

Maybe life is better with Jesus … but it doesn't always seem that way:

When doing the right thing makes you unpopular at school

When others who have no moral scruples are getting ahead of you in business

When you must say no to a romantic relationship … that seems so right … but God is clear … It’s not

Is it worth it to follow Jesus when it seems that Billy Joel was right “I’d rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints, cause sinners are much more fun”

Is it worth it to follow Jesus when what God wants for you is not the same thing that you want for you?

The Question posed by every hard obedience … Is Jesus Worth it or Not?

Remember

These guys had LEFT EVERYTHING - Now they could not help but wonder did they make the right decision?

Lets look at

An Honest Question

The question is actually found elsewhere

Matte

Ever had someone ask you a dumb question: At NBBI My senior job was to deliver the mail … we all had mail boxes.

I would pick it up from the office before lunch and usually put it in boxes after lunch (I was regularly pestered) … One day before lunch I was putting all the mail … which was an armload of packages and the 4 mail bags over my shoulder in the mail room … one of the freshman girls came up to me as I was jumbling my armload of deliveries and asked me a very sincere question … “Byron have you delivered the mail yet?” … I did not Respond!

My second dumbest question … I was riding my bike … mid summer … in London … Really hot day … I remember exactly where I stopped … Corner of Dundas and Maitland Street.

I stopped for a drink of water.

I’m still on my bike … I have just reached down to get a drink from my water bottle.

Get the image.

Two Mormon Missionaries came up to engage me in a conversation … The one who had been given the responsibility of breaking the ice asked me a question:

“Hi, are you out for a bike ride?” … My response … I wasn't rude or sarcastic … I was just a bit hesitant … I said nodding my head … “Yeah I am”

Jesus doesn't chide them or criticize the question

Remember that this question is posed after hearing about a man who was very rich … and he prized his riches even above Jesus.

Was this question asked because there was a lack of assurance … or on the other hand was the question one for clarification?

IN contrast to the Rich Ruler who DID NOT value Jesus above His riches … The disciples had left everything and followed Him -

David Gooding in His Commentary on Luke thinks the question: “carried the unfortunate suggestion that their sacrifice was, compared with the rich young man’s attitude, wonderfully meritorious.”

“carried the unfortunate suggestion that their sacrifice was, compared with the rich young man’s attitude, wonderfully meritorious.”

Whatever they were thinking … these men had an honest question … “It is worth it to follow Jesus?”

What then will we have?

Jesus didn't always answer people’s questions directly …

Here we might have expected Jesus to tell his disciples that they didn’t deserve ANYTHING in return for what they had done …

Instead Jesus gives them a PROMISE of incredible reward

Leaving it all Behind

Sweeping Promise:

This promise if for all who leave everything to follow Jesus

This is actually the description of a Christian

A Christian is someone who has decided to have Jesus instead of anything and everything else.

IN Repentance we leave our sin behind …

IN Faith we Trust Christ alone

Puritan Thomas Boston near end of his life and ministry:

O Lord, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, I confess from my heart, that I am by nature a lost sinner.

I am fully convinced that I am utterly unable to help myself.

But as there is a covenant of grace, I do now again take hold of that covenant, for life and salvation to me; believing on the name of Christ crucified, who made atonement, paid the ransom, and brought everlasting righteousness for poor sinners.

I resign myself, soul and body, to him, to be saved by his blood alone.

I give up myself wholly unto him, to serve him for ever.

Then, as Boston came to the end of his personal covenant, he called on the very walls of his house to witness the promise he was making to Jesus Christ:

Let it be recorded in heaven, O Lord, and let the bed on which I lean, the timber, and the stones, and all other things here in my closet, bear witness that I, though most unworthy, have this second day of December, here taken hold of, and come into thy covenant of grace, offered and exhibited to me in thy gospel, for time and eternity; and that thou art my God in the covenant, and I am one of thy people, from henceforth and for ever.

This is essentially what we all need to say to God, even if we use simpler words to say it.

If we want to have a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, we need to say to him, “I am yours and you are mine forever.”

This is the prayer of every believer.

Some believers are called to go beyond this … To make some more specific sacrifices … for the sake of God’s Kingdom.

Some are called to leave home and families behind.

IN some cultures … to become a Christian … you will be disowned by family … it might even get dangerous.

Some believers are called to serve oversees as missionaries … They give up … in order to fulfill

This returns us to the question:

Is it worth it?

Is it worth it … to follow Jesus and being separated from your family?

Is it worth it … to follow Jesus and give up your dream house?

Is it worth it … to follow Jesus and let go of your plans for a husband and family?

Is it worth it … to follow Jesus and take your children away from their grandparents?

Is it worth it … to follow Jesus and risk your reputation?

Worth it or not?

Give your summer to work with sweaty noisy kids … like many of our teens are doing this summer?

People who follow Jesus

May doubt

Or even struggle with regret

BUT THEY WILL NEVER END UP ON THE LOSING END OF GOD’S PLAN

WE HAVE A GUARANTEE … A PROMISE

NO ONE WHO GIVES UP SOMETHING FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD WILL FAIL TO RECEIVE GOD’S BLESSING.

THIS BLESSING IS A DOUBLE BLESSING

BLESSING NOW

BLESSING LATER

Now and Later

I LOVE DAVID GOODING’S COMMENTS ON THIS …

Making sacrifice for the kingdom of god is like making a long-term investment that continually pays out rich dividends without ever diminishing the capital.

The promise is absolute: no one who gives something up for the kingdom of God will fail to receive God’s blessing.

Everyone who follows Jesus will gain what he has to offer.

What Jesus offers is a double blessing—a blessing for now and a blessing for later.

Many would think of Christianity as a good long-term investment … Like life insurance

May people

Sure Jesus will save you when you die … but now being a christian takes the fun out of life!!!

That statement … tells me that “Jesus is not really worth it”

Notice Jesus’ promise here:

Best short term investment

Best long term investment

Bet of both Now and Later

Look at 18:30 “Many times more”

NOW -

Look at text … Leave Family

WE gain Family of God

God our Father; Christ our Husband; and every other Christian our Brother and Sister

In the Church we have brothers/sisters/fathers/mothers/children

The Church is our “First and everlasting family” We should treat it as such though out our lives.

Do you treat it as such

I first came to know Christ through the church family God placed me in

I learned what it meant to serve Christ

I was mentored and found help for my struggles in the church.