First sit down and estimate the cost

Preliminary qualification of why I believe God has me share this. I am committed to you, to the calling, and to God.

Luke 14: 25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. 27 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29 For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30 saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. 34 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? 35 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Following Christ and being his Disciple.

Large Crowds were traveling with him

Jesus will always draw people because of who he is.

These people were with him, going in the same direction.

But Jesus will always require more from us, that we expect.

We have two examples that Jesus gave to give us a better idea what it requires for us to be a Christian. (I heard an old story about the commitment of two farm animals to give the farmer a good breakfast: Bacon and Eggs. The chicken made a contribution, the Pig was totally committed)

Cannot be my disciple x3

Cannot: the absolute negative, the answer to a question where a yes is expected! NO! Your saying no, when it should be yes!

TWO EXAMPLES

Wants to Build a Tower (What’s at stake) MONEY

Investment / Debt
Reputation

To Build a tower: First sit down and estimate the cost

Our Goal? To complete it!

Has enough Money

If he lays the foundation (beginnings are easier than finishing)

o And is not able to finish it,

Total commitment is required to finish, not to begin * The result of Failure

Bad reputations are hard to overcome later. Better to not have begun if we cannot finish.
Everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30 saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’

o Oppose the greater army with a smaller one (What’s at stake?) MEN

o His kingdom

o His life

o The life of those he is leading

To oppose a greater Army: First sit down and consider

Our Goal? To win against a greater opponent.

Do we have enough Men?

With the right preparation, planning, desire etc... It must be possible too.
But if not, then recognize it and retreat, long before the commitment. Find another way.

In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

give up

Let go of, make available, and give away… everything he has*
What do you have?

father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life – cannot be my disciple
He has…your stuff…homes, lands, money, savings, cars, etc…

anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple

The Cross the ultimate sign of SELF sacrifice for others. * This is the step beyond the stuff. Not only giving up what you have, but giving yourself to others. Loving others before you love yourself.

We are counting the cost of building a tower, of opposing a greater force whether to move to another building that will cost more of both of these.

More Money and more Men!

But that is not what I am preaching this. (Jerry just wants more money from us.)

Money to begin is not our answer. More commitment to be a disciple is our answer. I will not stand in front of the Church week after week and ask the already faithful to do all the sacrificing while there are those that will not commit to finish with us.

(Visitors please understand I am talking with the family here)

To do something big it may take that ALL of us sacrifice, sell, work, give more and do something out of the ordinary. But I am still convinced that right here in this Church is all that we need to finish.