"Yes ---But...!"

For the first time West German churches, both Protestant and Catholic, are losing members—fast. Until recently, members withdrew from church life but not from the church roll; congregations could still claim a huge membership though services were poorly attended. And all “paper” members were taxed through government channels, making the German church one of the wealthiest on the Continent. Both Protestant and Roman Catholic churches netted $1 billion a year.

But the new German Government has now added to the income tax a new, temporary tax of 10%. Some enterprising person discovered he could save himself the new tax by officially breaking with the church—which asked the same amount—and resignations, especially from industrial centers, began to pour in to church officials.

In Aachen, for example, about fifteen people quit the church daily during the last few months; in the heart of the Ruhr area, the exodus was twice that of last year.

—Jan J. Van Capelleveen

Introduction: some people desire to follow Christ; therefore, they attach themselves to Him and join the church. Yet they come ever so short and miss eternal life. Why? Because they never knew the price of discipleship. They were to pay a great price, but they knew nothing about it or else were unwilling to pay the price. True discipleship costs everything a person is and has.

1. One must count the cost (v.57-58). (a) Must follow Jesus pattern of life: he gave all (b) Being willing to follow is not enough: Must sacrifice all you are, all you have (c) No self-commitment, but Christ-Centered commitment: abandoning all of self and all of the world (; ; )

The Man offered himself

Jesus offered no luxury, on materialism—only self-denial and sacrifice

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23Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

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21For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

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5Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

6who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,

7but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

2. One must follow immediately (v.59-60). (a) Jesus demands: a sense of urgency (b) Go now and preach (; ; ; ; Tim. 4:2)

Jesus invited the man

The man had divided attention

Jesus demand act now, do not wait

Go and preach the Kingdom of God

33But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

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17Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”

18They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

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34Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.

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29But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none,

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16redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

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2Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

3. One must not look back (v.61-62) (a) Christ is to be first in our lives (b) Jesus’ judgment: Looking back disqualifies a person (; ; ; ; ; Ki. 18:21)

Lk. 13:33

(a) This man offered himself

(b) The man’s double allegiance

When you begin to plough and then look back

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33But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

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33Nevertheless I must journey today, tomorrow, and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem.

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13“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

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2Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;

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14“Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord!

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21And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word.

The consequences (a) ploughs a crooked row: (only receive partial teaching) (b) Ploughs an inconsistent field: your ministry will never mature, (c) Ploughs in a spirit lacking commitment: You will turn away at anytime (d) Ploughs but allows distractions and disruptions (; ; :47Ro. 14:12; Gal. 1:6-7)

(b)

(a) you will not ever be straight, not like should

(b) never receive consistent work

(d) The plants are not cared for

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21“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

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26“But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:

27and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

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47And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

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12So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.

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6I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel,

7which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.

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