Discipleship #3 January 20, 2019

The cost of being a disciple of Jesus Christ

Family Experiences

Earlier in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus had said a similar thing () To hate is not to dislike or despise someone in your family, or even oneself… that would be contrary to the teachings of Jesus to love one another and to love your neighbor as yourself. What he means is that one must prioritize your relationship with Jesus. Is He #1 in your life or is it others.

In the verse preceeding these Jesus tells the parable of the Great Banquet. When the event was fully prepared, people were invited, but many of them made excuses for not coming...

It was based on the property he had… it was more important to spend his time looking at what he had, rather than the one who had given it to him… I don’t know, maybe it was a field where he could earn more money, or maybe it was a piece of land with a cabin on it and he couldn’t wait to get there so he could relax.

The second person had a job to do and that was more important than being with Jesus

The third person had just gotten married and wanted to spend quality time with their spouse, not realizing that real quality time with their spouse would come with spending time with Jesus.

Spending time with family isn’t wrong… in fact it it great. But as a follower of Jesus there are sacrifices that are made on a regular basis. For some it’s being here early to prepare the music that we share in together on Sunday morning. For some it’s giving up time during the week to spend with other peoples children while Mom and Dad have some time alone. For still others, it means missing family events because something came up where you were needed… a funeral… the furnace going out… Then there are board meetings verse basketball game.

To hate in this context is to say I love Jesus more than my family.

In his interview, Parkey said, “Football is what I do, it is not who I am.” The point being, as a believer, his faith in Jesus was first...

This brings us to the inability to do certain things, that most people consider normal...

Inability to do certain things

If you do not have a right relationship with your family, you will not have a right relationship with Jesus… If your family always comes before Jesus, then you are not worthy to be His disciples. A more simple way to put it would be, if Jesus does not have the right spot in your heart, then you cannot be his disciple.

When Jesus says, you cannot, the Greek term suggest that you will not be able to meet the criteria for being a genuine follower… It doesn’t mean you can’t, but in all reality, you must examine the cost and determine for yourself, can I do this? am I willing to do this?

Counting the Cost...

Illustration of Building...

During our Summer vacation, Bonnie and I take a walk by nearby cabins. For more than a decade, there is this one cabin that someone started to build, but within a year, only the foundational walls were put up. Then it sat for nearly another decade and someone put a floor on it. Not it sits there as nothing more than a foundation, floor, with no wall. I don’t know what happened to cause its incompletion, but it reminds me of what Jesus says, before someone begins to build a tower, they will count the cost.

No one builds or buys a house without exploring what it will cost. And if they don’t the bank will surly make you before they give you a loan.

the point being, there is a cost to following Jesus. he does not want you to be ignorant of that.

What has it cost you to follow Jesus? For some it means seeing children leave their community to serve in other regions of the country. Still for others it means family leaves the country to serve.

For those who serve in the church, it takes time, energy, the giving up of family time.

For some it is a financial sacrifice… and for others it can be a health risk...

The next thing Jesus says is...

Odds will not be in your favor

Illustration: This past couple of weeks the field goal kicker for the Chicago Bears (Cody Parkey) has been both admired as a person and criticized for his abilities for missing the field goal. When he missed the kick and the game was over against the Philadelphia Eagles, it was noted that he pointed towards heaven and joined other players in a circle of prayer. Those who admired him said they wanted their children to emulate him as a person because whether good or bad, he still acknowledged God. On the other hand His Coach, Matt Nagy was not happy with him for going on the Today show thinking it was more of a ‘me’ thing, than a ‘we’ thing, because he said we win as a team and we lose as a team.

In his interview, Parkey said, “Football is what I do, it is not who I am.” The point being, as a believer, his faith in Jesus was first...

Odds are, not everyone is going to agree with who you are or what you do. When it comes to being a born again believer, there will always be people who oppose your views and beliefs.

When Jesus shared the parable of the King with 10,000 soldier possibly going up agains the King who had twice as many, he made the point of saying look for ways to make peace. But then he adds, it will cost you everything…

Here is what i think Jesus is saying… the odds are, even though you seek to be at peace with those who oppose you and your faith, it more than likely will not happen. It will cost you. But what it cost you, even though it is everything, in the end, it will be worth it all.

Jim Elliot, “He is no fool to lose what he cannot gain, to gain what he cannot lose.”

Jim Elliot gave his life taking the gospel to the Ache Indians in South America. He did not see the harvest from the seeds that were sown, but his wife and others did.

Jesus calls us to be Salt and Light. In He clearly tells us who we are in Him. By His Spirit he will make all things possible, even though it cost us everything.

Matthew 5:13–16 NIV

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.