Community Progression: The Cost of Me

Jesus became real when…

I could no longer pretend that I was in control.

I had to admit I couldn’t fix things.

I knew I wasn’t strong enough.

I had no one else to turn to.

I had disappointed everyone who loved me.

At TGP we talk often about people coming to the end of themselves. That is the moment that we, as a church, have identified for years as the moment when everything changes for people.

In his book, The End of Me: Where Real Life In The Upside-Down Ways Of Jesus Begins, Kyle Idleman does an incredible job of explaining this idea.

Jesus became real when … I came to the end of me. Even though most of us can point to a significant event like the ones above, getting to “the end of me” is not just one moment in life.

Reaching the end of me is a daily journey I must make because it’s where Jesus shows up and my real life in him begins. Getting to the end of me is not an easy journey, because me doesn’t want to go there.

Me doesn’t like confrontation, and me is most interested in the promotion and success of me. Me would much prefer to read a book about advancing me, not ending me. But Jesus said in that whoever wants to hang on to his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will find it.

He said a lot of seemingly upside-down things like that. I’ve come to realize that if me gets his way, I’ll miss out on the real life I’m meant to live. The life in which I love others and make a difference in the world. - End of Me, Kyle Idleman

In our text today, we find Jesus with a large crowd that has amassed around him as he is journeying to Jerusalem for Passover.

Jesus says some things that seem contradictory to other things that He has said before.

Today I want us to dig into this conversation that Jesus is having with the crowds. I believe that this passage is the key to us being the church God has called us to be.

Let me say this too, as a reminder. You are going to hear me reference Youth Ministry and Foster Care often from this platform.

My goal is not to convince you to be involved in either. Great if you do, but I share these stories because they are the ones that I have. That is all any of us have to offer.

So, when you here those stories, please understand my motive. I’m not nearly clever enough to use those stories as a method of conversion.

Get

Luke 14:25–33 ESV

25 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:2

Let me say this… Why is it that when we hear this passage we immediately begin to think negative thoughts?

Sin in us. Pride. Me.

Consider this as we look at this passage today. What Jesus is calling these people to is what God has always wanted for us.

In the beginning, God created us to be in union with Him. This is the same goal of this passage, but Jesus is pointing out that we must give up all in order to have that union.

That original relationship worked because God was in the proper place in Adam and Eve’s lives… Until they chose to sin.

Jesus is revealing the condition of all our hearts in relation to His and is calling us back. Back to God being the center of everything instead of us!

Being a disciple of Christ means that He is the most important thing in your life.

Luke 14:25–26 ESV

25 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

luke 14:

Hate - This is hyperbole. Jesus is communicating that, in comparison with your love for Him, it would seem that you hate all others.

Christ and other people or things cannot share predominance in your heart.

Luke 16:13 ESV

13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

Luke 6:13 ESV

13 And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles:

In our reading this week was the story of the Rich young Ruler.

he had given up everything except what he valued most.

3. We find ourselves in the company of the Rich Young Ruler. We have given much already of our time and resources. However, Jesus’ words are sobering and true. We must give everything.

We have given much already, of our time and resources, just like he had. However, Jesus’ words are sobering and true. We must give everything...

Jesus hears what the man is saying, but he also knows the condition of his heart.

Good and bad news is that the same is true for us.

There are things that are easy for you, but there are other things that are extremely difficult.

Those that are the hardest is where Jesus is going to start.

Luke 16:13 ESV

13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

Those hard places are also the places we need it most.

4. We must remove anything that stands between God and ourselves in order to restore our relationship.

God wants

You cannot be a disciple if you are not willing to bear your own cross.

Luke 14:27 ESV

27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

True disciples are cross-bearers. It is in their hearts to bear the cross the moment that it is required of them.

We need a new understanding of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Everything we have read up until this point is completely different then anything I grew up understanding about what it meant to be a believer.

This is the point that Francis Chan is making in his book letters to the church.

True disciples are cross-bearers. It is in their hearts to bear the cross the moment that it is required of us.

The church doesn’t look like the church because we aren’t cross bearers.

Which is odd because the church was founded on the cross.

In order to bear our cross we must deny ourselves.

Bearing our cross includes experiencing the loss of things, people, health, and even life.

Luke 14:27

Bearing our cross includes experiencing the loss of things, people, health, and even life.

There will be times when God calls us to endure great suffering for the sake of His people.

There will be times when God calls us to endure great suffering for the sake of His people.

returning a foster child.

returning a foster child.

moving away from your loved ones.

moving away from your loved ones.

walking through disease or major health issues with a loved one.True disciples are cross-bearers. It is in their hearts to bear the cross the moment that it is required of us.

walking through disease or major health issue.

In order to be cross-bearers we must also bear one another’s crosses.

We know what this feels like… and we love it. Consider some examples:

when someone has a baby

is admitted to the hospital.

goes through a tough breakup

is sick

losses a job

We drop everything, gladly, in order to visit or take care of them.

God is calling us to expand our idea of what it means for us to bear our crosses and the crosses of our community.

Tozer on Wednesday - Bearing our cross isn’t a convenience. We can’t live like it is. We can’t be cross bearers and not be willing to bear it the very moment it is required.

There will be times when God calls us to endure great suffering for the sake of His people.

returning a foster child.

Bearing our cross includes experiencing the loss of things, people, health, and even life.

There will be times when God calls us to endure great suffering for the sake of His people.

returning a foster child.

moving away from your loved ones.

walking through disease or major health issues with a loved one.

going to

Matthew 16:24–25 ESV

24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Peter - crucified upside down

5. In order for us to truly understand and live in relationship with God the way He intended, we must give up our rights to our selves, time, and resources.

l watch a lot of TED talks. At TED events, those that are asked to share, are people that have accomplished something incredible in their field of expertise.

You know what all of those people have in common? All of them did whatever was necessary for them to accomplish the goal that they had put before themselves.

All of these people say something similar. Dream big and work hard and you will succeed.

They have accomplished amazing things using their own talents, abilities, and knowledge.

Imagine what we, as believers, could accomplish under the power and direction of the Holy Spirit!

Imagine the impact we could have in this world if we would just apply ourselves to this goal that God has given us as a church. If we could just Abide.

How long until we commit to staying the course, especially when things get hard, instead of giving up at the first sign of trouble?

You must consider the cost of following Christ.

Luke 14:28–31 ESV

28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?

Luke 14:28

Jesus give two very specific examples to help those that were following understand what he meant.

Expense - it will cost us our time and resources to be faithful in our following.

He uses the imagery of a tower for a couple of reasons.

Towers were difficult and costly to build. The higher it gets the harder and more costly it becomes.

It is communicating the idea that as we grow in our relationship with Christ we are growing closer to God.

Hazard - we must consider the difficulties that will be encountered.

He purposefully invokes the imagery of war because, as believers, we are at war and we must prepare for the battle that we are in.

As part of our “counting the cost”, we need to be fully aware that we are constant battle with the enemy.

The enemy fights dirty and he will use any means necessary to derail us from our goal of following Christ.

One of the commentaries I read this week said it this way. ‘In the first parable Jesus says, “Sit down and reckon whether you can afford to follow me.” In the second he says, “Sit down and reckon whether you can afford to refuse my demands.” ’

The cost is high and must be paid in full.

Luke 14:33 ESV

33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

Luke

We cannot be partially commited.

We are all in or not at all. Jesus calls us to renounce ALL, not just some.

In order to truly be a disciple of Christ, we must have considered the cost, weighed it out, and decided that it is worth it.

All of us find ourselves in the same place today: completely unable to achieve the things that Jesus has called us to.

I want to leave you with this reminder today. This life of following Jesus that, we have all been called to, and as members of this church, have committed to is completely relient on the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

We do not have the abilities, will power, or strength to do this on our own.

We must, daily, commit ourselves to this goal, and rely on Jesus to make it happen.

Jesus wasn’t saying, “do this or else.” He was saying, “just so you know,” this is what you should be expecting.

The choice is still completely up to us. We, like many in the crowd, can choose to walk away.

I titled this as “The cost of Me” for two reasons.

my cost, to Jesus, was His life. We are costly and Jesus willingly paid the high price for us.

The cost of me, living for me, is also expensive. But instead of allowing Jesus paying the price, we are asking our community, our friends and family, to pay that cost on our behalf. They must pay because we are unwilling to set our own desires aside and be the people that God has called us to be.

Blackaby this morning:

Hebrews 5:8–9 ESV

8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,

There is a positive aspect of suffering - through it we become like Christ.

Are you willing to to pay whatever price is necessary in order to become like Christ?

There are some things that God can only build into your life through suffering.

if you become bitter over your hardships, you are closing off that area of your life from God.

King Saul was made king without ever enduring suffering and therefore lacked maturity.

King David suffered for years and when he finally ascended to the throne, he was a man after God’s own heart.

God did not spare his own Son’s suffering, how can we expect Him to spare ours?