Sermon Tone Analysis

Beginning to end, the middle too

Discipleship, it was a process from the beginning.

For the disciples who became apostles to the disciples today, it is a process not an event.

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In the beginning Jesus called men to be disciples who would become apostles (MK1:16-20)

In the end Jesus commissioned and sent the apostles to go make more disciples and where to go (Mt28:19-20) and who (Mk16:15)

In the middle He predicted His suffering and death (MK8:31)

Today we are looking at the telling, teaching about the cost of discipleship (Mk8:34-35)and the warning and the promise (Mk8:36-38)

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You maybe familiar with this passage about, counting the cost and what you believe it means.

Today may we spend some time in the passage with some history along the way.

In the beginning Jesus called men to be disciples who would become apostles (MK1:16-20)

Mk1:16-1

May we remember from previous lessons we know the place, by the Sea of Galilee, and we see the first two, Simon and Andrew, we see the setting they were casting their nets in the sea.

We also see the instruction and that led to the response.

In the middle He predicted His suffering and death (MK8:31)

Immediately!

there was no delay.

Then comes the calling of the 2nd pair, James and John they were called and the response to the call was immediate also.

Today we are looking at the telling, teaching about the cost of discipleship (Mk8:34-35)and the warning and the promise (Mk8:36-38)

In the beginning Jesus called men to be disciples who would become apostles (MK1:16-20)

In the end Jesus commissioned and sent the apostles to go make more disciples and where to go (Mt28:19-20) and who (Mk16:15)

At the end of Jesus ministry, before the ascension came the commissioning (giving the authority) and the instructions.

Today we are looking at the telling, teaching about the cost of discipleship (Mk8:34-35)and the warning and the promise (Mk8:36-38)

Just can’t jump by this without a couple of questions

What were they told to do (v.19)?

Where were they to go (v.19)?

What were they to do (v.19-20)

What was the promises (v.20)

OK, lots to cover so need to move on.

In the middle He predicted His suffering and death (MK8:31)

In the end Jesus commissioned and sent the apostles to go make more disciples and where to go (Mt28:19-20) and who (Mk16:15)

looking at the telling, teaching about the cost of discipleship (Mk8:34-35)and the warning and the promise (Mk8:36-38)

In the middle He predicted His suffering and death (MK8:31)

Today we are looking at the telling, teaching about the cost of discipleship (Mk8:34-35)and the warning and the promise (Mk8:36-38)

In the beginning Jesus called men to be disciples who would become apostles (MK1:16-20)

In the end Jesus commissioned and sent the apostles to go make more disciples and where to go (Mt28:19-20) and who (Mk16:15)

In the middle He predicted His suffering and death (MK8:31)

Jesus had predicted His death after confirming they understood who He is.

Today we are looking at the telling, teaching about the cost of discipleship (Mk8:34-35)and the warning and the promise (Mk8:36-38)

One more quick thing then will get to our passage.

A disciple is a learner a follower of a teacher.

So to be a disciple of Jesus you have to follow the teachings of Jesus.

Jesus tells them, teaches them, so we too can be instructed that there is a cost to discipleship.

Self-denial or denying self?

M8:3

We will get to the other verses shortly.

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

Jesus has come to another point of no return.

He is going to deal with humanistic mindset and the radical mindset of the gospel that demands a response.

He has told them who He is (He is the Christ)

He has told them what it means to be Him (suffer, die and the resurrection)

Now what it means if they are going to follow Him

We are just as susceptible to the worldly, humanistic ways as the next guy

There is a quote from an author “Harry Blamiers in his book “The Christian mind” it is a little lengthy but I think it gives us some perspective

“The marks of the Christian mind are an eternal time perspective, an awareness of evil, a concept of revealed truth, an acceptance of God’s authority, an incarnational concern for people, and a sacramental cast.

Ideally, each of us subscribes to these marks of a Christian mind.

In practice, however; we fall far short.

Unconscious victims of the “me” generation, we squeez time into the immediate, downplay the power of evil, give lip-service to the great doctrines, negotiate God’s authority, excuse our lack of compassion, and seek our joy only in the pleasures of life.”

So in other words, Christians oftentimes are consciously or unconsciously victims of the secular and humanistic mind which dominates our day!

So in our passage we are told several things to help us understand the cost of discipleship so as to protect us from the humanistic mind since the Christian is to be different.

One must deny self (Mk8:34; 1Pt2:11-12; 1Pt4:1-4)

This is who we used to be; so this is not who we are not, but the humanistic influence may try to bring these back, so we have to wage war.

“To deny righteous self, and renounce all his own works of righteousness, in the business of justification and salvation -ibid.”

So is this denying self or self-denial?

= this is to deny self with it’s self-righteous pride and sinful lust from dominating you.

Even the religious, t

In the denial it is manisfested

One must take up his cross (Mk8:34; Lk9:23)

This is parallel passage, but notice what more it says, DAILY!

Some examples the apostles (1Cor4:9-13)

Look at what the picking up the cross meant to some of the apostles

For us today it may involve being ridiculed or reviled (1Pt4:4; Mt5:11) or even reproached (1Pt4:14)

or look at

And finally

One must follow Jesus (Mk8:34; Lk6:40; Lk6:46 and 1Pt2:21-25)

add in some Luke

So the disciple will follow, the disciple will be like his teacher, and the disciple will do what the teacher says

And doing what He says oftentimes comes, it did for them, it may for us, comes with a great cost.

So, to be a disciple who counts the cost we must be one who let’s Jesus be Lord, Savior, mentor and example for us.

That will lead to how it is manifested.

How it is manifested (Mt28:19; Mk16:15-16; Act2:38; Act22:16 and many more, but look at 2Pt3:18)

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By obeying the gospel of Christ (Mt28:19; Mk16:15-16; Act2:38; Act22:16)

By observing all that He commands (Mt28:20; Act2:42 and 1COr14:37)

And, ever growing in grace and knowledge of Christ (2Pt3:18)

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By obeying the gospel of Christ (Mt28:19; Mk16:15-16; Act2:38; Act22:16)

By observing all that He commands (Mt28:20; Act2:42 and 1COr14:37)

And, ever growing in grace and knowledge of Christ (2Pt3:18)

I know I only referenced some of the scriptures before, I challenge you to look them up; you may know them all, they are common, they are used often, they are very applicable, but that is not the final point I want to make this morning.

Counting the cost

No closet Christianity so be sure you count the cost.

No closet Christians, no secret saints or disguised disciples.

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It was not OK in the beginning (Gen3:9)