Follow Me: The Cost of Apprenticiship

Jesus declared the ethics of the Kingdom of God in

Jesus demonstrated those ethics in 8:1-17

He reached out and touched a leper – Healed and reconciled him Back to his community.

He healed the servant of the Roman solider – An enemy of Israel.

He healed Peter’s mother-in-law and many others – Demonstrating to us our call to bring healing not divisiveness.

He showed us that the Kingdom of God places Relationships above Resources.

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Today, we are only dealing with four verses.

But these four verses are some of the hardest verses in all of Scripture to swallow. The last time I preached on these verses I was pulled aside by a group of well-meaning Christians and rebuked for being too radical and expecting too much from normal people.

I say this because I expect push back today.

Today our modern comforts and sensibilities will be challenged. We will be confronted by Jesus as he will challenge our values and what we hold most dear.

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Matthew 8:18–22 NLT

When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he instructed his disciples to cross to the other side of the lake. Then one of the teachers of religious law said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.” Another of his disciples said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “Follow me now. Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead.”

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Jesus is not looking for fans!

We all want to jump on the bandwagon and the winning team.

The crowds love being fan boys of Jesus when he is healing and doing cool signs and wonders.

But fans do not stick around when you get crucified.

Fans do not stick around when you speak truth to power.

Fans do not stick around when the powers decide to persecute you.

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We hear the message of the Kingdom of God – It sounds the opposite of stale religion, it acts, it lifts people out of slavery and into freedom, it empowers and heals, it calls us to a new way of being human.

The message of the Kingdom of God draws on our deepest desires, hopes, and dreams.

We hear it and we want to run and say, “I will follow you Lord, I want to be your apprentice.”

I see this all the time:

Jesus heals a relationship – I will follow you- a month later you never see them again.

A young man finds purpose and energy in the teachings of Jesus – Sold out – Then the cares of this world distract him – Chooses money, career, car, Xbox over following Jesus.

A middle aged woman sees signs and wonders at a Revival service – Dedicated to following Jesus – And then the excitement wears off – Nominal Christian who attends a couple Sundays of church each month.

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God allowed me to run – to run towards death – then rescued me – only then did I sell out.

I was a fan of the cool things Jesus could do for me.

I was not a follower of Jesus.

Fans never count the cost – Because there is no cost in being a fan.

Fans drop-out when the fun goes away

Fans need pep-rallies for motivation.

Fans find their identity in everything but Jesus.

As a mom

As a dad

As a spouse

As a teacher

As a man

As a woman

In traditions

In a church

When our identity is found in ourselves, others or religion we will always experience let downs.

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Jesus is looking for followers

Notice, I said “followers”, I did not use the term Christian.

Christian can mean so many things today and it has become such a nebulous term.

Following Jesus means just that, following.

A person who follows the lead, character and actions of Jesus.

Jesus is looking for followers not fans.

Followers count the cost -

Is this man and movement worth dying for?

Am I willing to walk away from my traditions and comforts for this man and movement?

(Callie and I moving to Iowa - left family - left comfort - we first counted the cost.)

What holds the greatest value for you? The Kingdom of God or your own Kingdom?

Jesus counted the cost -

Matthew 9:10–13 NLT

Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?” When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

Matthew 9:10

Jesus was willing to give up prestige and acceptance by the religious for the sake of the Kingdom of God.

Zacchaeus counted the cost.

Luke 19:5–10 NLT

When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled. Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

Luke 19:5-

Zacchaeus found that Jesus and the Kingdom of God was of far greater value than wealth and riches.

Followers find their identity in Jesus and the Kingdom of God.

Matthew 4:18–22 NLT

One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him. A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.

Peter and Andrew - Identity in work /replaced by identity in Jesus and the Kingdom.

James and John - Identity in family and business/ replaced by identity in Jesus and the Kingdom.

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What is the big deal pastor, I like being a nominal Christian.

Jordan Peterson – “There is nothing more useful in combating the tragedy of life than to struggle with all your soul on behalf of the good."

John 10:10 NLT

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

We all want purpose and meaning to our lives.

Jesus is calling us to follow him into the ultimate purpose - The Kingdom of God.

But a life of purpose takes sacrifice -

Anything of value takes sacrifice -

Jesus is calling us to following Him into the life of ultimate value.

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You can find value in wealth, comfort, and meaningless traditions.

You can find value in your occupation or as a parent

You can find value in religion and even church.

But all of these will fade and all of them will let you down.

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Jesus is inviting us to follow him -

in setting the world to right

in upstaging the powers and principalities

In setting people free from slavery to sin and the systems of this world.

In reconciling the nations to Yahweh

In being a blessing to the nations.

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Are you a Fan or a Follower?