Discount Discipleship

Looking for that Deal

What does following Jesus really require?

Cost of Discipleship

Discipleship = Disciple is a learner.

Discipleship is not possible is Jesus is not the teacher

Jesus is First (14:25-26)

No other relationship is first for a disciple.

To be a disciple of Jesus is to follow Jesus and not anyone or anything else.

When we choose our relationships over Jesus, we will always not choose Jesus. -Bock

Discipleship is not possible is Jesus is not the teacher

Discipleship is not possible is Jesus is not the teacher

Learning from Jesus means following him (14:27)

We cannot “learn Jesus” without being prepared to walk His path. Discipleship is pledging allegiance to him and his ways.

“When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” ― Deitrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem

Two Pictures:

The Watch Tower (14:28-30)

Counting the cost of Discipleship.

Finishing what we have started.

The King (31-33)

Taking Stock

Counting the cost of allying with God rather than having him as our enemy

We are to come to Jesus on his terms, terms he offers us because he loves us (grace), and accept those terms full out. There is no discount to discipleship. It is all or nothing.

Discounts come at our terms.

Full discipleship comes at his.

“Discipleship is not an offer that man makes to Christ.” ― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

“Cheap grace means grace sold on the market like cheapjacks' wares. The sacraments, the forgiveness of sin, and the consolations of religion are thrown away at cut prices. Grace is represented as the Church's inexhaustible treasury, from which she showers blessings with generous hands, without asking questions or fixing limits. Grace without price; grace without cost! The essence of grace, we suppose, is that the account has been paid in advance; and, because it has been paid, everything can be had for nothing. Since the cost was infinite, the possibilities of using and spending it are infinite. What would grace be if it were not cheap?...

Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.

Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble; it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him.

Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock.

Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: "ye were bought at a price," and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.” ― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

All to Jesus, I Surrender

All to Jesus I surrender All to Him I freely give I will ever love and trust Him In His presence daily live

Total loyalty

Discipleship is not possible if Jesus is not the teacher.

Learning from Jesus means following him, experiencing his rejection, and bearing the cross he bore.

We cannot “learn Jesus” without being prepared to walk his path. “Discipleship is basically allegiance.” -Bock

Bock, Darrell L. Luke. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1994. Print. The IVP New Testament Commentary Series.

Discipleship Cannot be Discounted

Discounts are our terms

We come to Jesus on His terms