The Disciple's Call

Luke 9:57–62

Luke 9:57–62 NLT

57 As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 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.” 59 He said to another person, “Come, follow me.” The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.” 60 But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.” 61 Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.” 62 But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”

INTRODUCTION:

A- The Mission of Christ:

1- Establish His Kingdom.

a. The Plan:

Referred to in the Gospels as the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God.

This kingdom is so wonderful that becoming a citizen is worth losing everything in the world to gain it.

(Matthew 13:44)

Matthew 13:44 NLT

44 “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.

b. The Problem:

The character demands of kingdom citizens is high.

(Matthew 5:20)

Matthew 5:20 NLT

20 “But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!

The warped character of all people (because of sin) makes it impossible for normal, fleshly people to enter the kingdom.

(Luke 18:18-19)

Luke 18:18–19 NLT

18 Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: “Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “Only God is truly good.

(John 3:3, 5)

John 3:3 NLT

3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

John 3:5 NLT

5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.

c. The Proclamation:

Jesus came to proclaim the Good News (Gospel) that He was making the way for people to be made right with God.

(Luke 8:1)

Luke 8:1 NLT

1 Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with him,

Jesus foretold and fulfilled the redemptive price to provide forgiveness and transformation of life to all who repent and believe in Him.

(Mark 1:14-15)

Mark 1:14–15 NLT

14 Later on, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, where he preached God’s Good News. 15 “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”

(John 3:15-18)

John 3:15–18 NLT

15 so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. 16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. 18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.

B- The Mandate of Christ:

1- Answer His call to discipleship and join Him in His mission:

a. Seek out those who are lost.

(Luke 19:10)

Luke 19:10 NLT

10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

b. Be His witnesses.

(Acts 1:8)

Acts 1:8 NLT

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

c. Disciple those won to faith.

(Matthew 28:19-20)

Matthew 28:19–20 NLT

19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

d. Live-out a life that reflects your kingdom citizenship.

TS: If we are to fulfill the role of His disciple, following Him and drawing the lost to Him, we must do three things.

I- PUT CHRIST’S MISSION AHEAD OF PERSONAL COMFORT. (LUKE 9:57-58)

Luke 9:57–58 NLT

57 As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 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.”

A- When we choose to follow Jesus, we must choose to go wherever that takes us. (Luke 9:57)

Luke 9:57 NLT

57 As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.”

1- We must be willing to put Christ’s desires ahead of out own.

(Matthew 16:24-25)

Matthew 16:24–25 NLT

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.

B- Following Christ means putting our commitment to Him and His mission ahead of our own comfort. (Luke 9:58)

Luke 9:58 NLT

58 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.”

(1 Peter 4:2)

1 Peter 4:2 NLT

2 You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God.

II- PUT CHRIST’S MISSION AHEAD OF EARTHLY ENTANGLEMENTS. (LUKE 9:59-60)

Luke 9:59–60 NLT

59 He said to another person, “Come, follow me.” The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.” 60 But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.”

A- Jesus’ call is both personal and pointed. (Luke 9:59 a)

Luke 9:59a NLT

59 He said to another person, “Come, follow me.” The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.”

1- The call was given to each individual.

2- The call is to follow Christ and become what only He can make of you.

(Matthew 4:19)

Matthew 4:19 NLT

19 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”

B- Jesus’ call is a potent call to place Him and His cause above worldly entanglements. (Luke 9:59 b - 60)

Luke 9:59b–60 NLT

59 He said to another person, “Come, follow me.” The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.” 60 But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.”

III- PERFORM CHRIST’S MISSION WITHOUT LOOKING BACK. (LUKE 9:61-62)

Luke 9:61–62 NLT

61 Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.” 62 But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”

A- Jesus’ call is one that does not allow for delay. (Luke 9:61)

Luke 9:61 NLT

61 Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.”

1- We must be willing to surrender to Christ and follow Him now.

(Matthew 4:18-22)

Matthew 4:18–22 NLT

18 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. 19 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” 20 And they left their nets at once and followed him. 21 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. 22 They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.

B- Jesus’ call demands a singular focus forward. (Luke 9:62)

Luke 9:62 NLT

62 But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”

1- Like Paul

New Living Translation Chapter 3

(Philippians 3:13-14)

Philippians 3:13–14 NLT

13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

CONCLUSION:

The disciple’s call:

I- PUT CHRIST’S MISSION AHEAD OF PERSONAL COMFORT.

II- PUT CHRIST’S MISSION AHEAD OF EARTHLY ENTANGLEMENTS.

III- PERFORM CHRIST’S MISSION WITHOUT LOOKING BACK.

NOTES:

Commitment, to Jesus Christ