We are following the life of Jesus and following Jesus is about to get really difficult. We have established that we are heading towards the end of Jesus life. And more and more people are turning away from Jesus. We no longer are seeing the huge crowds always flocking around Jesus. That doesn’t mean the crowds have gone away though. Jesus will always have people around him following Him

In Luke 14 Jesus turns and faces these crowds

Luke 14:25–35 CSB

Now great crowds were traveling with him. So he turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, and even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. “For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, after he has laid the foundation and cannot finish it, all the onlookers will begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This man started to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ “Or what king, going to war against another king, will not first sit down and decide if he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If not, while the other is still far off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. In the same way, therefore, every one of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple. “Now, salt is good, but if salt should lose its taste, how will it be made salty? It isn’t fit for the soil or for the manure pile; they throw it out. Let anyone who has ears to hear listen.”

Pray

Jesus lays out that there is a cost to following Him

Discipleship is costly And Jesus wants them to be aware of that Jesus is not starting a secret society like the free masons where you can’t know what they believe until after you join. There is no secret transcribed salvation that only believers can known.

Jesus looks at them face to face anyone that wants to know and says only through me can you be saved. That simple ABC, Roman Road (write this down if you don’t know it great way to witness) Practice on someone

Romans 3:23 CSB

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;

Romans 6:23 CSB

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8 CSB

But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 10:9–10 CSB

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.

Romans 10:13 CSB

For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Cost of Discipleship

It’s simple to accept Christ but it is costly

It was costly to God. Who gave his only son to die so that we may live

It was costly to Jesus. Who died so that his righteousness covers us. As our sin is upon him. Washed in the Blood of the lamb

And it is costly to those who choose to follow the straight and narrow. It requires that Jesus be the priority in life.

God

Spouse

Family

We must present our lives to him and reflect values that honor God. Which means death to self. Pick up cross daily.

For the people listening to Jesus death was a very real option.

Following Jesus doesn’t always mean roses. Throughout the Bible we see examples of it being a struggle to follow and to do

Jesus says that if we have to choose between family and Him, He must win

Doesn’t mean neglect family in name of God. Too much of that already. God gave you family. But if you have to choose. We have to follow God’s example YHWH chose us over His son. Jesus chose us over his life. We must follow the example given to us.

People who when they accept they lose family

We have been a society for so long that has neglected to teach about the cost of discipleship

Just dunk ‘m and put them on the roles

Doesn’t work When the cost comes in

I didn’t know it would cost me so much

Get things like hypocrites

Get things like non practicing Christians

Saved not saved I don’t know

But they aren’t living Christ

Get people that accept but then don’t want to change anything

Don’t realize might have to give up friends that lead them down paths that are contrary to God. Until they can fight temptation and win in the situation

Often need to make new friends. Not expected to change all at once but are expected to change.

A disciple is a person under constant renovation

Like you would better you house

A Disciple is constantly being Bettered by the Holy Spirit

Accept Not easy But worth it

Peace with God In his terms Or at war with him

I read the end He wins

Life full

Next Steps

Accept the cost and be his disciple

Constant renovation

What is God renovating in you Today

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