The Hesitant Disciples

Read Luke 9:57-62, 10:1

Luke 9:57–62 KJV 1900

57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. 59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. 61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Luke 10:1 KJV 1900

1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

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Luke 9:57–58 KJV 1900

And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

Count the Cost – vs. 57-58

How enthusiastic was this man about following Jesus?

How sincere is he in what he says?

What conditions does the man place on his desire to follow Jesus?

When you observe the church today, how would you characterize “most” people’s approach to committing to Jesus?

Why didn’t Jesus just say “thank you”, or immediately welcome him as a disciple?

What might have persuaded the man to be so enthusiastic about following Him?

Did this man fully count the cost of discipleship before making this statement?

In what other settings might people quickly make a statement of following Jesus without counting the cost?

What might Jesus have sensed, or knew, about this man that caused Him to speak these words of caution?

What did Jesus mean about the foxes, and Himself (the Son of Man)?

Was Jesus rejecting this man, or just challenging him?

In what ways is it easier to follow Jesus than in other parts of the world?

In what ways is it harder?

Should we be comfortable in this world? Explain.

“Committed individuals live with shallow tent pegs. They may own things, but nothing owns them.” ~Corrie Ten Boom

Luke 9:59–60 KJV 1900

And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

No Delays – vs. 59-60

Define the word “reluctance”.

Was this man reluctant?

Was his answer to Jesus’ request reasonable?

How thoughtful was he of his family, and was this good?

Did he attempt to “count the cost” of discipleship?

Was Jesus pitting the man against his own family?

Was the father already dead and waiting to be buried, or just elderly and possibly soon to die?

What impact would each of those possibilities have on the time it would take for him to follow Jesus?

What did Jesus mean by saying, “let the dead bury their own dead”?

How do the affairs of earthly life compare to the importance of preaching the Gospel?

How much should our family relationship be considered in our willingness to follow the Lord?

Is it possible that family can become an idol before God?

Explain.If one excuse keeps us from following Jesus, is the next excuse easier or harder? Explain.

Luke 9:61–62 KJV 1900

And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

No Turning Back- vs. 61-62

The man said, “but first”… in what ways do we present our own “but first’s” to God?

Was this man’s request reasonable?

What might have happened to the man’s desire to follow if he had gone back home for a while?

Jesus spoke about plowing a field. What relevance does his example have in being a disciple?

Have you ever ridden a bicycle and turned around to look back? What happened?

Can you think of a time when your family relationships were affected by your desire to follow Jesus? Please share.

In what ways might we seek the approval of others instead of the approval of God?

In what ways could a modern Christian expect to sacrifice in their walk with the Lord?

Luke 10:1 KJV 1900

After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

Conclusion- Luke 10:1

Do we know whether the first 3 men followed Jesus or turned back?

Is there a clue in vs. 1 that might help us know?

When we follow Jesus, what are we signing up to sacrifice in our life?

In what ways has sacrifice for God brought joy in your life?

What are some areas of life that you could surrender more in?

Next Week’s Scriptures

The Man from the Tombs: Jesus Speaks to the Problem of Spiritual Bondage – Mark 5:1-17