Is Quitting Noble ( Avoiding the New Norms of Soceity)

Key Objectives:

A. To Ask the question is quitting noble

B. To ensure that each Christian sees and understands that society will and does promote poor character.

C. Although quitting is not always a sin, what does quitting a task say about you as a person.

Diagnosis:

Our current society has many positives. For example, technology has become better, in my opinion interracial relationships are beautiful, opportunities have become more accessible, transportation is incredible, in which you can go anywhere, and amazon has shown us that whatever you need or desire is only a day away. For the most part when we look at tangibles it would appear that we are winning. However, it is the character that seems to be suffering the most, and the intangibles attributes suffer, because society now seems to make an excuse for some many peoples unexcused behavior. The question I pray that you ask yourself is my character akin to that of who I follow.

Sermon Main Text: Weighing the Cost

Luke 14:25–33 ESV

Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and 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, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

Interpretation: Christ gives us clear instruction what a Disciple should look like. In these verse Christ makes it clear what the Cost of Discipleship is :

Christ instructs his followers that they must hate those who are in opposition of God. The Greek word used here for hate is ( miseo ), and it means :It to hate, detest, love less, esteem less. Reference Hate Romans 9-13, and this verse hate is used in the same fashion we see in our main text; in fact the word hate holds the same definition throughout it’s usage in scripture.

Starting at verse 27, Christ tells his listeners that they must do as he did and bear there cross. This instruction is also mentioned in Matthew 10:38 and Mark 8:34-35. The idea is that a disciple must deny himself and die to self-will. Taking up his cross and embracing God’s will no matter the cost. Paul gives us Clarity when we Reference Philippians 3:10 .

Verses 28-32 are our Key factors, in which Christ asks each follower have they weighed the cost of their choice to follow him. Now that he has stated the criteria, is this still something that they want to do.

Application: How do we look at this now, and how is it relevant : Looking at Verses 27-32

Q. What is Christ Saying?

A. Christ is say that one must be willing to share in all of my sufferings, if one is to call themselves my disciples

2. Q. What cost is the most difficult to accept when following Christ or in our modern society.

A. What is persecution. Persecution is the hardest aspect of suffering to accept. This can be related to our current society, in which as long as a person is on top all is well, but the moment that trail and tribulation comes we begin to see abandonment.

3 Q. What can we Learn?

A. We can learn that we must factor in the good and the bad when we begin a task. Understanding that quitting is an option, but not one that we should be eager to pursue.

4. Q. What can happen in a community if quitting is applauded and honor?

A. Determination suffers; and kids give up on dreams because someone has told them or encouraged them to quit. We can see in today’s society that the same people who inspire are also the ones who can dispirit someone quickly.

Conclusion: 4 factors that lead to Quitting

Although quitting isn’t a excuse there are four factors that lead to quitting:

Social Media- Social Media is poisonous, and if you are trying to stir clear of negativity then you might want to stir clear of Social Media. Listening and looking at others can push you into the area of doubt or in the area of over-confidence.

Wrong Circle of Friends- Who you spend your time with is extremely important. There is an old saying birds of a feather flock together. Real friends will never put you in a situation that will jeopardize your career; and they would never encourage you to quit. Proverbs 18:24

Boasting- Thinking to highly of yourself can often leading to quitting, especially when you don’t life up to whatever expectation you have went around bragging about. Also, boasting can make those who should love and support you, want to begin to bring about your down fall. Genesis 37 ( Jacob’s Boasting).

Lack of true Humility- True humility, believe it or not has a lot to do with being able to accept defeat. If you quit because you because your performance is not up to par as it usually is a sign of pride. If God has allowed you to win multiple times, then don’t think God won’t allow you to fail also even after all of the practice you put in.

A non-existent or Lackluster relationship with God- You can win all earthly competitions, but you don’t no God then you have actually quit on life. Believing in Jesus is the only way that you are actually promised life. If you don’t believe in Christ then you are walking around not only as a quitter but also a loser . Remember chose the one who has never quit on us.