Sermon Tone Analysis

Hymn of the Ages

Welcome

Good morning family.

Hear the Words of Jesus from Revelation 21:6-7

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.

To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.

The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.”

Are you thirsty this morning?

Are you thirsty for something bigger and better than anything the world has to offer you?

If you are, you’ve come to the right place.

Not because we’re anything special, but because we know Someone who is.

His name is Jesus, and He offers living water for free to all who surrender to Him.

I pray you’ll leave here satisfied this morning.

In just a moment we’ll hear a Scripture reading from Matthew 8:18-23 (966 in black Bibles).

Turn there now.

While you’re turning, a few quick announcements:

1) A word about PBC.

We are Disciples.

A few opportunities to grow as a follower of Jesus beginning this month:

1) Bookstall for summer reading

2) New Sunday School class: New Testament Overview (begins next Sunday at 9:15 AM)

3) For men & women:

Aspire—begins July 17 at 4 PM

Unreviled—begins July 17 at 6:30 PM

Spaces for both are limited, so sign up ASAP if you’re interested

2) No Tabletalk tonight

3) VBS, July 10 from 6-8:30 PM

Now look in your Bibles at Matthew 8:18 as Ramona Rogers comes to read for us.

Scripture Reading (Matthew 8:18-23)

Prayer of Praise (God is peace), Ramona Rogers

Come Thou Fount

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Prayer of Confession (Ignorance), Eli Dowell

Worthy of Your Name

PBC Catechism #27

What does the Holy Spirit do?

He convicts the world of sin and its consequences, brings repentance and faith to sinners through regeneration, indwells believers, gives them assurance of salvation, sanctifies them, and causes them to bear the fruit of Christian character.

He guides, instructs, and empowers Christians, gifting them to serve the local church.

Pastoral Prayer (John Rogers)

SERMON

Dadurday, kids wanted to keep a baby bird.

I told them how they’d have to feed the bird.

“You could blend up first or something”

You’ve totally missed the point.

Many things in life seem fun and exciting, until you realize the cost.

Turn to Matthew 8:18

Last week I told you that Matthew 8-9 feature three sets of three miracle stories that show Jesus’ power.

We looked at the first set of three miracle stories last week.

But Matthew is not interested in simply wowing you with Jesus’ power.

He wants to convince you to follow Jesus

So in between each of the three sets of miracle stories, Matthew interrupts the narrative to teach us something about following Jesus

Our story begins with a great crowd around Jesus.

Makes sense because in the previous verses Jesus was healing everyone in Capernaum

You would think this would be the perfect time for Jesus and His disciples to set up camp for awhile to capitalize on Jesus’ success.

But Jesus thinks very differently than we do, especially in the numbers-driven West.

We form our political opinions based on polling data, our viewing habits are influenced by box office numbers, and our feelings of value are often connected to the number of likes on social media.

Even in churches, we are far too easily impacted by what will draw the largest crowd.

Jesus is far more interested in absolute allegiance from a few followers than admiration from a massive crowd.

So instead of striking while the iron is hot, Jesus does the unthinkable.

He tells the disciples, “load up the boat, it’s time to leave.”

As they’re preparing to cross to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, two would-be disciples approach Jesus.

They’re hoping they can join Jesus in His travels.

In His responses to both men, Jesus reveals the cost of following Him: absolute allegiance.

But we don’t know how either man responds.

Matthew doesn’t finish the story.

Perhaps because he wants us to finish the story.

More important than what these men did is what you and I will do.

Some of you haven’t given your absolute allegiance to Jesus.

I pray you’ll do that today.

Most of you have, but like Jesus’ disciples your allegiance wavers.

I pray that today you’ll be reminded that following Jesus is worth it, even when it hurts.

As we walk through this passage together, I want you to ask yourself two questions that reflect the concerns of these two men.

1) Will I Submit My COMFORT to Jesus?

Perhaps while Jesus’ disciples are getting the boat ready to sail, the first man comes to Jesus...

8:19—And a scribe came up and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”

This sounds pretty good!

It’s even better when you understand the significance of a scribe saying this to Jesus.

The scribes were religious scholars.

Today they would be religious PhDs and seminary professors.

Often in the Scriptures they were closely associated with the Pharisees.

Now imagine a seminary professor with a PhD from some prestigious seminary approaching a traveling Bible teacher without a formal education saying, “will you mentor me?” That’s pretty astounding!

One commentator states, “Going through the process of discipleship after already being a scribe would be a humbling experience (like having to repeat high school after finding out that one’s school was unaccredited).”

[2]

This scribe seems pretty impressive!

A lot of preachers would be ready to get this guy to walk an aisle, sign a card, get baptized and join the team.

“Not so fast,” says Jesus...

8:20—And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”

Jesus poetically replies, “are you sure you want to follow me?

I’m homeless.

Even foxes and birds have more comfort than my followers do.”

Following Jesus will lead to a crown. . .

eventually.

But the cross comes first.

Matthew 16:24-26—Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.

For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?

Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”

J.C. Ryle—“Nothing, in fact, has done more harm to Christianity than the practice of filling the ranks of Christ’s army with every volunteer who is willing to make a little profession, and talk fluently of his experience.

It has been painfully forgotten that numbers alone do not make strength, and that there may be a great quantity of mere outward religion, while there is very little real grace.”

[3]

Before we affirm as person as a follower of Jesus, we should do our best to make sure they’ve counted the cost

Have you counted the cost?