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. Luke 14:25-33 (ESV)

Throughout his ministry Jesus attracted large crowds.

Throughout his ministry Jesus attracted large crowds. They liked him because he healed the sick, gave food to the hungry, and cast out demons.

Throughout his ministry Jesus attracted large crowds. They liked him because he healed the sick, gave food to the hungry, and cast out demons. We know from other places that Jesus did not trust the crowds. (John 2:23-25)

A Paradox

A Paradox Jesus and other New Testament writers announce a salvation that is free to all.

Jesus demands that those who might follow him “count the costs.” A Paradox Jesus and other New Testament writers announce a salvation that is free to all. Jesus demands that those who might follow him “count the costs.”

Jesus demands that those who might follow him “count the costs.” A Paradox Jesus and other New Testament writers announce a salvation that is free to all. Jesus demands that those who might follow him “count the costs.” How is it possible that a free gift will cost something?

God has given us a great promise.

God has given us a great promise. If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us. 2 Timothy 2:11-12 (ESV)

God has given us a great promise. If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us. 2 Timothy 2:11-12 (ESV)

God has given us a great promise. If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us. 2 Timothy 2:11-12 (ESV) We are promised that we will rule and reign with Christ.

God has given us a great promise. We are not the first people or generation to receive such a promise.

God has given us a great promise. We are not the first people or generation to receive such a promise. Joseph and David

Joseph

Joseph has two dreams in which his brothers, father and mother came and bowed down to him.

Joseph has two dreams in which his brothers, father and mother came and bowed down to him. His brothers attacked him and sold him into slavery. He lost his family and his prized possession.

Joseph has two dreams in which his brothers, father and mother came and bowed down to him. His brothers attacked him and sold him into slavery. He lost his family and his prized possession. He serves many years as a slave, before coming to the throne in Egypt as the second to Pharaoh.

David

Samuel anoints David to be king.

Samuel anoints David to be king. There is already a king: Saul. He views David as a threat to his power.

Samuel anoints David to be king. There is already a king: Saul. He views David as a threat to his power. David is driven into the wilderness and has to flee for his life.

Samuel anoints David to be king. There is already a king: Saul. He views David as a threat to his power. David is driven into the wilderness and has to flee for his life. He comes to the throne only after years of suffering.

God has given us a great promise.

God has given us a great promise. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)

God has given us a great promise. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)

God has given us a great promise. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9 (ESV) We are called to proclaim God’s word and promised that it will have an effect.

Elijah

God calls him to proclaim his word to Elijah God calls him to proclaim his word to King Ahab. Ahab hates him for it.

God calls him to proclaim his word to Elijah God calls him to proclaim his word to King Ahab. Ahab hates him for it. Even after Elijah confronts the priests of the false god Baal, the people still do not repent and he is forced to flee for his life.

James K.A. Smith, Desiring the Kingdom (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2009).

Visions of the Kingdom James K.A. Smith, Desiring the Kingdom (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2009). Visions of the Kingdom

Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Antifragile (New York: Random House, 2012).

Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Antifragile (New York: Random House, 2012). Fragility

God has given us a great promise.

God has given us a great promise. We have been promised that someday we will rule and reign with Christ. Yet today somebody occupies that throne. We are a threat, and he will come after us.

God has given us a great promise. We have been promised that someday we will rule and reign with Christ. Yet today somebody occupies that throne. We are a threat, and he will come after us. The subjects of the present king love and are devoted to him. They will hate the fact that you point out the fragility of his rule.

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. Matthew 13:44-46 (ESV)