The Cost of Commitment Luke 14:25-35

Crowds Jesus drawing big crowds. Would be considered a great success by today’s standards. Building full of people, financially stable. Luke 14:26-27

Luke 14:26-27 26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:26

Crowds First rule of selling a quality product: But… never discuss the cost up front. But… Jesus tells them what it will cost from the start!! Luke 14:26

Cost to Follow 3 ways in which discipleship will cost the follower. 1. Relationships 2. Life 3. Possessions Luke 14:26

Being a disciple of Jesus will mean changed relationships. Luke 14:26

Luke 14:26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.” 1 Cor. 7:12-15

Relationships Family Marriage Single, not yet married. Children Rejection by parents Ejection from the family Death Marriage 1 Corinthians 7:12-15 The unbelieving may depart. Single, not yet married. Children Luke 14:27

Being a disciple will mean a changed life. Luke 14:27

Luke 14:27 Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Romans 12:1

Life A life of sacrifice. Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Matt. 16:24

A Life of Sacrifice Jesus carried his cross on the way to give his life for us. A disciple carries his cross by giving his life for others. The new disciple will have to make many changes in his or her life. Jesus will leave no area of their life alone, and a would-be disciple must give up control over every aspect of it. Matt. 16:24

A Life of Sacrifice Jesus will leave no area of life alone, and a would-be disciple must give up control over every aspect of it. Matt. 16:24

Matthew 16:24 If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Luke 14:33

Very Costly It means giving all of our time and all of our money; It means loving the un-loveable and touching the untouchable; It means honesty and integrity in everything we do; Luke 14:33

Very Costly It means loving and forgiving whenever we are wronged by others; It means a life of moral and sexual purity; It means daily confronting and putting right the wrongs we do to God, and the wrongs we do to others. Luke 14:33

Conviction Needed Beliefs are those things we are willing to argue about. Convictions are those things we are willing to die for. When we are committed because we have conviction, our whole live will be effected. Luke 14:33

Possessions The would-be disciple must be prepared to change the way he views his possessions: Luke 14:33

Luke 14:33 Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:28-30

Know the Cost It will change your relationships. It will change your life. Iit will change what you own and how you own it. Luke 14:28-30

Luke 14:28-30 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Luke 14:31-32

Kick the Tires

Changing… Ambitions Jobs Where we live How we spend our time What we wear What we own What we watch on television Everything? Matt. 28:19

What Jesus Wants Matthew 28:19 Discipleship is costly Not: Go and make converts of all nations But: Go and make disciples of all nations Discipleship is costly Luke 14:28-30

Counting Count the cost Luke 14:31-32

Luke 14:31-32 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. Luke 14:34-35

What Jesus Wants True Disciples not admirers Participants not spectators Luke 14:34-35

Making Disciples Treat it like warfare Christian discipleship is like going to war Don't start what you can't or aren’t willing to finish. The cost of failure is enormous Matt. 19:16-22

Worse for a Christian Falling away for a Christian is worse than never having been a Christian at all. Luke 14:34-35

Luke 14:34-35 34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? 35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. Heb. 6:4-6

Hebrews 6:4-6 4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. Matt. 7:21-23

Being a Disciple of Jesus Christ… Is something valuable! Is something worth giving our lives for! Matt. 7:21-23

Matthew 7:21-23 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. James 1:22

James 1:22 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Something is only worth what you are willing to pay for it.

True Discipleship Real Commitment It Will Cost