The Cost of Discipleship Luke 14:33 07/02/2007 Dr. Dane Boyles

The Cost of Discipleship Introduction “A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing is worth nothing.” -- Martin Luther

The Cost of Discipleship People have a problem with Christianity when Christians don’t follow in Jesus’ footsteps. 33 … any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:33, NIV)

The Cost of Discipleship Jesus has called us to be disciples, learners, consecrated, committed practitioners of the faith.  But familiarity with truth makes it harder to hear.  Familiarity with truth also creates a comfort that blinds us to Truth. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.” (Matt 13:9, NIV)

The Cost of Discipleship The Word disciple means someone who (1) believes Jesus’ doctrine, (2) rests on his sacrifice, (3) absorbs his spirit, and (4) imitates his example.

The Cost of Discipleship PEOPLE WHO PAID THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP: Abraham Noah Joseph

The Cost of Discipleship Daniel Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego John the Baptist Mary the Mother of Jesus Jesus

The Cost of Discipleship When Jesus called his fishers of men, they renounced everything at his call. Yet disciples are blessed because they have obeyed the call of Jesus. How can disciples be faithful to the end, knowing the cost of discipleship?

The Cost of Discipleship 67 “Are you going too?” (John 6:67, TLB) 68 …“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:68-69, NIV)

The Cost of Discipleship  We have to accept the way of the cross.  This gets to the very essence of Christianity. Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ. Faith is only real when there is obedience, and faith only becomes faith in the act of obedience.

The Cost of Discipleship In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus lays out a way of seeing the world that will prepare his followers to pay the cost of discipleship. 20 “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. (Luke 6:20, NIV)

The Cost of Discipleship Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandhi or foreign missionaries. What about the ordinary Christian like you and me? Our minds are not to be rooted in our culture. We are not to be molded by the spirit of the age.

The Cost of Discipleship Our addictions are depriving us of what’s real in life. Are our eyes are fixed on the kingdom of heaven? Or on our all these things that are temporal and earthly?

The Cost of Discipleship 21 Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. (Luke 6:21, NIV)

The Cost of Discipleship Jesus demands that we refuse to be in tune with the world or to accommodate ourselves to its standards. We are actually educated and trained to behave like things and relate to each other as things.

The Cost of Discipleship The disciples meditated on the end, the last judgment, and the coming of the kingdom. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. (Matt 5:5, NIV)

The Cost of Discipleship In the very act of renouncing every right of our own for the sake of Jesus, God works on our behalf. We are determined to leave our rights to God alone. To the powerless and disenfranchised, the earth belongs.

The Cost of Discipleship 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. (Matt 5:6, NIV)

The Cost of Discipleship We get no praise for our achievements or sacrifices. We get filled.

The Cost of Discipleship 6 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be showed mercy. (Matt 5:7, NIV)

The Cost of Discipleship This is the call to renounce our own dignity. Jesus says we are not too good for this.

The Cost of Discipleship 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. (Matt 5:8, NIV) This is when our hearts are not ruled by our conscience but by the will of Jesus. If your heart is pure, you’ll see God.

The Cost of Discipleship 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matt 5:10, NIV) This is when we suffer for our own just judgments and actions.

The Cost of Discipleship Conclusion We have no choice but to pay the cost of discipleship. We have no other place to go. How do we pay the cost of discipleship?

The Cost of Discipleship “A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing is worth nothing.” --Martin Luther

The Cost of Discipleship Luke 14:33 07/02/2007 Dr. Dane Boyles