1. Losing the first place affection of loved ones

Luke 14:26 “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. “Hate” implies to “love less than…” Matthew 10:37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

 Our affection for loved ones?  Affection for friends in discipline? He is looking for first place preeminence

1. Losing the first place affection of loved ones 2. That which may cost us our “life” Sports? Art? Music? Theatre? Computers? Career?

Matt. 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. We need to figure out our priority system

1 Peter 2:1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Written to disciples concerning malice

Ephesians 4:26-27 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. Our Anger?

Luke 17:3 Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, Forgiveness?

Acts 5:1-11; Colossians 3:5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 1 Corinthians 16:2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. Our Finances?

1. Losing the first place affection of loved ones 2. That which may cost us our “life” 3. The effort of carrying our own cross

 Takes an investment of time / effort to learn the truth Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, also will forget your children. Proverbs 23:23 Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

 Worth devotion  Time for meditation  Attending meetings?  Reading books?  It’s a CEC  Teaching others  Attending classes  Regular, faithful, consistent, devoted, steadfast worship attendance Hebrews 5: About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.

Luke 14:28-30 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?29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ To avoid wasting time, money, and effort

Luke 14:31-32 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? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. To avoid defeat by a strong enemy

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. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 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? Because it is the cost for this greatest of investments

 success vs. failure  profit vs. loss  victory vs. defeat Have you counted the cost of a home in heaven for eternity?