1. Counting the Cost Luke 14:25-33 1

2. Jesus was not a Crowd-Pleaser Much more concerned with telling people what they needed to hear about following Him Fully aware of its demands and challenges, they could count the cost of discipleship, Lk. 14:25-27 Cannot be a disciple of Christ without forsaking all, Lk. 14:33 2

3. The Cost of being a Disciple Luke 14:28-33 The Call: P REFER C HRIST ABOVE ALL, 14:26-27 (16:13) – Hate: Not sinful hatred; to love Jesus more than everyone else, Matt. 10:37 (Gen. 29:30-31) – “If”: Cannot have a divided heart (Jno. 12:42-43) – Two points of preference: Relationships (family, brethren, life itself), 14:26 Responsibilities (bear your cross), 14:27; Gal. 6:5 3

4. The Cost of being a Disciple Luke 14:28-33 The Consideration: W HAT WILL IT COST TO SUCCEED ? 14:28-32 – Intentions do not equal success, 14:28 – “Sit down first and consider”, 14:31 The Cost: S ELF - DENIAL, SACRIFICE AND SERVICE, 14:33, 9:23 – Jesus set the example, Matt. 26:38-44 – Lifelong obligation, Heb. 3:6, 14; 10:36-39 4

5. Have You Counted the Cost of being a Christian? Lk. 14:33 C OST OF BEING S AVED FROM Y OUR S INS – Obedient faith, Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38; 17:30 – Renounce sins, Acts 2:37-38, 41 (19:18-20) Humble yourself, Jas. 4:10 Loss of friends, family, business…, Acts 19:24-27 – Different way of living, Rom. 12:1-2 (1 Jno. 2:15-16) 5

6. Have You Counted the Cost of being a Christian? Lk. 14:33 C OST OF S TANDING FOR THE T RUTH, 1 Cor. 16:13-14 – Loss of friends / some brethren, 2 Tim. 4:16 – Loss of reputation about false brethren, 3 Jno. 9-12 – Cost Jesus…Cost the apostles… 1 Cor. 4:9-13 – Does it cost us anything? (2 Tim. 3:12) 6

7. Have You Counted the Cost of being a Christian? Lk. 14:33 C OST OF BEING F AITHFUL UNTO D EATH, Rev. 2:10 – Context: Remain faithful in the face of persecution – even to the point of death – Conquer the fear of men, Matt. 10:28 (Heb. 13:5-6) – Be watchful against sin, 1 Pet. 5:8-9 (Heb. 5:12; 6:9-12) 7

8. Have You Counted the Cost of being Lost? Matt. 16:26 Y OU WILL PAY THE PRICE OF NEVER - ENDING SEPARATION FROM G OD AND H IS GOOD BLESSINGS, Rom. 6:23; Matt. 7:23; 25:30 Y OU WILL PAY THE PRICE OF NEVER - ENDING TORMENT, Lk. 16:24; Mk. 9:43-44; 2 Ths. 1:8-9 Y OU WILL PAY THE PRICE OF NEVER - ENDING REGRET, Lk. 16:25-27; 12:15-21 8

9. Counting the Cost Sin comes at too high a price! Rom. 6:23 Sin will always take you farther than you wanted to go, keep you longer than you wanted to stay and cost you more than you wanted to pay! 9

10. Counting the Cost So we deceive ourselves that the cost of sin is not real (Prov. 13:15) We comfort ourselves that we are not as bad as other people (2 Cor. 10:12) We convince ourselves that death is far away so we can change later (Lk. 12:20) Now is the acceptable time! (2 Cor. 6:1-2) 10