1. Radical Abandon Luke 9:57-62

2. We are influenced by our culture. We are influenced by our culture. “I am convinced that we as Christ followers in American churches have embraced values and ideas that are not only unbiblical but that actually contradict the gospel we claim to believe. And I am convinced we have a choice.” (David Platt, Radical, Page 3).

3. Luke 9:37 “The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him.”

4. Luke 9:57-62 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

5. Luke 9:57-62 59 He said to another man, “Follow me.” But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

6. Luke 9:57-62 61 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.” 62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

7. Following the Crowd The crowd is a place without commitment. The crowd is a place without commitment. “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:13-14

8. Following the Crowd The crowd is a place without commitment. The crowd is a place without commitment. Discipleship involves leaving the crowd. Discipleship involves leaving the crowd. “Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them, saying:” Matthew 5:1-2 “Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them, saying:” Matthew 5:1-2

9. Reasons to not follow Jesus. As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Luke 9:57-62

10. Reasons to not follow Jesus. You must surrender control. You must surrender control.

11. Luke 9:57-62 59 He said to another man, “Follow me.” But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

12. Reasons to not follow Jesus. You must surrender control. You must surrender control. Your priorities will completely change. Your priorities will completely change.

13. Luke 9:57-62 61 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.” 62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

14. Reasons to not follow Jesus. You must surrender control. You must surrender control. Your priorities will completely change. Your priorities will completely change. It requires total commitment. It requires total commitment.

15. Abandoning the Crowd Requires radical self denial. Requires radical self denial. Is a joyful pursuit of life’s greatest treasure. Is a joyful pursuit of life’s greatest treasure. “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” Matthew 13:44

16. Abandoning the Crowd Requires radical self denial. Requires radical self denial. Is a joyful pursuit of life’s greatest treasure. Is a joyful pursuit of life’s greatest treasure. “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep in order to gain what he cannot lose.” Jim Elliot “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep in order to gain what he cannot lose.” Jim Elliot

17. Abandoning the Crowd Requires radical self denial. Requires radical self denial. Is a joyful pursuit of life’s greatest treasure. Is a joyful pursuit of life’s greatest treasure. “But if Jesus is who he said he is, and if his promises are as rewarding as the Bible claims they are, then we may discover that satisfaction in our lives and success in the church are not found in what our culture deems most important but in radical abandonment to Jesus.” “But if Jesus is who he said he is, and if his promises are as rewarding as the Bible claims they are, then we may discover that satisfaction in our lives and success in the church are not found in what our culture deems most important but in radical abandonment to Jesus.” (David Platt, Radical, Page 3)

18. How will you answer the two big questions? How will you answer the two big questions? Are you going to believe Jesus? Are you going to obey Jesus?