4:19). 33 “So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions. Luke is continuing to teach us about who can and cannot be in the kingdom of Christ. But if we aren’t involved in the process of carrying our own cross in death to self, we are not on the path of the disciple of Jesus Christ. 38 “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. If he crashes, I die. https://johntsquires.wordpress.com/2019/01/31/an-orderly-account-a-quick-guide-to-luke-and-acts/, https://johntsquires.wordpress.com/2019/02/01/scripture-fulfilled-in-your-hearing-luke-416-30/, My name is John Squires. 7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. He floods us with joy and true pleasure (Ps. A decision for Christ marked a person and automatically came with a cost. 22 But Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”. 12:14). 32 “Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. You yourself, too! (Luke 17) – An Informed Faith, Unjust judge, shameless widow (Luke 18) years – An Informed Faith, Leaving Luke, Meeting Matthew – An Informed Faith, For our instruction … that we might have hope (Rom 15, Isa 11, Matt 3), The origins of Jesus in the book of origins: Matthew 1, Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way (Matthew 1), Descended from David according to the flesh (Rom 1), A young woman? You may protest, “That’s a contradiction! Yes, I own a home.” The seller writes down, “house.” “It’s mine.”, “Where do you expect me to sleep—in my camper?” “Oh, you have a camper, do you? We would rightly call such a man a cult leader, unless He were God in human flesh! But no holy kissing. Thus, to truly follow Christ, we must consider the cost and not begin to follow Him superficially, only to turn back later when things get tough. If you don’t hate your own life and daily carry your cross, you’re not His disciple. Jesus does not remove the cost of following him, but explains the cost. View all posts by John T Squires. Musing on the role model which Paul offers in Galatians. Many temptations come with focusing on our family, and our love for Jesus must take precedence over everything. The cost of following Jesus is emphasised throughout Luke’s writings—especially in the section of the Gospel where Jesus journeys towards Jerusalem. Such careful thinking is opposed to an impulsive decision made in a moment of intense emotion, without much thought about the consequences. What’s wrong with getting terms of peace from the approaching king. But don’t forget that they’re all mine, just as you are. (2 Tim 3:16), The sincerest form of flattery? There are times when our love for our families tries to get in the way of our love for Jesus. But count the cost of not following Jesus. Normally, when we follow Christ He lovingly gives us the desires of our hearts (Ps. Then the invitation is given and counselors are primed to get out of their seats and walk forward so that people on the verge of a decision think that others are going forward. As a Christian young person, you should seek to be obedient to your parents in all things, unless they are asking you to go against what God wants you to do. He deserves everything we are, everything we have, and everything we cherish and prize. Though many want the benefits of following Jesus, few are willing to pay the price. Nothing you own is your own. Luke 6, 4 and 1.k | An Informed Faith, A Testing Time: forty days in the wilderness (1) | An Informed Faith, Sacred place and sacred scripture: forty days in the wilderness (2) | An Informed Faith, Jerusalem, Jerusalem: holy city, holy calling (Luke 13) | An Informed Faith, The cross-cultural nature of the early Jesus movement | An Informed Faith, The calling of Saul and the turn to the Gentiles: modelling the missional imperative (Acts 8—12) | An Informed Faith, Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner? But, there are times when it is easy to give in to the immediate gratification of the flesh and it is hard to obey Christ. If one is prepared for the absolute worst, then he will readily accept whatever circumstances come his way. Jesus must mean more to us than our families, no matter how much we love them. You become the slave of Jesus Christ and He owns everything. It could even cost me my very life, because many good climbers die trying to climb Mount Everest. Jesus here is looking at the process of daily death to selfish desires and of the willingness to bear reproach for His name’s sake. That’s what Jesus means when He says that we must give up all our possessions in order to be His disciple. Why would people ridicule the man who could not complete the tower? Not everyone can be a disciple of Jesus. The Cost of Discipleship Luke 14: 25-33 I am certainly thankful for the free gift of salvation. Is He the Lord of your plans, your thoughts, and of all that you do? He takes a story already told in Mark’s earlier work, where two sets of brothers are called as disciples–Simon Peter and Andrew, James and John. Verse 32 makes this point. I've studied the scriptures in depth; I hold a number of degrees, including a PhD in early Christian literature. That is what Jesus warns against in our text. But Jesus was different. Luke 14:25-33 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) The Cost of Discipleship. We must consider the cost of non-discipleship. In this story, communities are persecuted (Acts 8:1–3), there are plots, riots, arrests, betrayals and imprisonments, key figures are brought to trial, two leaders are martyred (7:54–60; 12:2) and Paul lives in peril of his life throughout the last section of the narrative, especially on his journey to Rome. As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have  nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”  59 And He said to another, ” Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” 60 But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.”  61 Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” 62 But Jesus said to him, ” No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”, 15 “If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”. Everyone quits today. If it’s tails this time, I’ll go.” Tails. There is nothing we get to keep in our hands. Reconciliation on the land of Australia: living together with respect, Dark deeds in a sunny land: the exposé offered by John B. Gribble. He is not here. The Cost of Discipleship – Luke 14:25-35 – Inductive Bible Study Luke 14:25 Now large crowds were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them, 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. After telling the two parables about considering the cost before making a commitment, Jesus concludes, “So therefore, no one of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.” Does Jesus mean this literally, that we must get rid of everything we own and take a vow of poverty in order to be a Christian? Doesn’t the Bible say that we are to love our families? If He is first, then obviously you will be spending consistent time alone with Him in His Word, in prayer, and in devotion. We get people into a stadium to hear testimonies from famous athletes or movie stars about how Christ changed their lives. He reminds them of God’s unending grace of God towards them (15:3–32) and assures them that “not a hair of your head will perish” (21:18). The opportunity of Lent, Passing the peace, sharing the elements, greeting the minister, When you come together … reflections on community in the midst of a pandemic. The tomb is empty. 14 “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. The seed of the Word will bear fruit unto eternal life. Is Jesus contradicting the Bible? Jesus is saying that if a follower of His doesn’t live as he ought to live, he is useless to God. He has provided everything at His expense and He invites sinners to come to His great dinner. I believe that Jesus is getting at the fact that there are two possible lords that we can serve and the two are exclusive: God or Mammon. He seems to be using parables not only to teach but to winnow His followers also. Discipleship is a call to allegiance. The tower here likely does not refer to a fortress tower, but one more like a farming building. You will be cast into the place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Luke is interested to focus on what it means for him to become a disciple, one who learns from Jesus, before he tells of Peter as the leader. Or, could the love of money be choking out the Word in your life? So, You Want to be Jesus’ Disciple – Do You? (3). All rights reserved. He is risen. (Luke 19). What more is there to offer? “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? That is the clear application of verse 26. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. “Great multitudes were going along with Him.” Every pastor would love to have that kind of congregation. Every ministry desires more followers. I cannot find any basis for such teaching in the New Testament, and I can find many Scriptures to refute such teaching. The first illustration is of building a tower. 27 Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 4 For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; and so it came to pass, as you know. Be made salty again the terms of peace from the approaching king D! Expense and he owns everything is freely available to all who desire to godly... 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The family member if we suggest that a person does not give up his... Here, he is the Lord of your plans, and website in this browser for the absolute worst because... In later years and of all that we have to give up family and rightly. We would rightly call such a desire to enter, but explains the cost of discipleship then through... To winnow his followers to follow Jesus that everything came to a head alternative for the cost of discipleship luke who unwilling... Is our highest affection, we must briefly consider the cost of discipleship luke Jesus clearly asserts his absolute and! Versions delivered to your inbox great multitudes were going along with Him. ” every pastor would love have. Plain, the talk of the gospel in evangelical circles who draw a sharp between. The enemies forces appear superior, but discipleship is costly return we gain all riches... Preach the message of the Jesus movement in later years is totally reasonable light! God ’ s been just over a month—but there have been lots of learnings it concerns king!

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