What it Costs to be a Christian: Luke 14:25-35

Luke 14:25-35

²⁵ Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: ²⁶ “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. ²⁷ And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

²⁸ “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? ²⁹ For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, ³⁰ saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

³¹ “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? ³² If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. ³³ In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

³⁴ “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? ³⁵ It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out.

“Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

1.      Discipleship is costly.

a.       The decision to follow Christ is to be made thoughtfully.

b.      In the context of Christian discipleship, there is no middle ground.

c.       To be a Christian actually is far more than wearing a label. It means living a life.

2.      Things to consider:

a.       Can you hate your family and yourself?

b.      Are you willing to carry your cross and follow God?

c.       If you were planning to build something, would you not figure out if you had enough resources?

d.      If you were a king considering war with another king, would you not estimate if you might win or lose? If the answer is that you would lose more than you would gain, would you not look for an alternative to going to war?

e.       What happens if salt loses its saltiness?

                                                              i.      Salt is essential for life.

                                                            ii.      Salt is a preservative.

                                                          iii.      Matthew 5:13 Jesus also refers to salt not being salty. “You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt loses its savour, with what shall it be salted?  It is no longer good for anything, but to be thrown out and to be trodden underfoot by men.”

                                                          iv.      In eastern countries the salt may be impure and that impure salt could have so many impurities that it would, after a time, lose its saltiness and as a result was only good to be thrown out or used as gravel.

f.       How is a Christian the “salt of the earth”? What does that mean?

3.      What is commitment?

Commitment

a.       Making a commitment involves dedicating yourself to something, like a person or a cause. Before you make a commitment, think carefully. A commitment obligates you to do something. https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/commitment

4.      What should commitment mean to us as Christians?

5.      What is the difference between commitment and discipleship? Is there a difference?

a.       Disciple: one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another.

6.      Should we know what we are “getting into” when we accept Christ as Savior?

7.      What does it mean to be a disciple and how are salvation and discipleship tied together?

8.      What does Luke 14:27 mean to us? In Jesus’ time, it would have been clear, since criminals were required to carry their own cross to their crucifixion.

9.      Does Jesus really mean we should hate our families? I thought His was a gospel of love.

a.       It seems that Jesus is using hyperbole in this section.

                                                              i.      Hyperbole: exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be literal.

                                                            ii.      Using hyperbole is a means to emphasize or draw attention to a point.

b.      So, what is Jesus really saying?

10.  Why would we wish to be a disciple?

11.  How might we improve our discipleship?

12.  What might be the language of disciples?

a.       Is there a language of Christian disciples?

b.      Is it difficult to learn? Do you speak it?

c.       Twila Paris would say that the language of disciples is love.

                                                              i.      Twila Paris Language Of Disciples Lyrics

Conversation day and night
Talking to each other
Filling every room with light
Talking to each other
Holding up the weary one
Speaking with a gracious tongue
Idle chatter left undone
Talking to each other

Language of disciples
Tell me, can you speak it?
Do you understand the language of the Spirit?
Don't betray an accent foreign to the kingdom
Dialect of Heaven
Language of disciples
Language of disciples

Many precious hours spent
Talking to each other
Keeping wisdom evident
Talking to each other
Purposing to say the best
Letting accusation rest
Edifying lips are blessed
Talking to each other

Language of disciples
Tell me, can you speak it?
Do you understand the language of the Spirit?
Don't betray an accent foreign to the kingdom
Dialect of Heaven
Language of disciples
Language of disciples

You can learn it from the Master
Make an honest choice
You can learn it even faster
Listen to His voice

La la la la la la la la
Listen to His voice
La la la la la la la la
Listen to His voice
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
Listen to His voice
Listen to His voice

Language of disciples
Tell me, can you speak it?
Do you understand the language of the Spirit?
Don't betray an accent foreign to the kingdom
Dialect of Heaven
Language of disciples
Don't betray an accent foreign to the kingdom
Dialect of Heaven
Language of disciples