The Challenge Of Obedience Series

This series is based upon a series by Nelson Searcy and the Journy church. This sermon however, is my own.

The Challenge of Obedience

Obediently following Christ is costly

Obediently following Christ is to be prioritized

Obediently following Christ is to be continual

Slide

Good morning.

There was a poll taken recently that asked the question “Whom do you admire enough to call a hero”

Number one in the poll was our new President, Barak Obama.

Number 2 on the list was Jesus Christ.

Now some may think that is pretty good, number 2.

Others may think number 2, Christ should be number 1.

Yes, he should be number one, but I think this poll is actually a good indicator of where the loyalties of the people of America are.

But I am not so interested this morning in the loyalties of America.

I am more interested in the loyalties of those who call themselves followers of Christ.

Where are our loyalties?

What if a poll was taken in the church?

What if you were asked the question, who is the number one person you would follow?

Would Jesus be number 1 on your list, or would you have other people or things overtaking him at times?

Before answering I want you to think about that because this morning we are going to face the Challenge of Obedience

Slide

And about what it means to be an obedient follower of Jesus.

I am sure there are some who think they know exactly what it means but I want you to really think about it because I think many times we don’t really consider the ramifications before we decide to follow Christ.

So, turn with me this morning to Luke 9:57-62 (p. 734)

Slide

We are going to look at some people who indicated that they wanted to be followers of Jesus but they didn’t really have Jesus as number one on their list.

Let’s take a look at them and Jesus’ responses to them this morning.

We are told in verse 9:51 that the time for “him to be taken up to heaven” was approaching so Jesus and the Disciples were beginning to head toward Jerusalem.

Luke 9:57-62

57 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."

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."

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."

Pray

Wow. In reading these verses, it seems that Jesus is pretty harsh with some of these guys.

But I think as we look at and consider these responses and as we realize the reality of who Jesus is and His nature and character, then we begin to understand these responses a bit better and some of the ramifications of obediently following Christ.

As we begin, I think the example of this first response teaches us that

Obediently following Christ is Costly

Slide

Luke 9:57-58

57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."

This man says he is willing to follow Jesus wherever He goes.

This is an easy statement to make without really thinking things through.

So often we want to follow Christ as long as the road is easy and doesn’t cost too much or require too much of me.

But Jesus says to the man, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

What he is saying is “do you really understand what you are saying?”

You say you are willing to follow but do you realize that following me means

You won’t be eating at the finest restaurants

You won’t be staying at the finest hotels

Why, even the Son of Man has no place to call His own on this earth.

You need to realize that obediently following me is going to be challenging and costly.

You need to really think about that before saying you are willing to follow me.

This is hard isn’t it?

Everyone of us would like the easy road.

But I want to tell you that Christianity is not the easy road.

I believe it to be the far better road to take, but it is certainly not the easy road.