Introduction

Good morning, friends. It's a joy to gather with you all today, in this sacred space where we come together, not as strangers, but as a family united in Christ. We gather, not as individuals, but as a collective body of believers, each of us an essential part of this beautiful tapestry of faith. Today, we come to the Word, to the wellspring of wisdom and truth, to find sustenance for our souls and guidance for our lives.

We turn today to the Gospel of Luke, the 14th chapter, verses 25-33. Allow me to read it for you: "Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: '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. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.' '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? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ '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? 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. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.'"

Sacrifices in Serving

The idea of sacrifice often conjures up images of loss, of giving up things we hold dear. But let's look at it from a different perspective. When we talk about sacrifice in the context of our faith, we're not just talking about giving up something for the sake of giving up. We're talking about giving up something for the sake of something greater. We're talking about letting go of our own desires, our own plans, our own comfort, in order to align ourselves with God's desires, God's plans, God's purposes.

This is what Jesus was getting at! He said, "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." Now, Jesus wasn't advocating for literal hatred towards our family members. What He was saying is that our love for Him, our commitment to Him, should be so great that all other loves, all other commitments, pale in comparison.

This brings us to the first aspect of sacrifice in serving: prioritizing our relationship with Jesus above all else. This doesn't mean we neglect our responsibilities or abandon our loved ones. What it means is that our relationship with Jesus takes precedence over everything else. It influences our decisions, our actions, our attitudes. It shapes our priorities, our values, our goals. It's the lens through which we view and navigate the world.

Another aspect is embracing the cost of discipleship. Jesus made it clear that following Him comes with a cost. He said, "And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." The cross is a symbol of suffering, of sacrifice. To carry our cross means to willingly accept the hardships, the challenges, and the trials that come with following Jesus. It means to persevere in faith, even when the going gets tough, even when we don't understand, even when we feel like giving up.

Stewardship in Service

Moving on, we see that the call to discipleship is not just about sacrifice, but also about stewardship ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO