Costs, Commitments And Crosses

Scripture: Luke 9:57-62

Title: Costs, Commitment and Crosses

What does it mean to follow Jesus?

This sermon looks at the cost (total trust), the commitment (total loyalty) and “the cross” (an ALL IN LIFESTYLE) of following Jesus.

INTRO:

Grace and peace this morning from God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Some years ago, the story goes a certain country farmer decided that it was time for him to buy a new truck. In the local paper he had noticed that there was this truck on sale. Not only was it on sale but from what he could read it also came with some added factory rebates. With all that potential savings the farmer decided it was time for him to retire his worn-out old clunker.

The next morning bright and early he went to the car lot. He looked around and found the exact truck he wanted. It was the right color; the right size and he thought the right price. He sat down with the salesman and started writing out his check.

The salesman asked him what he was doing. He replied – “Well, that is the truck I want and the paper had the price so I’m writing you a check.”

“Hold on a minute, partner. I haven’t told you the final price yet.”

“Final price? Oh, I know the final price, it was in the paper.”

“Well, yes, we did advertise in the paper, but you see that was just the basic model. Your truck has several added options on it. Here is the real price. Now, you can write the check.”

The young farmer wasn’t thrilled at all. The price the salesman gave him was thousands more than what the paper had advertised. He felt like he had been lied to and cheated.

About six months later he got a call from his salesman. It seemed he (the salesman) was looking for a nice milk cow for his son’s local 4-H project. The farmer assured the man that he had several nice young cows for sale for $ 500.00 apiece.

The salesman drove over to the man’s farm and sure enough the man had quite several really good-looking young cows. He picked out the one that he thought his boy could not only raise but could win the 4-H prize. He got his check book out and started to write the farmer a check for $500.00

“Wow wait there a minute, partner”, the farmer told him. “I haven’t told you the price yet.”

“Oh, yes, you have. Remember we talked on the phone and you said that you had a number of young cows for sale for $ 500.00.”

“Oh, yes, I did. But that was the basic model of a milk cow. The cow you picked out has several add on options. He then handed the man a piece of paper explaining the added options and the cost of the cow.

Basic Cow - $ 500.00

Two – tone exterior - $ 45.00

Extra Stomach - $ 75.00

Product storing equipment – 75.00

Straw compartment - 120.00

Four spigots @ 10.00 apiece – 40.00

Leather upholstery – 125.00

Dual horns – 45.00

Automatic fly swatter – 38.00

Fertilizer attachment – 185.00

Extended warranty – 200.00

Total cost for this model milk cow - $ 1448.00

Whether you are buying a milk cow or a car or really anything else it is always good to know the total cost.

And that is what our passage is about this morning. When it comes to being a disciple of Jesus our LORD wants us to understand the COST, THE COMMITMENT AND THE CROSS involved. Jesus wanted everyone around him that was wondering if they could follow him to know up front what it meant to follow him. What it would mean to become one of his disciples.

You see this morning, Discipleship is not a casual affair to Jesus.

Let me say that again – Discipleship is not a casual affair to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is not a casual affair to God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Discipleship is not a casual affair.

In our passage we find several individuals who said that they wanted to begin following Jesus. Two of those people volunteered while the third one was asked by Jesus to follow Him.

Luke tells us that all of this happened towards the end of Jesus’ ministry. It was at a time when everyone who was anyone wanted to be a part of the “Jesus band”. Jesus’ name was synonymous with healing, excitement, freedom and salvation. Jesus was the talk of the whole country. Everyone wanted to come out and hear Him speak and see what exciting things were going to happen. Many people thought that Jesus was going to soon raise and army and cast out the Romans and set up a New Israelite Kingdom that would one day rule the world.