Discipleship 101 Part 3
The Path of Discipleship
Luke 14:25-27
Introduction: This morning we are continuing our study on discipleship. We are going to be studying in Gospel of Luke, chapter 14. We will actually be in
Luke 14 for the next two weeks as we talk about the path of discipleship and the price of discipleship.
I chose the imagery of a path because I see discipleship as a journey as well as a destination. You might say that we are on our way to becoming Jesus’
disciples. Unfortunately, many of those who accept Christ get sidetracked from His path, or simply stop moving forward. Sometimes it is because the path is
more challenging than we thought it would be. I found a great illustration about facing challenges in what can be an uncertain and difficult world. The
following were taken directly for Comment Cards at the Jim Bridger Wilderness Area in Wyoming:
1. In the future, please avoid building trails that go uphill.
2. Why not pave the trails? Chair lifts would also be helpful so we can enjoy the view without having to hike so far.
3. A small deer came into my camp and stole my jar of pickles. Is there a way I can get reimbursed?
4. Escalators would help on steep uphill sections.
5. A McDonald’s would be nice at the trailhead.
6. Could you spray the wilderness to get rid of bugs, leeches and spiders?
7. It’s a very nice wilderness, but there are too many rocks in the mountains.
As we have said in our first two studies on discipleship, genuine disciples of Jesus Christ have understood and acknowledged His Lordship over their lives.
You cannot be a dedicated disciple until you humble yourself to the Lordship of Christ.
So what is the path of discipleship? What road must we be willing to walk if we are going to prove ourselves to be genuine disciples of Jesus Christ? Today
we are going to see Jesus address a large crowd who were following Him but were not ready to be true disciples. Unfortunately, that still happens a lot
today. Many people follow Jesus to Church, but then they leave Him there and go on about their lives the rest of the week. That is not the example of true
discipleship.
Text: Luke 14:25-27
Principle # 1
Traveling With Jesus isn’t the Same as Trusting In Jesus
25 Now great crowds were traveling with Him.
Jesus didn’t have a problem gathering a crowd, but most of those who gathered weren’t true disciples. Like those who came to Him the day after He fed 5,000
plus. Jesus said to them that the only reason they were there was to get another free meal! Sometimes I worry that our churches are filled with free meal
Christians. People who have come to Jesus to get the free gift of salvation, but aren’t interested in the cost of being His disciple.
Having a crowd of people in church doesn’t mean they are all committed. Having 90% of American’s claim they believe in God doesn’t mean they even know what
that means. Numbers mean nothing unless they are genuine reflections of a person’s commitment to Jesus Christ. So what is the acceptable percentage? Do you
feel that being 50% committed to Jesus is ok? How about 60% or maybe 40%? Maybe you are really committed, maybe 85%, is that sufficient?
I think you understand the point. That is the way the crowd looks at things, "what do I have to do?" We live in a world that seems to RISE to the MINIMUM
standard. We need to get out the crowd into a life of dedicated discipleship. The question is, when are we going to move from the crowd to being a committed
disciple?
Luciano Pavarotti is possibly one of the most famous singers of all time. He passed away a year ago, and on his webpage on the internet is his picture and
this quote: "I think a life in music is a life beautifully spent and this is what I have devoted my life to." I also came across an interview with the famous
tenor that told of his early years:
When I was a boy, my father, a baker, introduced me to the wonders of song. He urged me to work very hard to develop my voice. Arrigo Pola, a professional
tenor in my hometown of Modena, Italy, took me as a pupil. I also enrolled in a teachers college. On graduating, I asked my father, "Shall I be a teacher or
a singer?"
"Luciano," my father replied, "if you try to sit on two chairs, you will fall between them. For life, you must choose one chair." I chose one. It took seven
years of study and frustration before I made my first professional appearance. It took another seven to reach the Metropolitan Opera. And now I think whether
it’s laying bricks, writing a book, whatever we choose, we should give ourselves to it. Commitment, that’s the key. Choose one chair.
Application: Step Out of the Crowd
Principle # 2
Trusting In Jesus Requires Making Him Number One
26 If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My
disciple.
It is helpful to hear a parallel passage in Matthew’s Gospel which we made reference to last week:
Matthew 10:37
37The person who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; the person who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38And
whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.Â
When Jesus says that true disciples, disciples who have put their trust in Him will hate their families He is using that as an extreme illustration of how
much greater our love for Him must be. Let me give you an illustration. Think about the story of God calling for Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. What was
Abraham’s response? He obeyed! What was it that enabled Abraham to walk with Isaac to Moriah? What was it that enabled Abraham to lay his son out on an
altar? What was it that enabled Abraham to raise his knife ready to kill his own son? Was it his love for Isaac, or his love for God?
That is exactly what Jesus is talking about here! If you are going to be My disciple your love for Me must make your love for others look like hate. When
Abraham and Isaac came down from the mountain do you think there was any question in Isaac’s mind about his father’s love for the Lord? Do you think that
made an impact on him? Some four hundred years later when God called Moses to go and lead His people out of Egypt, the Lord revealed Himself this way:
I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob.
Yes, I definitely think Isaac understood, and because he did, he too embraced the Lord with his life. I know you have already heard it several times from me,
but you need to hear it again: We live never love others like we could until we love Jesus like we should! Jesus isn’t advocating less love for our families,
He is demanding greater love towards Himself! He alone has that right! He is worthy of our complete trust and devotion; He is to be number one in our lives.
Application: Step Up Your Commitment to Christ
Principle # 3
Making Jesus Number One Requires Taking On His Mission
27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
The cross was an instrument of death. People didn’t recover from crucifixion; there was only one way down from a cross: death. That is why Jesus used it as a
symbol of what it means to be a dedicated disciple. The path of genuine discipleship must go through the cross. Not only must is begin at the cross of Jesus
where our salvation was bought and paid for, but we too must carry our own cross.
What is our cross? Well, let me tell you first what it is not. Our cross is not some temporary difficulties or inconvenience, or pain in this life. I have
heard people talk about the problems of life and say, "Well, I guess that just my cross to bear." No, it’s not! Bearing our cross isn’t about our problems,
though it is certainly bound to bring some. Bearing our cross is about identifying with and willingly choosing to accept Christ’s mission as our own.
Why did Jesus die? So bring salvation? Why does He ask us to die to ourselves? So that we can continue His mission. As long as we are living for ourselves we
will be limited on what Jesus can do in us and through us. It is only when we are willing to take up our cross, die to self, that He can truly show us our
life’s mission. Many people never discover God’s plan for their life because they are never willing to bear their cross. The fact is, there are things that
you can never know until you finally surrendered your life completely and fully to Jesus Christ.
The late Tom Landry, former coach of the Dallas Cowboys and member of the NFL Hall of Fame said this about his mission in life:
"The thrill of knowing Jesus is the greatest thing that ever happened to me--I think God has put me in a very special place, and He expects me to use it to
His glory in everything I do...whether coaching football or talking to the press, I’m always a Christian, Christ is first, family second and football third."
Are you bringing Jesus glory in EVERYTHING you do? If not, why not? Have you fully surrendered your life to Jesus Christ? Have you taken up your cross so
that you can follow Him?
Application: Step Forward and Carry Your Cross What do you need to die to today?
