Count the Cost
Luke 14:25-33
Sept 8, 2002
The following are actual responses from comment cards given to the staff members at Bridger Wilderness Area in 1996:
1. Trails need to be reconstructed. Please avoid building trails that go uphill.
2. Too many bugs and leeches and spiders and spider webs. Please spray the wilderness to rid the areas of these pests.
3. Please pave the trails…Chair lifts need to be in some places so that we can get to wonderful views without having to hike to them.
4. The coyotes made too much noise last night and kept me awake. Please eradicate these annoying animals.
5. A small deer came into my camp and stole my jar of pickles. Is there a way I can get reimbursed? Please call…
6. Escalators would help on steep uphill sections.
7. A MacDonald’s would be nice at the trailhead.
8. Too many rocks in the mountains.
These comments and complaints indicate that the people who made them do not really understand what it means to stay in a "wilderness area." They were looking for something convenient and comfortable, but not truly a wilderness experience.
1. In a similar way, many people today do not understand what it means to be a genuine Christian.
2. There are multitudes that often follow Jesus or claim to be a Christian but they do so on their terms and not his.
1. They do not truly comprehend the biblical definition of discipleship.
Because of this ignorance there are many who consider themselves to be followers of Jesus who are not, even though in many ways they do look like followers of Jesus.
1. They go to church, have a profession of faith, read their Bibles, pray, even give in the offering, but they
are not the real deal or at least are not living and thinking like the real deal.
2. Jesus confronts this problem in our text today.
3. He makes very, very clear what it means to be a Christian, and therefore there is no reason for anybody to be deceived.
Everybody wants to go to heaven but not many are willing to pay the price to get there.
There is a cost associated with being a Christian.
Gangaram Mahes is no ordinary criminal. Although he’s been arrested nearly three dozen times, you probably wouldn’t be frightened by his presence. He’s known in New York as the "Serial Eater." This emigrant from Guyana likes elegant dining but doesn’t have the budget to support his taste. So rather than deny his expensive taste, he simply treats himself to some of the finer restaurants. Mahes orders fine cuisine and top-shelf liquor. He then savors the meal until the check arrives. At that point he informs the waiter of his inability to pay the bill. The police then arrest him and Mahes ends up with at least a few days of regular meals in jail. His alibi is simple: "I like to live decent." Mr. Mahes’ "decent" lifestyle has cost New York taxpayers more than $250,000. You see, although this type of activity seems unorthodox, it is most prevalent in every church. Plenty of people savor the menu of ministries and activities the church offers but leave the tab for someone else to pay.
As Christians, we are all CALLED to be disciples of Christ
1. But many are like the people that Jesus was speaking to in Vs 25.
2. He specifically “turned to them” and elaborated on being a disciple.
3. Who were these people?
a. People who claimed to be followers of Christ
b. People who were positive in their attitudes but mistook their positive attitudes for real, true discipleship.
4. They were willing and even anxious to follow Jesus providing the cost was not to high or the demands too great.
a. They were like many people today who do “Christian things” like:
Go to Church, Pray, Sing Christian songs, give to the church
b. But they are not truly committed to Jesus.
c. In a sense, these people were along for the ride, like many today.
5. They were like so many who ride along so that they can count on Jesus to solve their money problems, relationship problems, health problems, and so forth.
a. But they get discouraged when following Jesus doesn’t solve all of their problems in life.
6. These followers were casual followers and not “committed followers”.
a. Which are you?
The life of a disciple is the life of full surrender to a cause that is greater than your own.
1. The life of a true disciple is a life of discipline to force our will to conform to the will of God and not to the image of the world.
2. A disciple is a true follower of Jesus Christ. (What we call a Christian)
a. If you are a Christian, you are a disciple.
b. If you are a disciple, you are a Christian, or a learner of the things of Jesus Christ.
3. These two words in the New Testament mean the same thing just like Julie is my “wife”and “spouse”. Same person.
In fact, the term “disciple” occurs 269 times in the New Testament, while the term “Christian” only occurs 3 times.
1. In the book of Acts, we are told that the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch. (Acts 11:26)
a. It’s important to understand that these terms are interchangeable.
b. Why? Because it clarifies the seriousness of what Jesus is saying in the next few verses.
READ VS 26-27
I. The first payment in the Cost of Discipleship is that we must Deny Ourselves.
1. That means we have to put our Commitment to God ahead of everything else in life.
a. In our hearts, Jesus must come before our loved ones, our self-interests, possessions, careers, hobbies, goals in life, houses, cars, material things, and even our very lives.
b. Our commitment will be tested as we live in this world, and sometimes, Jesus will not come first in our choices. After all, nobody is perfect.
c. But a true disciple will have made a serious commitment in their hearts and will not continue in sin
2. Vs 26, Jesus says that this commitment level applies to “anyone who comes to me”
a. This commitment applies to EVERYONE who will be a follower of Jesus.
Survey says that up to 50% of all church members are not true Christians. Of the 50%, only 10% are truly committed to Christ and to the church.
3. We need to be committed to the One who totally committed His life for you and me on Calvary.
a. Jesus needs to be first in the priorities of our life. Is this true in your life?
M. Luther – A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing, is worth nothing.
II. The second payment in the Cost of Discipleship is that we must be Committed above everything else.
1. Vs 27, everyone was familiar with what Jesus was referring to when He said you must bear your cross.
a. The cross was a cruel form of punishment used by the Romans
b. The criminals were forced to “carry his cross” to the place of execution.
c. Everyone knew that this person was saying goodbye to everything—no turning back! Committed.
2. Jesus uses this illustration to show us that following Him is saying “goodbye” to our old life because of our new commitment to Him.
3. Each of us have crosses to bear when we walk with the Lord.
a. We can’t bear the cross that Jesus bore because we are not good enough to provide salvation.
SO WHAT IS YOUR CROSS?
1. Maybe God is calling you to leave your families for days during the week so that you can work a job to reach people in the workplace for Christ.
2. Maybe for some, it’s being trapped in a house with screaming kids where God isn’t given much thought.
3. Maybe it is that you are so busy and don’t get much rest. Your schedule is always double full because God has given you responsibilities because you can handle what others can’t.
4. Whatever cross you bear, remember that God will never give you a greater cross to carry than you will be able to handle as long as you are in His will.
5. But for some people, I believe they try to carry the cross all by themselves. You can’t do it and still have victory in your life.
We should be committed to Jesus and live a live that will Glorify Him.
1. And if you are going to follow Jesus, there is no going back.
2. Jesus put it another way: READ Vs 28-33
3. We need to count the cost of serving Christ.
Matthew 6:24, Jesus said, "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.
I read an article this week by John Stott that says:
“The Christian landscape is strewn with the wreckage of derelict, half-built towers - the ruins of those who began to build and were unable to finish. For thousands of people still ignore Christ’s warning and undertake to follow Him without first pausing to reflect on the cost of doing so. The result is the great scandal of Christendom today, so-called ‘nominal Christianity’. In countries to which Christian civilization has spread, large numbers of people have covered themselves with a decent, but thin, veneer of Christianity. They have allowed themselves to become somewhat involved; enough to be respectable but not enough to be uncomfortable. Their religion is a great, soft cushion. It protects them from the hard unpleasantness of life, while changing its place and shape to suit their conveniences. No wonder the cynics speak of hypocrites in the church and dismiss religion as escapism.”
4. When we commit our lives to Christ, He says to commit it ALL.
5. Vs 33 – Everything means EVERYTHING.
Conclusion: Leadership magazine once ran a cartoon that showed a church building with a billboard in front that said: “The LITE CHURCH: 24% fewer commitments, home of the 7.5% tithe, 15 minute sermons, 45 minute worship service; we have only 8 commandments—your choice. We use just 3 spiritual laws and have an 800 year millennium. Everything you’ve wanted in a church … and less!”
1. This cartoon may present what people are looking for in a church but to follow Jesus one must be totally committed.
2. I want you to understand what a Christian is as Jesus defined it.
a. The question we need ask ourselves is not "Am I able to follow Jesus completely?" But rather "Am I willing to follow Jesus completely?"
3. We are all human and sometimes we will fail in our commitment but the thing Jesus is confronting here is not our ability but our willingness to follow him with our whole hearts.
4. For those of you who are not Christians you need to understand what following Jesus really means before you make that commitment.
5. For the majority of you in here who are already Christians let this lesson be a reminder of what being a Christian and a disciple truly is.
Jesus’ words are very strong, aren’t they?
1. Here is what it will cost you to truly follow Jesus: In Short --- Everything!!
2. He calls for us to commit ourselves to Him completely, and hold nothing back.
3. That is the picture of an authentic Christian.
Jesus has said to us: Count the Cost, leave the things of this world behind, and don’t look back.
1. You might say, “The cost of following Him is just too great.”
2. Let me ask you a question “What would be the cost of NOT Following Him?”
