Counting the Cost of Following Jesus II
Oct. 9, 2005, Luke 9: 57-63
These are my actual notes and sermon handouts and they probably mean more to me than they do to you. If you don’t understand something in my notes – feel free to e-mail me for clarification (stevenmary7@hotmail.com). Here’s some deciphering hints: I use hyphens (-) to separate key elements in a thought progression. I use quotation marks when I’m illustrating what some one in the congregation might be thinking or asking at that particular point in the message or to illustrate different character voices in an illustration. Bullets are springboards for thought progressions associated with main points in a thought.
INTRO: Talking about following Jesus – it’s important to understand…
Have you been thinking about the cost this past week? – have you been considering whether or not you will to be a true follower of Jesus? If so – that is a good thing – what I was hoping for – what Jesus wants as well.
You are realizing that to follow Jesus is a serious thing – though the cost is not the same for everyone it still costs everyone – everything they are/have
Why would we even want to follow? – we are searching - fulfillment
The cost has been greatly understated by pop-Christianity!
Following Jesus has become so Americanized – won’t bring fulfillment!
Foxes book of martyrs – “good confession”
Disciples – stoned – imprisoned found fulfillment beyond life!
This morning continuing on the theme of following Jesus. Look at 3 would be followers and how Jesus clarified the cost to them…
Represent cross section of many who want to follow or are asked…
• Things we all must be confronted with at some point in our walk –
• Things that should be considered sooner rather than later.
• Will you give your all for the One who gave His all?
• Will you lay down your life for the One who laid His life down for you?
• Will you count all earthly gain as loss to reach toward the heavenly reward?
• Jesus brings those things into stark contrast for us this morning.
On the run up… background – be important later…
LUKE 9:51When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. 53But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" 55But he turned and rebuked them.[f] 56And they went on to another village.
• Jesus set his face steadfastly – man on a mission – followers – still on a mission – you and I follow.
1. Following Jesus Supersedes Earthly Security
57As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."
“I want to follow – I have no idea what that means – but I know that I feel exhilarated around you” – a good exhilaration
ILLUS: Young man at Power Team – raised hand – excited – inspired – but no lasting substance.
Why? – because associated belief in Christ with Madison avenue hype and excitement – if I give my life to Jesus I’ll be cool and muscular like those guys – this was one of the guys who were following Him around all over the place – watching the miracles – listening to the anointed wisdom just rolling off His tongue – man it was exhilarating being around Jesus. I could do this forever – they were like groupies – as long as popularity and excitement was happening – being fed – I’m all for that! – sign me up!
Then Jesus had to go and wreck it… You’re going to follow me? – where?
LK 9: 58And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."
I have nothing to offer you in the way of earthly security – animals have more than me of this worlds goods.
Are you looking for a home? A place of security and comfort?
• The animals have those more than I do.
• This isn’t a picnic! – not all excitement and exhilaration!
• Jesus is not your “homeboy”
Smacks right in the face of this prosperity gospel stuff.
• Jesus is saying - What your seeing is not the true picture!
• Do not pity Jesus – pity yourself if can’t follow because of earthly possessions.
• Earthly security take second place to following Jesus.
2. Following Jesus Supersedes Earthly Relations
LK 9: 59To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."
• Sounds reasonable -
LK 9: 60And Jesus said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God."
Seems heartless…
He wasn’t asking to attend the funeral – father likely still alive
• He wanted to postpone the call of God.
• When Christ calls it must be Him first
• Following Jesus take precedence over the highest earthly relationship!
If you follow me – your father is alive not dead – no need to worry about that. “Let the dead bury the dead!”
3. Following Jesus Supersedes Earthly Distractions.
61Yet another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home."
At first glimpse – seems a reasonable request
• Again it’s a problem of priorities – His first commitment to family.
• In ancient times – good-bys were parties lasting days or weeks
• One for family one for friends
I’ll follow you Jesus – just let me get some loose ends tied up first.
His focus was on what he was loosing than what he was gaining.
62Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."
• Nothing should hinder even for a moment – clear and decisive!
• It’s impossible to plow straight by looking back.
RULES OF FOLLOWING CHRIST.
A. Detachment from all that hinders progress.
B. When the highest earthly love comes into conflict with my following
Him let the dead bury the dead.
C. When the hand is once placed on the plow don’t look back!
4. We Follow According to His Example.
Jesus himself had done all these things
• “No place to lay His head…”
• He didn’t allow his family relationships dictate his direction!
Jesus models when says “who is my mother?...
MT. 12:48; MK. 3:33…
LK 8:21 He replied, "My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice."
We are told in scripture to follow His example in all things…
1 JN 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 3And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him: 6whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
• Tall order? – Yes – but by His grace He empowers us.
No earthly security – “no place head…”
No earthly relationships
No earthly distractions
Luke 9:51 “He resolutely set His face toward Jerusalem…” 9:62 …No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."
The kind of following Jesus is looking for is the kind of resolute following where you set your face steadfastly toward heaven.
PHP 3:12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
PHP 3:15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
• All Jesus is asking – live up to what you have attained. – pray!
Counting the Cost of Following Jesus II
October 9, 2005 Luke 9:57-62
1. Following Jesus Supersedes Earthly ________________.
Luke 9:57-58
2. Following Jesus Supersedes Earthly ________________.
Luke 9:59-60
3. Following Jesus Supersedes Earthly ________________.
Luke 9:61-62
4. We Follow According to His _______________________.
Luke 9:51,62; 1 John 2:1-6
