Sermons on Count The Cost:

Are You Just A Fan Or A Follower?

Contributed by George Durham on Jul 8, 2014

Are you just a fan of Jesus, as a good teacher? Or are you a committed disciple of Christ.

Are you Just a Fan or a Follower? Matt.4:18-22 Most common answer when I ask people, “How do you know you are a Christian? “Because I believe in Jesus!” • Hindu’s believe in Jesus + 330 million other gods! • Muslims believe Jesus was a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:18-22

Denomination: United Methodist

Two Acceptable Temptations Jesus Rejects Series

Contributed by David Taylor on Feb 20, 2014

Being an Authentic Follower of Jesus: Two Acceptable Temptations Jesus Rejects

Being an Authentic Follower of Jesus: Two Acceptable Temptations Jesus Rejects Luke 14:25-35 In this passage Jesus warns us about two temptations that are often accepted and endorsed by the church today. They are valuing the family more than God and valuing happiness more than God. 1. First ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:7-35

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In The Potter's Hands

Contributed by Rev Ken Shedenhelm on Jul 27, 2013

Being in God's hands is, or course, a place of comfort and safety, but it's also a place in which we find ourselves to be acountable for our faithfulness. Also, since God's Hands are the Potter's Hands, being in His hands is a place of utter surrender.

Precious Lord, take my hand, Lead me on, help me stand... He's got little bitty baby in his hands; he's got you and me, brother, in his hands; He's got the whole world in His hands... Why should I feel discouraged; why should the shadows come; His eye is on the sparrow and I know He cares for ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 18:1-6

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Cost Of True Discipleship. Is It Worth It? Do We Want It?

Contributed by Gordon Mcculloch on Dec 4, 2016

We all know the cost of discipleship is high, but what is discipleship, and more importantly, do we, as a Christians have a choice but to be disciples? True discipleship is to embrace it, to enjoy it, and live for it because we want to.

This sermon was delivered to St Oswald’s, Maybole, Ayrshire, Scotland on the 5th September 2010; St Oswald’s is a Scottish Episcopal Church in the Dioceses of Glasgow and Dumfries. The readings for today are: Jeremiah 18:1-11 Psalm 139:1-5, 12-17 Philemon 1-21 Luke ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-33

Denomination: Episcopal

On The Road With Jesus: The Rich Young Ruler Series

Contributed by Jamie Bogaard on Apr 15, 2019

The Rich young ruler was a good guy looking for the finishing touches on his life to secure eternal life. When he couldn't find this on his own he turns to Jesus for an answer.

On the Road with Jesus: The Rich Young Ruler Luke 18:18-27 March 24, 2019 As we get closer to Easter, Jesus begins to get a little closer to Jerusalem. Because it wasn’t yet his time, Jesus had stayed away from Jerusalem. The more Jesus taught and healed the more attention he garnered. Many ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:16-30, Mark 10:17-31, Luke 18:18-29

Denomination: Friends

Are We Willing To Pay A Price?

Contributed by Dr. Madana Kumar, Phd on Feb 26, 2018

Today's digital economy encourages a "freebie" culture. Does that mindset infect us so much that we are unwilling to pay a price for the Grace that we have received?

The season of festivals has begun , isn’t it? It is the month of Aadi for the Tamilians, soon to be followed by the Onam month for the Mallus, Dasara for Kannadigas, Divali for mostly everyone, Pujas for the Bengalis, culminating in the commercial Christmas and new year for everyone. What is the ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:1-3, 2 Samuel 24:18-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Price Of Faith Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Apr 20, 2014

There is a price to be paid for the gift of faith, at least inconvenience.

Thursday of Easter Week 2014 Lumen Fidei Today from the Acts of the Apostles we hear a snippet of the earliest kerygma of the apostles. It’s pretty stout. Peter is preaching to people who have just seen him heal–by the power of Jesus the Messiah–a man who could not walk. And ...read more

Scripture: Acts 3:11-26

Denomination: Catholic

We Must Pay The Price Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 4, 2019

we must discern as families how to respond to the attacks of secular culture, and use our assets, out time, talent and treasure, to restore beauty to our worship, teach religious and moral truths to our communities, and do everything we can to show goodness to the world–to become saints.

Epiphany 2018 The Cost of Discipleship When we compare the stories we have been reading in St. Luke’s Gospel with the reading today from St. Matthew, we are tempted to wonder if this is a story about two different families. On Christmas day we see Mary and Joseph being turned away from every inn ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:2-6, Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Catholic

Innocent Blood

Contributed by Dr. Jerry N. Watts on Jun 16, 2014

Jesus died when He wasn't guilty - for us when we were guilty. The price of freedom, both civil and spiritual, is innocent blood

Innocent Blood Mark 15:15-41 • As we have worked our way through the gospel of Mark, we have learned many things. It has been more than a little interesting how we have “stumbled” on to the perfect text for the perfect day. It is no accident that we are where we are today! ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:15-41

Denomination: Baptist

Walk Faithfully In The Lord

Contributed by William Baeta on Jun 28, 2013

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other” Gal. 5:16-17.

Walk faithfully in the Lord Text: 2 Kings 2:6-14; Gal. 5:13-25; Luke 9:51-62 Man is a spirit, he possesses a soul and he lives in a body. The body can be likened to the clothes we wear. You get into them that is put them on and they move with you. You get out of them, that is take them off and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:51-62

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Man’s Way Or God’s Way

Contributed by Chris Beam on Apr 26, 2015

Jesus challenges his disciples, the crowd and us to surrender ourselves to what God has planned for us, rather than holding on to worldly things for our own comfort.

Series: The Book of Mark Man’s Way or God’s Way Text: Mark 8:31-9:1 What does it mean to be a Christian? Some people think that just because members of their family are Christians, then that automatically makes them Christians. Others think that just because they were baptized then ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

What Are You Willing To Surrender?

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Jul 6, 2021

There is a cost to becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ. Each person has to determine what he/she is willing to give. Jesus gave His life. In turn what will you surrender?

What are you willing to surrender? Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz Mark 8:34-38 34 And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. 35 "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:34-38

Denomination: United Methodist

Adventures In Missing The Point Series

Contributed by Joel Gilbert on Jul 7, 2025

As Jesus makes a turn toward Jerusalem, we learn that the disciples still have so much to learn - but so do we.

In his book Mere Christianity, CS Lewis uses an illustration to note how different it is to learn something than it is to apply that thing. His illustration centered on the difference between a map and being out on the water. In two dimensions, a map can look quite straight forward. You can see ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23-62

Denomination: Baptist

Come Follow Me

Contributed by Rodney Rapp on Jul 20, 2025

Jesus is always reaching ou to us to come and follow Him!

Come Follow Me Intro: Francis Chan You find that the things you let go of while following Jesus were the things that were going to destroy you in the end. Matthew 4:18-20 18And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:18-20, Hosea 6:3, Luke 14:27, John 8:12, John 10:27, John 12:26, 1 Peter 2:21, Luke 22:54-55  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other

The Question We Should Ask Every Day

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 27, 2022

The question is the one St. Paul asked. Did my actions today proclaim the presence of Christ, and His desire that all men be saved? Or did it not?

Saturday of the 30th Week in Course 2022 “To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” St. Paul had a blinding revelation on the road to Damascus, an encounter with the risen Lord Jesus that turned his life completely topsy-turvy and started him on a perilous road that would take him all over ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:18-26, Psalm 42:2-5, Luke 14:1-11

Denomination: Catholic