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The Cost of Discipleship

Luke 14:25-34 New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

The cost of being a disciple

25 Large crowds were travelling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 ‘If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters – yes, even their own life – such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

28 ‘Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, “This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.”

31 ‘Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

This parable Jesus gives to the crowds but it’s meant for the disciples you and me.

We are martyred on an installment plan.

Parable is three sections. The cost: The tower: The king surrenders to the stronger.

• The Cost

Primary Relationship must be with Jesus.

Everything we do is done through the eyes of this relationship

Jesus

Family  Job  School  Money Sports  Hobbies

But often we end up with a different pattern

Job

Family  Jesus  School  Money Sports  Hobbies

• The cost

Counting the Cost is hard because we don’t know what is coming.  Cost as Jesus says is everything.  Your life is mine. Separates the Disciples from the crowd.

• Surrender to the Stronger

We also need to acknowledge surrender to a stronger King. That’s discipleship.

Your life is mine.

We don’t put Jesus first, he is already first.

Disciples acknowledge that

God remembers every sacrifice we make: nothing is forgotten

• Matthew 19:28-29New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
• 28 Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife[a] or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.