THE COST OF BEING A DISCIPLE

Passage: Luke 14:25-35

Key verse: 27

NIV

The Cost of Being a Disciple

25 Large crowds were traveling 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.(A) 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.(B)

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.(C)

34 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?(D) 35 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out.(E)

“Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”(F)

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ESV

The Cost of Discipleship

25 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26 (A)“If anyone comes to me and (B)does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, (C)yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 (D)Whoever does not (E)bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not (F)first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not (G)sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 (H)So therefore, any one of you who (I)does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

Salt Without Taste Is Worthless

34 (J)“Salt is good, (K)but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? 35 It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. (L)He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. To be Jesus' disciple (25-27)

Jesus did not seek popularity with the large crowds. He wanted committed disciples, so he said some challenging words. No one can be Jesus' disciple unless he puts Jesus first. Jesus must have priority over even the closest of human ties--even over one's very life. Jesus calls us to live a life of mission. Each of us must take up his cross and follow Jesus. We cannot just tag along behind with no decision of faith and no commitment.

2. Count the cost (28-35)

If one wants to go to medical school he must count the cost--the money, the effort and the time involved. Being Jesus' disciple also requires commitment and sacrifice. But it's worth it. The uncommitted life is not worth living--it is like tasteless salt. One should not try to follow Jesus without making a decision to give up everything he has for Jesus' sake and the gospel's.

Prayer: Lord, so many people think that an uncommitted life is a life of freedom. But your word teaches us that a life uncommitted to Jesus is slavery. Help me to challenge the relativism of the times and be your disciple.

One Word: Following Jesus is worth any cost