Follow Me – Part 4: What is the cost of discipleship?

Follow Me: Becoming a Disciple of Jesus

Part 4 – What is the cost of discipleship?

When you commit to follow Jesus, you must .

Jesus knew His early followers desired the benefits of what He rather than an understanding of who He . – John Kessler

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… 33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. Luke 14:26-27; 33

Expectations for Disciples

• Jesus expects complete .
• Jesus expects a .

23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23

5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow… 16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Mark 4:5; 16-17

• Jesus expects a to Him above everything else.

33 … those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. Luke 14:33.

24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Matthew 6:24.

Two Clear Costs of Discipleship

1. To follow Jesus, I must be willing to to Him.

3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.

6 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me…. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

Mark 14:3-7; 9

2. To follow Jesus, I must be willing to that hinders my commitment to Him.

19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

True discipleship will involve … Sacrifice requires

57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Luke 9:57-58

62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62

…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. Hebrews 12:1-2