Have You Counted the Cost?Luke 14:25-33

2

Jesus was not a crowd-pleaser (Lk. 14:25-27)•His teaching did not change in order His teaching did not change in order

to hold on to followers, to hold on to followers, John 6:60-62, John 6:60-62, 6666

•Demanded that people count the cost Demanded that people count the cost and pay the price without excusesand pay the price without excuses– Excuses not accepted,Excuses not accepted, Luke 14:15-20, 24Luke 14:15-20, 24– Forsake all to be a disciple,Forsake all to be a disciple, Luke 14:33Luke 14:33

3

Counting the Cost of Discipleship (Lk. 14:28-32)•COST: Prefer Christ above all, COST: Prefer Christ above all,

14:26-27 (16:13)14:26-27 (16:13)•HateHate (not sinful hatred) (not sinful hatred)

– Love Jesus more,Love Jesus more, Matt. 10:37 (Gen. Matt. 10:37 (Gen. 29:30f)29:30f)

– ““If” – Not with divided heartIf” – Not with divided heart (Jno. (Jno. 12:42-43)12:42-43)

4

Counting the Cost of Discipleship (Lk. 14:28-32)•Two points of reference:Two points of reference:

– Relationships (family, brethren, life), Relationships (family, brethren, life), 14:2614:26

– Responsibilities (bear your cross),Responsibilities (bear your cross), 14:27 (Gal. 6:5)14:27 (Gal. 6:5)

•PRICE TO PAY: Self-denial, sacrifice PRICE TO PAY: Self-denial, sacrifice and service, and service, 14:33; 9:2314:33; 9:23

5

Counting the Cost of Discipleship (Lk. 14:28-32)•Jesus set this example, Jesus set this example, Matt. 26:38-Matt. 26:38-

4444– Sacrifice,Sacrifice, 26:39 26:39– Submission,Submission, 26:42 26:42– Steadfastness,Steadfastness, 26:44 26:44

•Lifelong commitment,Lifelong commitment, Heb. 3:6, 14; Heb. 3:6, 14; 10:36-3910:36-39

6

Have You Counted the Cost of becoming a Christian?•How to be savedHow to be saved (Mk. 16:15-16; (Mk. 16:15-16;

Acts 2: 38-41; 17:30)Acts 2: 38-41; 17:30)•Renounce past sins,Renounce past sins, Acts 19:18-Acts 19:18-

2020•Humility before God and men,Humility before God and men,

Jas. 4:10Jas. 4:10

Acts 26:28Acts 26:28

7

Have You Counted the Cost of becoming a Christian?•Objections include:Objections include:

– ““I’ll condemn my parents” I’ll condemn my parents” (Lk. (Lk. 16:27-30)16:27-30)

– ““I’ll lose friends, business” I’ll lose friends, business” (Acts (Acts 19:24-27)19:24-27)

•Different way of life, Different way of life, Rom. 12:1-2; Rom. 12:1-2; Phil. 3:7-11 (1 Jno. 2:15) Phil. 3:7-11 (1 Jno. 2:15)

•You can pay the price!You can pay the price! (1 Pet. 5:9) (1 Pet. 5:9)

Acts 26:28Acts 26:28

8

Have You Counted the Cost of being Married?• Its permanency, Its permanency, Matt. 19:6; Rom. 7:2Matt. 19:6; Rom. 7:2• Leaving and cleaving, Leaving and cleaving, Matt. 19:4-5Matt. 19:4-5• Forsaking all others (fidelity), Forsaking all others (fidelity), Heb. 13:4Heb. 13:4• Serve, not “be served”, Serve, not “be served”, Eph. 5:22-25Eph. 5:22-25• Marry a Christian who has faith, godly Marry a Christian who has faith, godly

values and the goal of heavenvalues and the goal of heaven

Genesis 2:24Genesis 2:24

9

Have You Counted the Cost of having Children?•Financial responsibility, Financial responsibility, 1 Tim. 1 Tim.

5:85:8•Time, Time, Eph. 5:16Eph. 5:16•Training, Training, Eph. 6:4; Titus 2:4Eph. 6:4; Titus 2:4•Selfishness hinders good Selfishness hinders good

parenting!parenting!

Psalm 127:3-5Psalm 127:3-5

10

Have You Counted the Cost of Standing for the Truth?• Loss of friends & even brethren, Loss of friends & even brethren, 2 2

Tim. 4:16Tim. 4:16• Loss of reputation (among false Loss of reputation (among false

brethren), brethren), 3 John 9-123 John 9-12• Cost Jesus his life!Cost Jesus his life!• Cost the apostles much Cost the apostles much (1 Cor. 4:9-13)(1 Cor. 4:9-13)• Does it cost us anything? Does it cost us anything? (2 Tim. 3:12)(2 Tim. 3:12)

1 Cor. 16:13-141 Cor. 16:13-14

11

Have You Counted the Cost of being Faithful unto Death?• Context of persecution: even to Context of persecution: even to

the point of death the point of death (cf. Phil. (cf. Phil. 1:21)1:21)

• Conquer the fear of men, Conquer the fear of men, Matt. Matt. 10:28; Heb. 13:5-610:28; Heb. 13:5-6

• Be watchful, Be watchful, 1 Pet. 5:8-9; Heb. 1 Pet. 5:8-9; Heb. 5:12-14; 6:9-125:12-14; 6:9-12

Revelation 2:10Revelation 2:10

A Higher Price will be Paid if you do not Follow Jesus Now!• Everlasting destruction, Everlasting destruction, 2 Ths. 1:8-92 Ths. 1:8-9• Leaving all for Christ and His gospel will Leaving all for Christ and His gospel will

blessbless you and you and challengechallenge you now – and you now – and finally finally rewardreward you with you with eternal lifeeternal life,, Mark 10:28-31Mark 10:28-31

Matthew 25:30Matthew 25:30

Have you counted the Have you counted the cost? cost? Will you pay the price?Will you pay the price?