Disciple Destiny Part 3: Counting the Cost
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Introduction
Attention:
Welp, that’s a wrap on the game!
This game is interesting in that, while it sounds easy on paper, in actuality it is incredibly hard.
At first, counting to 25 in this way sounds like its an incredibly low number, but after the first person messes up, it becomes clear that the cost is high.
That’s similar to the way it is to truly be a disciple. On paper, following God seems like it should be easy, but it is not
Part of the DNA of being a disciple is counting the cost. That’s what we are talking about tonight.
And we are going to do this by looking at Luke 14:28-30
Need:
One of the reasons that you need to hear this message tonight is that the cost of being a disciple is far greater than many of us are willing to accept.
We like the parts of Christianity that make us “feel good,” but the other stuff… not so much.
Another reason that you need to hear this is because authenticity is one of the top values of Gen Z, so you need to see what an authentic Christian looks like and what they are willing to do
Furthermore, God is wanting many of you to take that next step. Whether or not that is getting saved, being baptized, signing up for a devotional, etc., we need to look at the cost of discipleship in order to know how to take things to that next level.
Table Question: What is your favorite thing that you have ever created? Why?
Body
The Big Idea: Disciples count the cost
The Question: What does it mean to count the cost?
1. Slow down
2. Pay up
3. Press on
Luke 14:28 (ESV)
For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?
Explanation:
It starts with “desire”
Part of being a disciple means that we desire something
In this metaphor, the desire is to “build a tower.” This is a metaphor for the desire to be a disciple”
And what an accurate metaphor this is! Remember our purpose statement. Being a disciple means that you DESIRE to build something, and you are not going to be able to BUILD effectively without first slowing down to think
Disciple need to “sit down” and think
Holeman New Testament Commentary: “Discipleship is not a hasty decision.”
Darrel Bock: “moving toward successful discipleship takes reflection; it is not an automatic exercise.”
Discipleship requires planning (Martin)
Leon Morris: “Jesus does not want disciples who do not realize what they have let themselves in for.”
Of course, Jesus desires that all be saved (2 Peter 3:9), but to truly be a disciple is an intentional process
Jesus wants you to be a disciple on purpose
Illustration:
I asked you earlier what your favorite thing that you ever created was.
For me, I’d definitely have to say that it is my pedal board!
For those of you who don’t know, these pedals change the way that my guitar sounds and ad things like distortion, delay, and reverb
When I first started playing guitar seriously, I only had one pedal.
I remember seeing other people with different pedal boards and thinking, man, I want a board that looks like that right now!
But what I never imagined is how much that it would cost me.
The board itself that all of the pedals are on cost me $200.00
I think the overdrive cost me 150, and this reverb pedal cost me 250
I think I got this silver pedal for about 100
And I think I spent like another 250 on this orange pedal
And the delay? 450 bucls. No joke.
So that’s like… at least $1,000 bucks that this thing cost me. And that’s not even counting the guitar and amp!
There was no way that I was going to be able to buy all of this at once. I had to slow down and think about which pedals were the most important first
That’s what counting the cost as a disciple is like. You have to slow down and examine the cost piece by piece, and reflectively and progressively follow Jesus in obedience. Be prepared!
Application:
Have you slowed down recently?
Life is like a whirlwind sometimes
Things are so busy; between school anbd everything else, it feels like you can never get a break
When was the last time that you took some time to sit and think about what it really means to follow after Jesus?
What is your desire?
Do you want to a a growing disciple? Or are you more concerned about other things?
Dating the right person, fitting in at school, getting back at the person who mistreated you… ?
Find some time to slow down this week and to think about what your relationship with Jesus might cost you.
This can be at school, at home, wherever
It might be a good idea to work this into your prayer routine (or if you don’t have a prayer routine to use this as an opportunity to develop one).
Think about the day this week that you will have the most free time. Take 15-30 mins to slow down, breathe, think and prepare!
Transition Statement: What all of this leads us to is this; the reason you need to slow down is so that you can be prepared to pay up.
Table question: What’s the most expensive item that you have ever purchased with your own money?
The Big Idea: Disciples count the cost
The Question: What does it mean to count the cost?
1. Slow down
2. Pay up
3. Press on
Luke 14:29 (ESV)
Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,
Explanation:
Why would someone not be able to finish? Because they failed to count the cost, and the cost is more than he/she is willing to give.
Thabiti M. Anyabwile: · “Counting the cost means considering what the Lord requires of you so you don’t turnback when you are forced to pay up.”
For every disciple, there will be a moment where he/she must “pay up;” where life has challenges and times get hard.
And its these sufferings that make us like Jesus, because He suffered for us
When we “pay up” and life gets hard… what is it exactly that being a disciple is costing us?
Thabiti M. Anyabwile: “To follow Jesus as a disciple means we exchange the entire world for that kingdom to come.”
So, the cost is “the entire world.” But in what sense?
The greek word “kosmos” has two primary meanings: (1) the physical world created by God, and (2) a world system of morals created by man in rebellion of God. Here, the second definition fits what we are talking about
So, the primary cost of being a disciple is to forfeit the sinful desires of our flesh. It means to forfeit what you want until what you want changes.
And while its true that following Jesus costs us the world, there’s another sense in which we don’t always know what it is going to require of us exactly.
Darrel Bock: “Part of the problem in counting the cost is that often we do not know ahead of time what the real cost will be.”
For you, it could mean not going to that party on Friday night because you know what type of stuff they’re gonna get into
It might mean breaking up with someone because your relationship doesn’t honor Christ
It might mean losing popularity. But whatever it is, Jesus is worth it!
Thabiti M. Anyabwile: “The point is not to count the costs and turn away if it’s too costly; it is to count the costs and embrace them because it is worth it.”
So don’t count the cost and turn back; count the cost and pay up!
Illustration:
Earlier I asked you what the most amount of money that you have ever spent on anything was.
I could answer this one in several ways
The technically correct answer would be college… but that’s not fun
And then I thought it was my guitar (which I paid $1000.00 for), but then I remembered… We bought a Jeep last year!
I’m not going to tell you how much we spent on it; it was a great deal, but even then, it was more money than I have ever spent on anything
It was nice having all of that money that we had saved up in our bank account, so much so that it kinda sucked to see all of it go.
But at the end of the day, to have a second vehicle… it was worth it!
Being a disciple means that you have to be willing to pay up when necessary.
Application:
What has following Jesus cost you?
The reality is that, if it hasn’t, then you aren’t truly following Jesus; there is ALWAYS a cost.
What sinful desires have you had to give up? What suffering have you had to experience? What unexpected prices have you had to pay?
Are you ready to pay up?
If Jesus asked you give something else up, would you be willing to do it?
What is keeping you from seeing that Jesus is worth the cost?
Jesus love you. And His love for you cost Him everything
He died for your sins because he Loves you and wanted to bring you back to Himself. He rose from the grave so that you wouldn’t have to die.
If we, someone, as sinful human beings who fail to match up to God’s standard somehow are “worth it” to Him, how can he not be INFINITELY worth it to us?
Transition statement: And paying up just isn’t a one time thing; we have to press on despite the cost.
Table question: What is one thing that it took you a long time to complete?
The Big Idea: Disciples count the cost
The Question: What does it mean to count the cost?
1. Slow down
2. Pay up
3. Press on
Luke 14:30 (ESV)
saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’
Explanation:
When it comes to being a disciple and counting the cost, the goal is to finish strong. Perseverance is the name of the game.
Thabiti M. Anyabwile: “Will you persevere to the end no matter what?”
True disciples are disciples no matter what. True disciples are disciples until the end.
The southern baptist way of saying this is “once saved, always saved.” Once you become a follower of Christ, nothing can separate you from His love (just look at the end of Romans 8)
But it is not just your salvation that is eternally secure; it is your obedience as well
To follow Jesus is to never stop paying up
Are we perfect? No. Do we fall into sin? Yes. But overall, our lifestyle is characterized by counting the cost and paying the cost.
One day, we will be with Jesus in Heaven! Paying up will no longer be a struggle at that point, when we are face-to-face with our Creator
Let’s chat about grace for a minute, though.
When we talk about “counting the cost,” we say that while realizing that, ultimately, Jesus paid the that we never could
But that is what our sin costs; not what being a disciple costs
We don’t earn our salvation by “paying up;” we prove our discipleship by “paying up.”
So while the gift of salvation is free, the cost of discipleship is real and persistent
Illustration:
So, back to things that it took you a long time to complete...
Once again, I could say college, but… that’s no fun
One of the longest things that it ever took me to finish was a YouTube video that I put out.
It was the first in a series titled “video game hermenutics,” where I used the same methods that we use to determine the “main point” (or Big Idea) of Scripture in order to examine what a specific video game is about.
But it took me forever to finish it! Not only did it take me awhile to finish the game, but I had to write a script, and the EDITING phase was the longest for me.
Heck, it took so long that, to this day, this is the only video that’s a part of that series
I pressed on until I finished that video, but I didn’t press on to complete another one
In order for you to be the disciple that Jesus wants you to be and in order for you to count the cost in the way that he wants you to, you have to press on.
Application:
Spiritually, how much longer can you make it?
How sustainable is your current walk with God?
How much longer will it be before you burn out?
What needs to change in your walk in order for you to press on?
Maybe you need to take that “next step” in your walk
That might mean salvation! Maybe you need to give your life to the Lord
Maybe you need to follow the Lord in believer’s baptism.
Maybe you need to sign up for a devotional and to make prayerfully reading the Bible a part of your everyday life
Maybe you need to join a Sunday morning small group
Maybe you need to get discipled by a leader
What is it going to take for you to not just have your salvation, but to also have its corresponding joy? (Psalm 51:12)
Conclusion
Visualization
Picture yourself at the end of your earthly life.
Do you want to have been known as someone who counted the cost?
Do you want to be known as someone who gave it all for Jesus?
Reiteration
Choose tonight to be a disciple that counts and embraces the cost.
Right now, we are going to spend some time in silence; no one looking around, all heads bowed and eyes closed
And after we have been silent for a few minutes, I will guide you through a time of prayer
PRAY