Sermon Tone Analysis
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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.
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