Text:
Luke 14:25-35
Title:
No Getting Off the Ride
Introduction
Dedicated Disciples! That is what Jesus Wanted then and that is what Jesus wants now.
When I was child, I was talked into riding my first roller coaster. Now don’t look at me like that. Any sensible person that takes a serious look at a roller coaster must question whether this is fun or stupidity. How was I talked into it? I was told that if I got scared my uncle would have the man stop it and I could get off . . .
There are some rides in life that you just can’t get off.
Imagine for a moment the take off of the shuttle into space and about ten seconds into lift off, about the time the darkness of space appears, one of the astronauts radios in and says, “I’ve changed my mind I don’t want to go. I quit. Have my check ready.”
There are some rides in life that you just can’t get off.
Imagine again a doctor that is performing open heart surgery on you and half way through he says, “I tried. I’ve had it. I quit.” And leaves the operating room.
There are some obligations, once started you can’t just quit. It must be seen through to the end.
Such is the Christian discipleship, once on the ride you cannot get off, once started you cannot quit. It demands a total – long term – commitment. This is what Jesus addresses to great crowd that was following His miracles and not His message.
There are three primary lessons about discipleship
that Jesus addresses in this discourse.
One is the Place Jesus Will Occupy in the Disciples
Heart
Two is the Price Tag of Discipleship
Third is the Peculiarity of the Disciple
I.
Place
A.
Discipleship is Driven by Love (V. 26)
Jesus uses the extreme to drive home a major point. He is making a comparison – a dramatic contrast. He is not saying hate your family, nor is saying hate your life, but he is saying that in comparison how much you must love Him it will be like you hate those things you treasure most.
B.
Discipleship
Endures by Loyalty (V. 27)
C.
Discipleship Asks for Total Surrender (v.33)
II.
Price Tag (vv. 28-32)
People really have not changed all that much over time. The some of the same things that motivated people long ago still are motivators today. Fame, popularity, the new and the exciting motivated people in Jesus time as they do today.
Why the large crowds. Jesus and his miracles was the hot thing of the time. Jesus knows it was the miracles that drew the crowds and not His message. They wanted a kingdom but were not ready to allow Him to rule in their hearts.
It cost us nothing to be in God’s Kingdom but it cost Jesus his life. But once accepting Christ, Once making Him King of your heart, then let it be known that Christianity comes with a cost.
A.
The Blessing and the Cost of Never Being the Same Again
B.
The Blessing and the Cost of Accountability
C.
The Blessing and the Cost of Responsibility
III.
Peculiarity (vv. 34,35)
1 Peter 2:9
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
A.
Discipleship Means Distinction (Salt has a unique
taste)
B.
Discipleship Demands Difference (To salt you must not
be salt)
Discipleship Calls for Duty (Just as salt has a purpose that is only for salt so the disciple has purpose that is only his.)