The Cost of Discipleship

1. The Cost of Discipleship At Jesus’ Feet

2. Discipleship First Century Background • Greek = mathetes • Definition: learner & follower

3. Discipleship First Century Background • Rabbi • Desire & Submission • Emulation & Imitation • Community • Transparency

4. Discipleship First Century Background • A disciple was one who followed and learned from his rabbi and his ways of seeing and doing things.

5. Discipleship First Century Background • Disciples of… • John the Baptist (Mark 2:18) • Pharisees (Mark 2:18) • Moses (John 9:28) • Jesus (>200 times)

6. Discipleship John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and they came and said to Him, "Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?” (Mark 2:18) First Century Background

7. The Great Commission Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them…teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20) Make Disciples!

8. The Great Commission Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them…teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20) Make Disciples!

9. The Great Commission Make Disciples! How? • Going • Baptizing • Teaching to observe ALL Note: it’s a process

10. The Great Commission Make Disciples! • Thus, a disciple of Jesus is one who is following and learning from Jesus, as revealed in Scripture, about God’s ways of seeing and doing things.

11. The Cost of Discipleship Discipleship is a process Discipleship has a cost • Theological misunderstanding • Justification • Sanctification

12. The Cost of Discipleship Justification • Declared “righteous” before God • Delivered from the penalty of sin • Result of faith in Christ

13. The Cost of Discipleship For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works… (Romans 3:28) Justification

14. The Cost of Discipleship Sanctification • Process of spiritual growth • On-going deliverance from the power of sin in the life of a believer • Result of a believer’s diligent commitment in following the Lord.

15. The Cost of Discipleship …so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification. (Romans 6:19) Sanctification

16. The Cost of Discipleship The Tension… • The normal Christian life begins with faith in Christ and should continue in an ever-growing commitment to the Lord. • Tragically, sometimes believers do not grow.

17. The Cost of Discipleship The Tension Predicted • The Four Soils (Luke 8:5-15) • Seed taken – no belief • Seed received – poor root • Seed received – choked • Seed received - fruit • held fast • persevere

18. The Cost of Discipleship The Tension… • The normal Christian life begins with faith in Christ and should continue in an ever-growing commitment to the Lord. • Tragically, sometimes believers do not grow.

19. The Cost of Discipleship The normal Christian life begins with faith in Christ and should continue in an ever-growing commitment to the Lord.

20. The Cost of Discipleship For God so loved the world…that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but has everlasting life. (John 3:16) The normal Christian life begins with faith in Christ.

21. The Cost of Discipleship …he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. (John 5:24) The normal Christian life begins with faith in Christ.

22. The Cost of Discipleship …these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name. (John 20:35) The normal Christian life begins with faith in Christ.

23. The Cost of Discipleship The normal Christian life begins with faith in Christ and should continue in an ever-growing commitment to the Lord.

24. The Cost of Discipleship If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you. By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and prove (lit. = become) to be My disciples. (John 15:7-8) Priority of Sustenance “Abide”

25. The Cost of Discipleship If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. (Luke 14:26) Priority of Relationship “Hate father & mother”

26. The Cost of Discipleship Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. (Luke 14:27) Priority of Purpose “Carry cross…follow Me”

27. The Cost of Discipleship For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? (Luke 14:28) Priority of Resources “Count the cost”

28. The Cost of Discipleship Priority of Sustenance Priority of Relationship Priority of Purpose Priority of Resources

29. The Cost of Discipleship The normal Christian life begins with faith in Christ and should continue in an ever-growing commitment to the Lord.

30. Final Thoughts & Application • Discipleship is serious business. • Jesus must be first of all. • There is a cost to become a disciple of Jesus. • What is preventing me from fully following Jesus?

31. Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)