A Compassionate Call to Discipleship ( Luke 9:43b-62 )

1. A Compassionate Call to Discipleship (Luke 9:43b-62)

2. A Compassionate Call to Discipleship Matthew 17:22-23 “As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, ‘The son of man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day’. And they were greatly distressed.”

3. Fears about the Future make us more eager to establish our own power and authority A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

4. A Compassionate Call to Discipleship 2 Reasons for lack of Clarity • To challenge us to greater pursuit of the truth • To develop in us a greater trust in God’s providential care

5. A Compassionate Call to Discipleship 1 Peter 1:10-12 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care,11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.

6. A Compassionate Call to Discipleship Two Principles for Handling our Fears of the Future • Redefine our Resources: if you want to have what is needed for the future, you must aim to be last and the servant of everyone else. Matt 17:3-4 “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven”

7. A Compassionate Call to Discipleship Two Principles for Handling our Fears of the Future • Redefine our Relationships: If you want to be assured God is close to you, you must be close to the people who are least among you. The Key word here is “receives”

8. A Compassionate Call to Discipleship • Psalm 18:27 You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty. • Psalm 25:9 He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. • Psalm 147:6 The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground. • Proverbs 3:33-34 The LORD's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous. 34 He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble. • Isaiah 66:2 Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?" declares the LORD. "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.

9. Fears about the Future make us more Controlling of Others A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

10. A Compassionate Call to Discipleship 1 Corinthians 4:1-7 So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God

11. A Compassionate Call to Discipleship 1 Corinthians 4:1-7 Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, "Do not go beyond what is written." Then you will not take pride in one man over against another. 7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

12. Fears about the Future make us more Judgmental of Others A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

13. A Compassionate Call to Discipleship 2 Peter 3:1-9 Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. 2 I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles. 3 First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.

14. A Compassionate Call to Discipleship 2 Peter 3:1-9 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

15. A Compassionate Call to Discipleship 2 Timothy 4:1-5 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

16. Fears about the Future can be handled with increased commitment to Christ’s Mission and Kingdom A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

17. A Compassionate Call to Discipleship Following Jesus is Difficult… It involves Privation (9:57-58)- none of of the comforts of the uncommitted life. It Involves Prioritization (9:59)- None of the scheduled calendar of the uncommitted life. It Involves Persistence (9:61-62)- none of the lethargic apathetic behavior of the uncommitted life

18. “Sometimes Biblical examination asks us to take a long, hard look in the mirror and to make changes. Jesus’ directness and the shocking quality of his remarks here show just how seriously he takes the call to discipleship. The path to following Jesus is not a part-time job; it is a perpetual assignment. Since discipleship involves responding to people as well as to God, there is no moment when we are not “on call”. Those who wish to pursue spirituality as a hobby will not discover its blessing. Jesus makes that truth clear by showing that even the highest commitments to family come in second place. We may be asked to go minister in places where our families may not be near. We may be asked to take risks for the sake of the gospel that no “sane’ person might take. We may have to stand up for integrity in situations that might cost us dearly.” (Darrell Block, The NIV Application Commentary, pp. 286, 287)