"Jesus and the Cost of Discipleship"
Luke 9:51-62
One beautiful Sunday morning last spring, the pastor stood before his congregation and made this announcement: “My good people, I have here in my hands four sermons: a $100 sermon that lasts five minutes, a $50 sermon that lasts fifteen minutes, a $10 sermon that lasts a full hour, and a dollar sermon that lasts till two this afternoon. Now, we’ll take the collection to see which one you want.” Isn’t it a little bit odd that we always want more for our money—always, that is, until it comes to our preparation for service to God, until it comes to the time and effort required of us to be real and true and living disciples of Jesus Christ?
I once heard of four biblical scholars sitting around arguing about which translation of the Bible they deemed to be the best. One scholar says it’s the King James Version, citing the beautiful structure and wording of an English language that is four hundred years old. A second scholar claims the best is the Revised Standard Version, pointing out that its translators were some of the best Hebrew and Greek translators ever assembled. A third scholar offers his opinion that the New International Version is best, noting that its translators combined the most up-to-date scholarship with the most up-to-date English usage to produce a Bible more easily understood by more people. The fourth scholar, who had been listening intently to the others, then offered his opinion: “Gentlemen, I actually prefer the Bible translation of my mother. You see, she translated it into life.”
And that’s the kind of disciples that Jesus wants in you and me—someone who translates His teaching into life. It’s one thing to know—even memorize—the words and teachings of Jesus; but there’s a lot we can know in our brains but never put into practice. Indeed that, according to Kenneth Tynan, is the sum of what a critic, not a disciple, is: someone who knows the way but can’t drive the car!
So the true disciple isn’t content just to know a lot about what Jesus said; the true disciple puts Jesus’ teachings into practice; the true disciple lives out what He said. In fact, a good definition of a disciple is someone who follows the disciplines of a master; a Christian disciple, then, is someone who follows in the footsteps and ways and teachings of Jesus.
In the Bible passage we just read, it’s clear to see that Jesus knew He would face persecution and death in Jerusalem. And yet He was determined to go there. If we’re going to be true disciples, that kind of resolve should characterize our life too. When God gives us a course of action, we need to learn to move steadily toward that destination, no matter what potential hazards await us there.
Now I don’t want to be like a lot of people I’ve heard say that all you have to do is become a Christian, and it’s all easy after that. No, there’s a cost to following Jesus—there’s a cost to discipleship—and each of us must be ready to serve, even when it requires sacrifice. We cannot live by a form of cheap grace. “Cheap grace,” wrote Dietrich Bonhoeffer, “is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.”
Then Bonhoeffer went on to describe real grace—costly grace: “Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of His Son. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon His Son too dear a price to pay for our life.”
So what is it that Jesus wants from us? What He wants is total dedication, not halfhearted commitment. We can’t pick and choose among all Jesus’ ideas and follow Him selectively; we have to accept the cross along with the crown; we have to accept judgment as well as mercy. We have to count the cost and be willing to abandon everything else that’s given us security. With our focus on Jesus, we should allow nothing to distract us from the manner of living that He calls good and true.
Believe it or not, I remember what it’s like to be a teenager, and I certainly remember what it’s like to try to distinguish myself from the rest of the group—to be different. But to this day, I never cease to be amazed at all our vain and goofy attempts at trying to make ourselves appear different from everyone else. The strange things we’ll do to our hair (if we have any), the outlandish clothes we’ll wear or the weird way we wear normal clothes, or just the vain attempts we make at being super cool in how we walk or talk—all to put on the appearance of looking different and standing out from the crowd! And yet the Bible proposes a way to be different—really different. If you live as a disciple of Christ, you’ll be different. Really living like a follower of Jesus will set you apart. You really won’t need all that other stuff to make you look different; you’ll be different by the nature of who you are following and living for. Believe you me: if you really commit yourself to living for Jesus, your walk will be different, your talk will be different, your clothing will be different, your countenance will be different, your ethics will be different, your morals will be different, your whole lifestyle will be different.
An African pastor put it this way: “I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I’m a disciple of His. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power. I won’t give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem in recognizing me—my banner will be clear!”
What kind of disciple does Jesus desire? What type of service does He expect? Let’s look at discipleship with three different analogies.
In the military, as the soldier trains for service, he or she is often required to leave home for a long time. Whether in boot camp or on call somewhere in the world, there is no time to stop and bury the dead or have contact with the family. Like a commitment to serve your nation, discipleship is a call to serve God. Personal agendas end up suspended in the face of national realities. Jesus says the call of discipleship is like that.
Another analogy is a training camp in sports. During that time the players are pulled away from family and friends as they forge a unit together. Two strenuous workouts a day show just how dedicated the athletes must be to getting into shape. Nothing can get in the way of that preparation for a new season. Discipleship is the same as this, but with one difference. Here the camp is the church, and training camp never ceases. Disciples must always stay in shape. And if camp is to continue to go well for the long-term, your friends and family must share in the preparation.
Another analogy might be marriage. Until I’m married, I’m subject to my parents. But the establishment of a new home leads to a new set of relationships that have priority. To do justice to my new family requires an all-consuming availability. Discipleship is like that. My relationship to God becomes the defining priority against which all else is seen.
In his devotional book My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers writes this about discipleship: “Either God or sin must die in my life. The New Testament brings us right down to this one issue. If sins rules in me, God’s life in me will be killed; if God rules in me, sin in me will be killed. There is no possible ultimate but that.”
As disciples in the world, we’d better be prepared. God may call us to a place where the comfort zone is uncertain. But we can’t let the daily worries of life overcome the demands of being a disciple. Discipleship has an urgency to it that should have first place. And once we go, we shouldn’t look back. God doesn’t issue His call for a season, but for a lifetime. Service for the kingdom begins at the moment we receive Jesus and continues until the Father calls us home.
Finally, what does discipleship look like? To tell you the truth, it can be a little different for each person. Some are called to serve where they grew up; others are called to journey thousands of miles away. Some live in hardship and even lose their life for the faith, like Peter who died for the faith, while others live a long life, like John who apparently died of old age. What is the same for everybody is that the call to discipleship is costly and should have priority over everything else.
Let us pray: Lord, inspire and motivate and move all Your disciples here. Help us all to grow up in our discipleship every day so that we would become more devoted and committed followers of You. May You truly be our first priority as You shape us into all that You want us to be. For it is in Jesus’ name that we pray.
Luke 9:51-62
One beautiful Sunday morning last spring, the pastor stood before his congregation and made this announcement: “My good people, I have here in my hands four sermons: a $100 sermon that lasts five minutes, a $50 sermon that lasts fifteen minutes, a $10 sermon that lasts a full hour, and a dollar sermon that lasts till two this afternoon. Now, we’ll take the collection to see which one you want.” Isn’t it a little bit odd that we always want more for our money—always, that is, until it comes to our preparation for service to God, until it comes to the time and effort required of us to be real and true and living disciples of Jesus Christ?
I once heard of four biblical scholars sitting around arguing about which translation of the Bible they deemed to be the best. One scholar says it’s the King James Version, citing the beautiful structure and wording of an English language that is four hundred years old. A second scholar claims the best is the Revised Standard Version, pointing out that its translators were some of the best Hebrew and Greek translators ever assembled. A third scholar offers his opinion that the New International Version is best, noting that its translators combined the most up-to-date scholarship with the most up-to-date English usage to produce a Bible more easily understood by more people. The fourth scholar, who had been listening intently to the others, then offered his opinion: “Gentlemen, I actually prefer the Bible translation of my mother. You see, she translated it into life.”
And that’s the kind of disciples that Jesus wants in you and me—someone who translates His teaching into life. It’s one thing to know—even memorize—the words and teachings of Jesus; but there’s a lot we can know in our brains but never put into practice. Indeed that, according to Kenneth Tynan, is the sum of what a critic, not a disciple, is: someone who knows the way but can’t drive the car!
So the true disciple isn’t content just to know a lot about what Jesus said; the true disciple puts Jesus’ teachings into practice; the true disciple lives out what He said. In fact, a good definition of a disciple is someone who follows the disciplines of a master; a Christian disciple, then, is someone who follows in the footsteps and ways and teachings of Jesus.
In the Bible passage we just read, it’s clear to see that Jesus knew He would face persecution and death in Jerusalem. And yet He was determined to go there. If we’re going to be true disciples, that kind of resolve should characterize our life too. When God gives us a course of action, we need to learn to move steadily toward that destination, no matter what potential hazards await us there.
Now I don’t want to be like a lot of people I’ve heard say that all you have to do is become a Christian, and it’s all easy after that. No, there’s a cost to following Jesus—there’s a cost to discipleship—and each of us must be ready to serve, even when it requires sacrifice. We cannot live by a form of cheap grace. “Cheap grace,” wrote Dietrich Bonhoeffer, “is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.”
Then Bonhoeffer went on to describe real grace—costly grace: “Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of His Son. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon His Son too dear a price to pay for our life.”
So what is it that Jesus wants from us? What He wants is total dedication, not halfhearted commitment. We can’t pick and choose among all Jesus’ ideas and follow Him selectively; we have to accept the cross along with the crown; we have to accept judgment as well as mercy. We have to count the cost and be willing to abandon everything else that’s given us security. With our focus on Jesus, we should allow nothing to distract us from the manner of living that He calls good and true.
Believe it or not, I remember what it’s like to be a teenager, and I certainly remember what it’s like to try to distinguish myself from the rest of the group—to be different. But to this day, I never cease to be amazed at all our vain and goofy attempts at trying to make ourselves appear different from everyone else. The strange things we’ll do to our hair (if we have any), the outlandish clothes we’ll wear or the weird way we wear normal clothes, or just the vain attempts we make at being super cool in how we walk or talk—all to put on the appearance of looking different and standing out from the crowd! And yet the Bible proposes a way to be different—really different. If you live as a disciple of Christ, you’ll be different. Really living like a follower of Jesus will set you apart. You really won’t need all that other stuff to make you look different; you’ll be different by the nature of who you are following and living for. Believe you me: if you really commit yourself to living for Jesus, your walk will be different, your talk will be different, your clothing will be different, your countenance will be different, your ethics will be different, your morals will be different, your whole lifestyle will be different.
An African pastor put it this way: “I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I’m a disciple of His. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power. I won’t give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem in recognizing me—my banner will be clear!”
What kind of disciple does Jesus desire? What type of service does He expect? Let’s look at discipleship with three different analogies.
In the military, as the soldier trains for service, he or she is often required to leave home for a long time. Whether in boot camp or on call somewhere in the world, there is no time to stop and bury the dead or have contact with the family. Like a commitment to serve your nation, discipleship is a call to serve God. Personal agendas end up suspended in the face of national realities. Jesus says the call of discipleship is like that.
Another analogy is a training camp in sports. During that time the players are pulled away from family and friends as they forge a unit together. Two strenuous workouts a day show just how dedicated the athletes must be to getting into shape. Nothing can get in the way of that preparation for a new season. Discipleship is the same as this, but with one difference. Here the camp is the church, and training camp never ceases. Disciples must always stay in shape. And if camp is to continue to go well for the long-term, your friends and family must share in the preparation.
Another analogy might be marriage. Until I’m married, I’m subject to my parents. But the establishment of a new home leads to a new set of relationships that have priority. To do justice to my new family requires an all-consuming availability. Discipleship is like that. My relationship to God becomes the defining priority against which all else is seen.
In his devotional book My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers writes this about discipleship: “Either God or sin must die in my life. The New Testament brings us right down to this one issue. If sins rules in me, God’s life in me will be killed; if God rules in me, sin in me will be killed. There is no possible ultimate but that.”
As disciples in the world, we’d better be prepared. God may call us to a place where the comfort zone is uncertain. But we can’t let the daily worries of life overcome the demands of being a disciple. Discipleship has an urgency to it that should have first place. And once we go, we shouldn’t look back. God doesn’t issue His call for a season, but for a lifetime. Service for the kingdom begins at the moment we receive Jesus and continues until the Father calls us home.
Finally, what does discipleship look like? To tell you the truth, it can be a little different for each person. Some are called to serve where they grew up; others are called to journey thousands of miles away. Some live in hardship and even lose their life for the faith, like Peter who died for the faith, while others live a long life, like John who apparently died of old age. What is the same for everybody is that the call to discipleship is costly and should have priority over everything else.
Let us pray: Lord, inspire and motivate and move all Your disciples here. Help us all to grow up in our discipleship every day so that we would become more devoted and committed followers of You. May You truly be our first priority as You shape us into all that You want us to be. For it is in Jesus’ name that we pray.
Want to contribute online to the Church at Dyers Creek?
Simply click the "Give" button below to do so.
And thank you ever so much for giving to God's work!
Simply click the "Give" button below to do so.
And thank you ever so much for giving to God's work!