6th November 2011
What Costs do You Encounter?
Last Week

Disciple - A learner who
follows Jesus in His:
 Teaching
 Lifestyle
 Love
 Acceptance of people
 Compassion
 Mercy

Discipleship

An Invitation to Journey
in the Company of Jesus
An Invitation to Journey in the
Company of Jesus
Weighing up
the cost
The Family
Family Cost
His Commitment
Their Response
Honour your father and your
mother, so that you may live
long in the land the Lord your
God is giving you.
Jesus' brothers said to him,
“You ought to leave here and
go to Judea, so that your
disciples may see the
miracles you do.
(Exodus 20:12)
Then he went down to
Nazareth with them and was
obedient to them.
(Luke 2:51)
3
No-one who wants to
become a public figure acts in
secret. Since you are doing
these things, show yourself to
the world.”
4
For even his own brothers
did not believe in him.
5
(John 7: 3 – 5)
Family Cost
Jesus
The First Man
...Follow me!
60...Let the dead bury
their own dead, but
you go and proclaim
the Kingdom of God.
Lord, first let me go
and bury my father.
59
The Family Cost
Jesus
...No one who puts a
hand to the plough
and looks back is fit
for service in the
Kingdom of God.
62
The Second Man
...I will follow you,
Lord; but first let me
go back and say
goodbye to my family.
61
Family Cost
Jesus Addresses the Crowds
If anyone comes to me and does not hate
father and mother, wife and children, brothers
and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a
person cannot be my disciple.
26
An Invitation to Journey in the
Company of Jesus
Weighing up
the cost
Our Lives
Life Cost - Lifestyle
Jesus
...Foxes have dens
and birds have nests,
but the Son of Man
has no place to lay his
head
58
The Man on the Road
...I will follow you
wherever you go
57
Life Cost - Ultimate
If anyone comes to
me and does not hate
father and mother,
wife and children,
brothers and sisters—
yes, even their own
life—such a person
cannot be my disciple.
And anyone who does
not carry his cross
and follow me cannot
be my disciple.
26
Costs and Benefits
The Tower Principle
Suppose one of you
wants to build a
tower. Will he not first
sit down and estimate
the cost to see if he
has enough money to
complete it?
29For if he lays the
foundation and is not
able to finish it,
everyone who sees it
will ridicule him
28
Counting the Cost
So Back to the Costs
Loss of
Family relationships
 Respect
 Home
 Security
 Money
 Life - here and now

And the Benefits?
Gain of
New family
 Acceptance by God
 Kingdom citizenship
 Meaning to life
 Treasures in Heaven
 Life - eternal

So what’s the balance?
Gain of
New family
 Acceptance by God
 Kingdom citizenship
 Meaning to life
 Treasures in Heaven
 Life - eternal

Loss of
Family relationships
 Respect
 Home
 Security
 Money
 Life - here and now

Battle Planning
Or suppose a king is
about to go to war
against another king.
Won’t he first sit down
and consider whether
he is able with ten
thousand men to
oppose the one
coming against him
with twenty
thousand?
31
If he is not able, he
will send a delegation
while the other is still
a long way off and will
ask for terms of
peace. 33In the same
way, those of you who
do not give up
everything you have
cannot be my
disciples.
32
Battle Planning

The enemy is strong
Recognise this from
the start
 Commit everything
to the battle
 Don’t give up


The Lord reigns
If he is not able, he
will send a delegation
while the other is still
a long way off and will
ask for terms of
peace. 33In the same
way, those of you who
do not give up
everything you have
cannot be my
disciples.
32
Prayer Exercise

Write on post-it note
A cost already
incurred in
following Jesus
2. A cost you foresee
if you obey God
3. A benefit that
makes it all
worthwhile
1.


Place notes 1
and/or 2 on the
cross
Retain notes 3