I took this photo back in 2007.
There's a bunch of photos of the only one I took in 2007.
But this one, and there's another one there, it's Galatian National Park.
It's on the edge of the Canadian Rockies.
I, Natalie, who was pregnant at the time, that little thing,
and two other people, that little thing's now called Isabel,
so we're about to go on a hike, and discovering it wasn't going to be an easy stroll.
We looked at where we'd come ahead, and we're like,
it's going to be a little bit hard, I think.
The trail was narrow, the trail was steep, the ground under our feet was standing loose.
Now, I've done a little bit of hiking in my time.
I used to work for the National Parks and Wildlife Service in New South Wales.
Many years ago, one of my jobs was to build, to maintain walking tracks,
which meant that I had to walk among those walking tracks.
One of the principles I had in building a walking track was,
if I'm going to make this thing, and I'm going to have to maintain this thing,
they're going to make it easy to maintain it.
So, which means it's going to be wide, I'm going to be able to ride cod bikes up and down this track,
it's going to be as level as we possibly can,
go the long way around to make it an easy terrain, rather than up the side of the hill.
That kind of principle was a thing I even managed to convince,
my immediate supervisor to buy a little bulldozer for me,
so I could just drive through the bush, rather than having to use axes and stuff like that.
And, yeah, there you go, there's your trail.
So, this day in Canada, when I looked at this, it wasn't so much the effort,
even though I realised there was a little bit more effort involved in hiking this one,
what worried me was the reading material that I had on the way to the hike.
As we drove to the head of the trail, I was reading up on some park information,
you know, like a collection of National Park newspaper kind of thing that I picked up in the information centre.
And in the middle of this was a whole lift-out section on how to survive
the many animals that are going to try and kill you as you go for a walk in the National Park.
And, you know, in Australia, worst-case scenario is a snake.
You know, and they're trying to get away with an awesome, you know,
rampant, you know, koala who's got some of their endeavor against people.
Now, apart from that,
there's not so many other worries in this country to go for a hike.
But in this section, it's got advice on cougars.
Be careful, cougars, mountain lions.
What they do is they pick out their target,
they stalk you for some time,
and then they jump on you from behind and from above.
They, you know, wait for you to get through some sort of ravine,
then leap on you from behind.
It's like, before you know it,
your face is getting caught off by some cougar.
And it's like, fantastic.
Okay, so leave the cougars aside.
There's the black bears.
And it says, the advice here is,
if it's a black bear you're confronted with,
you've got to make yourself look really big and yell at me.
Yell, yell, yell.
And that will generally freak them out
and they'll run away, hopefully.
But don't mistake the black bear for the grizzly bear.
You do good to the grizzly bear,
and the grizzly bear will assure it's a challenge on its territory
and it will immediately attack you.
And so here's the advice being attacked by a grizzly bear.
Now, it's really awful advice.
You're meant to remain calm.
Okay, that's the first tip.
Right, tip.
You're meant to lay down as if you are dead
in a fetal position
and you're meant to time the attack.
Hang on a bit there.
Click.
Go.
Right, okay.
If it gets to two minutes,
if the bear's been chewing on your leg for two minutes,
apparently that means it's a serious attack.
Okay, it's serious at that moment
and it means that if it's still going for two minutes,
then it's likely to keep going.
And so right now is the time to,
now that it's got your leg,
now it's the plan to fight back.
Right, I reckon it's a bit late, that advice.
But that's how you handle grizzly bears.
Apparently they just get sick of you
and eventually walk away.
On most cases,
except a lot of people are being killed by grizzly bears.
But anyway,
now it says there
you have to be particularly careful
when there's a grizzly bear with cubs.
They're especially aggressive
when they have their cubs with them,
something to do with sleep deprivation
or something like that.
And so,
on this particular day,
ask him,
she knows what it's like.
Ask him.
On this particular day,
you turn up to this track
and you find this sign
on the front of the trails
where the female grizzly
with two cubs
on this track
the day before.
And you're going,
do we walk?
Do we not walk?
You know,
what do we do here?
Apparently,
getting a bit of information like that
means that you must be prepared.
You must prepare
for what's about to come.
And the recommendation
to be prepared
in this scenario
is to have a can
of bear spray with you.
Now,
I've got a can
of fly spray in my office.
It's about this big.
I've got a can
of wasp spray in my office.
It's about this big.
So you can imagine
the size
the bear spray is.
And it's
some sort of pepper spray
kind of thing.
It apparently distracts
it enough
and blinds
if you're going to run away
or something like that.
But we didn't have
any bear spray.
All we had
was some hair spray
and
seriously,
that's all we can come up with.
And so
we had this hair spray
and so my friend's going,
let's make it a flame fry.
So I had a box of matches.
He's sprayed
and we're trying to make this,
you know,
six matches
we'd went out
and spizzle
with it.
You know,
we couldn't make this
thing work
into a flame fry.
So instead
I got a big stick
and then we went.
We're not at high.
But as we walked
on that walk
constantly looking around
for cougars,
wolverines,
black bears,
you know,
grizzly bears
and anything else
that would make the grass
and the trees rustle.
You see,
it's crucial
to know
what to expect
on a hike like that
in order to be prepared.
Which is what we're about to do
for the next six weeks.
We're going to have
a walk with Jesus
in Luke's Gospel.
That's the same way.
We're going to have
a walk with Jesus
in Luke's Gospel
because that's what
Jesus is doing.
In Luke,
he is in
chapter 9,
he is starting
a walk to Jerusalem.
And this walk,
Jesus makes it clear
to his disciples
and to us,
this is not
an easy journey.
This walk
you're about to go on
is a dangerous walk,
it's a hard walk
and yet it's a walk
that he calls us
on to with him.
He calls us
to come with him
on this one.
And this is a crucial
one for us
as a church,
as I said,
I look forward
to Vision Series
every year.
In watching
Vision 2020,
which is the
ministry agenda
which shapes us
as a church,
I did it back
in 2009,
I said then
and I've repeated
a number of times
since 2009,
my intention
was to lead us
as a church
into a new era
of significant
personal sacrifice
for the glory
of God
in the mission
field
in the chief spaces
in our time.
And our Vision Series
is a time
every year
when I call us
as a church
and I do it myself,
I've been working
on this myself
for a number
of months already,
getting ready
for this
in its various forms
and what God
has placed
in my heart
especially
in the last month
realises
what He's calling
me to
and the same
He's calling you to
is to die
a little more
in order to live
a little more.
It's trying to give up
some more.
This is what we do
every Christmas here
to call us
as a church
to give up some more,
to surrender some more,
to commit to Jesus
some more,
to obey Jesus
some more
and to find
more freedom
and more joy
in Him
as you do that.
My call back
in 2009
is the same
as what it is
today.
May we
as a church
tremble,
tremble
not that the price
is too high
to pursue
the glory of God
in Chatswood
but that our vision
to do so
is way too small.
May that be our trembling.
that our vision
for God's glory
is too small.
I don't want to ever
get into the presence
of God
and for Him
to say,
see what are you thinking?
If you ask
for 10,000
I wouldn't give you
a 10,000.
Our purpose,
our vision,
our values
and cause
cause us
to be radical
disciples
of the Lord Jesus.
Now the word
disciple there
which is
deliberate,
using the word
disciple
as opposed
to Christian
here.
The word
Christian
has context
in terms
of our culture
and I'm a Christian
as opposed
to a Muslim
or my family
and I'm just
Christian.
It doesn't
necessarily
carry the way
it used to
but the word
disciple does.
It means
that we are
students
of the Lord
Jesus.
More specifically
what it means
is we are
under the
discipline
of the Lord
Jesus.
That's what
discipleship means.
We trust
him,
we obey
him.
When he
calls us
we do
what he
calls us
to do.
We don't
negotiate
with him
and my
concern
for myself
my concern
for you
my concern
for us
as a church
is that
those who
claim
to be
disciples
of the
Lord
Jesus
would not
provoke
him to
say
as he
does
in Luke
646
why do
you call
me
Lord
and do
not do
what I
say?
I don't
want to
provoke
Christ
to utter
those
words
again
of us.
The word
radical
comes from
the Latin
word
radical
which means
a root
it's a
word
that is
applied
to those
whose
ideas
or attitudes
or behaviours
go to the
core of the
issue
or to the
root of the
issue
and it
displays
a thorough
going
commitment.
That's why
we're using
the word
radical
this year
that's what
the whole
theme
for this
vision
series
is
and we
see it
as we
go into
Luke
chapter 9
so get
the Bibles
and the
service
sheets
open
we're
beginning
in Luke
9
this is
a major
turning point
in Luke's
gospel
for the
10 chapters
that follow
Luke 9
Jesus
is walking
a trail
he's on a
hike
he's heading
to Jerusalem
and Jerusalem
the destination
now looms
large
in Jesus
thoughts
it rises
ominously
over
everything
that follows
for Jesus
every word
he owes
it stands
taller
and taller
with each
event
from here
to the
middle
of
chapter
19
and so
notice
verse 51
as the
time
approached
for him
to be
taken up
to heaven
Jesus
resolutely
set out
for Jerusalem
the rawness
of Luke's
words here
communicate
the intensity
of this
moment
for Jesus
it's quite
literally
he stiffens
his face
to go
to Jerusalem
he sets
his eyes
he will
not be
distracted
he will
not be
diverted
one bit
Jerusalem's
the destination
for him
and along
the way
to Jerusalem
Jesus
educates
his would-be
followers
on the
demands
of the road
lessons
on what
it will
mean
to effectively
set our
face
to Jerusalem
with him
and these
chapters
the next
10 chapters
are fiercely
radical
they're
scary
actually
possibly
even
discouraging
even
in the
verses
today
you kind
of think
Jesus
are you
trying to
discourage
me
from being
a follower
and so
it is
very important
from the
outset
for us
to resist
the temptation
to tame
these
chapters
to make
his teaching
sound more
reasonable
to tone
him down
these are
hard words
but important
words
you see
when I hear
inexperienced
Christians
confidently
assert
that they
will follow
Christ
no matter
what the
cost
I feel
both
pleasure
and
concern
they've
experienced
new life
in Christ
forgiveness
release
from guilt
expansive
joy
and so
it's natural
to say
I know
where I've
come from
I don't
go back
there
and so
for me
as a
Christian
and as
someone
as a
Christian
minister
such talk
thrills me
when I hear
people make
those declarations
but it also
fills me with a
sense of
apprehension
because it's
also naive
a naive
presumption
that one
can follow
Christ
by the
simple
assertion
of the
will
invites
a rude
awakening
I'm
much more
comfortable
when I hear
a believer
say
I know
I can't
do it
alone
there is
a big
big battle
it's going
to be a
daily battle
for me
to follow
Christ
but by
God's
gracious
enabling
my history
I'm going
to throw
myself into
it
much more
confident
with that
you see
presumption
is always
dangerous
for anyone
who follows
Christ
many have
fallen
along the
way
because
they have
not understood
what it means
to be
disciples of
Christ
they have
understood
the concept
of picking
out the
cross
and following
him
some have
fallen
because
this is
predominantly
in the
western world
in the
western church
many have
signed up
to a
distortion
of
Christianity
a
moralistic
therapeutic
deism
in other
words
what that
means is
they believe
that Christianity
means that they
should work
hard to be
good people
they believe
that Christianity
or that God
exists to serve
them by helping
them
God's job for
them in their
life is to
make them feel
happy and good
and secure
and at peace
and we know
that's the case
because every time
God takes one of
those things away
from me or challenges
me on those things
I get angry with
it
so we just assume
God's job in
my life is to
make things go
well for me
and they
believe that
even though
God made the
world
he's only
active and
involved in
my life
when I
need to
resolve a
problem
for me
the rest of
the time
you pretty
much
is to get
out of the
way and
let me get
on with
life with
my agenda
and so
it's essential
for us to
understand
Jesus'
mission
if we
understand
what it
means to
follow him
so let's
take a look
at that first
what the
journey to
Jerusalem
meant for
Jesus
he resolutely
sets his face
there
so what is it
about this
journey
what it
means for
him
because if we
can understand
what it
means for
him
we're in a
better place
to understand
what it
means for
us to be
followers of
him
now early
in Luke 9
as Jesus
prepared to
set out for
Jerusalem from
Galilee
he explained
it to his
disciples
in verse 22
he said
the son of
man must
supplement
things
and be
rejected by
the elders
the chief
priests
and he must
be killed
and on the
third day
raised
of life
and then
in verse
44 he
told them
listen carefully
to what I'm
about to tell
you
the son of
man is
going to
betray
in the
hands of
many
and yet
verse 45
tells us
the disciples
were still
ignorant
they did
not
understand
clearly
what they
thought Jesus
was on
about
was flawed
their
misunderstanding
of his
mission
results in
a misunderstanding
of what it
means to
follow
Jesus
he didn't
understand
first of
all that
Jesus
mission
was in
fact
about
mercy
and
grace
not
about
judgment
notice
verse 52
he sent
messengers
on ahead
who went
into
Samaritan
village
to get
things
ready
for him
but the
people
there
did not
work in
him
because
he was
heading
for
Jerusalem
he's
only
just
started
he's
like
the
trailhead
on his
way
to
Jerusalem
and
he's
already
being
rejected
it is
the only
sign
of what
is about
to come
Jesus
rejected
all the way
to Jerusalem
and
when he
arrives in
Jerusalem
rejection
is the
pattern
for Jesus
and it's
the pattern
for those
who have
followed
Jesus
James
and
John
however
the two
sons
of
the
to
discover
see
the
rejection
and so
in verse
54
here's
their
response
Lord
we want
us to
pull down
fire from
heaven
to
destroy
them
Jesus
a few
drones
and smart
bombs
would
wipe
this
village
out
be
done
with
it
and
they
would
be
sarcastic
they
would
dare
be
serious
they
were
not
naive
they
were
not
joking
you
see
they
remembered
2
Kings
1
which
records
how the
apostate
king
Ahaziah
twice
sent soldiers
to take
Elijah
and the
apostles
saw
Jesus
as an
Elijah
figure
and
twice
in
2
Kings
the
prophet
Elijah
said
if I
am a
man
of
God
may
fire
come
down
from
heaven
and
consume
you
and
your
fifty
men
and
it
did
twice
and
the
disciples
memories
are
great
you
think
away
here's
an
opportunity
Jesus
here's
an
opportunity
to get
a fire
come
down
burn
this
village
and
from
here
to
Jerusalem
everyone
know
don't
mess
with
us
Jesus
is
like
a
son
see
in there
rush
to call
for
God's
judgment
the
apostles
had
chosen
to
ignore
Jesus
example
and
teaching
Luke
4
reveals
that
both
James
and
John
heard
Jesus
say
but
I
tell
you
who
hear
me
love
your
enemies
be good
to those
who hate
you
bless
those
who curse
you
pray
for
those
who
mistreat
you
and
they
had
seen
those
words
fleshed
out
in the
life and
ministry
of Jesus
in a
thousand
ways
so as
Jesus
goes
to five
turns
on
your
response
just
refutes
them
idiots
you see
a wrong
view
of what
Jesus
is on
about
is a
wrong
view
of what
it means
to
fight
him
wrong
expectation
of what
it means
to fight
him
if
Jesus
had come
to execute
judgment
and take
up
residence
in the
palace
in Jerusalem
then it
would make
total sense
for the
sons of
thunder to
call for
judgment
in that
way
but if
Jesus
had come
instead
not to
judge
but to
save
then a
radically
different
form of
following
is in
order
and the
answer
of the
whole
new
testament
is that
the
surprise
the surprise
about
Jesus
is that
he denied
himself
he came
to live
a sacrificial
life
dying
service
before
he comes
a second
time to
reign
in the
way
he comes
and divests
himself
gives
himself
puts
his
life
and dies
for
his
enemies
and he
reigns
now
the
Lord
resurrected
reigns
in
glory
you see
Jesus'
mission
is one
of mercy
and grace
and salvation
for
humanity
and Jesus
made it
explicit
when in
Mark 10
he says
for even
the son
of man
did not
come to
be served
but to
serve
and give
his life
as a ransom
for many
or there's
John 3
16
17
for God
so loved
the world
that he gave
his one
and only
son
that whoever
believes
in him
should not
perish
but have
eternal life
for God
did not send
his son
into the world
to condemn
the world
but to
save the
world
through
him
so
what did
it mean
for
Jesus
he
resolutely
sets
his face
to
Jerusalem
in
order to
surrender
his life
for the
salvation
of
sinners
it was a
death that
was vindicated
when he
rose again
on the
third day
and now
reigns in
glory
and the
surprise
here for
the disciples
following
Jesus
demands
a life
of denying
self
in sacrificial
service
before we
with Christ
reign
in glory
that's a
surprise
for the
disciples
what that
means
is
for the
disciples
of Jesus
walking
with him
following
him
what Jesus
demands
is a
life
of
commitment
a
life
of
commitment
for those
who
follow
him
you see
what
James
and John
had to
learn
what we
must
all
learn
is that
Jesus
path to
Jerusalem
is our
journey to
Jerusalem
if he
set his
face
to go
there and
die
we must
set our
face
to die
to ourselves
with him
we die
as he
does
that's why
he calls
us to
take up
our cross
and follow
him
which he
made
explicit
in Luke
9
23
24
if anyone
would come
after me
he must
deny
himself
take up
his cross
daily
and follow
me
whoever
wants to
save his
life will
lose it
but whoever
loses
his life
for me
will save
it
we seek
to secure
our life
through
returning evil
for evil
or surrounding
ourselves
with luxury
in the face
of human
need
and the
billions of
lost people
on this
planet
who don't
know Christ
are about
to enter
into a
crisis
with eternity
as 55
million people
do
over here
in
feyed
belt
and
eternal
courses
if we're
blind to
that need
as we
surround
ourselves
in luxury
Jesus
says here
really clearly
you will
lose your
life
when Jesus
set his
face to
walk the
Calvary
road
he was
not merely
taking our
place
he was
setting our
pattern
he is not
just our
substitute
he is also
our
case setter
and so
verses
56
62
are
Jesus
way
of
correcting
James
and John's
misconceptions
about the
glories of
following him
three times
here we
read what
it means
to be a
disciple of
Jesus
what it
means to
be a
Christian
three times
the word
follow
as Jesus
goes
so we
follow
by him
that's
what it
means to
be a
disciple
and the
first
would be
follow
Jesus
is there
in verse
57
as they
were walking
along the
road
a man
said to
him
I will
follow
you
wherever
you
go
Jesus
replied
foxes
of holes
and birds
in the
air
have
nests
the son
of man
has no
place
to lay
his head
for the
first thing
to be
with Jesus
is going
to result
in hardship
at least
for now
it's
interesting
I think
that our
priorities
often reveal
an attitude
that says
I will
follow you
Jesus
provide you
give me
a successful
healthy
luxurious
secure
comfortable
life
if you
provide all
that stuff
then I
follow you
you ever
stop doing
the things
that I
expect you
to do
and then
I'm going
to get
cross
with you
if I
start
with faith
in you
start turning
back
looking for
alternatives
so these
here words
are strong
words for
Jesus
he meant
that at
times
those
who
follow
him
would
literally
be
homeless
he meant
it quite
literally
they would
undergo
immense
discomfort
Jesus
was saying
that if you
walk with
him
you
by the
power of
the Holy
Spirit
will sense
that the
world is
not your
home
there
will
be
dissonance
and
discomfort
and
disharmony
and
unease
and
rejection
no
one
who commits
to following
Christ
and does
so
and follows
Christ
lives
a life
of
ease
no
exceptions
if
your
Christianity
has not
brought
discomfort
to your
life
something
is wrong
the great
John
Stott
wrote that
in one
of his
books
if there's
no sense
of fight
no sense
of battle
no sense
of hardship
associated
with your
discipleship
the Lord
Jesus
don't be
too quick
to call
yourself
a disciple
the Lord
Jesus
there's
something
drastically
wrong
a committed
heart
knows the
discomfort
of loving
difficult
people
the
discomfort
of
giving
until
it
hurts
the
discomfort
of
putting
oneself
out
for the
ministry
of
Christ
and
his
church
the
discomfort
of a
life
out of
step
with
modern
culture
or even
the
traditional
culture
that I've
been brought
up in
the
discomfort
of being
disliked
even the
occasional
sense
of having
nowhere
to lay
your head
but Christ
is greater
Christ
is greater
than anything
that we
lose
second
we
follow
Jesus
in
verse
59
he
said
another
man
followed
me
the
man
replied
first let me
go and bury
my father
Jesus
said to
him
that the
dead
bury
their own
dead
but you
go and
claim the
kingdom
of God
you see a
follower of
Jesus
needs to
really
sense
the
urgency
of what
they're being
called to
again
really tough
words here
from Jesus
how could
he tell
a would-be
follower to
neglect the
burial of
his dead
father
now I
understand
that we
need to
take a
little bit
closer look
at the
text here
the man
did not
say his
father was
dead but
only let me
go and bury
my father
you see if
in fact in
that culture
the first city
of Palestine
if his father
had in fact
actually died
he wouldn't
even be on
the road
with Jesus
in this
moment
he would
be home
tending
the lengthy
details
associated
with the
funeral
service
so apparently
this would-be
disciple's
father
was getting
elderly
and the
man was
asking Jesus
permission
to delay
following
Jesus
until his
father's
dead
the request
here revealed
that this
man had no
concept of
the urgency
or the
importance
of the task
of which
Jesus was
called him
to
and Jesus
famous
answer
he far
from being
hard-hearted
exalted
the importance
and the
urgency
of his
call
let the
dead
that is
the spiritually
dead
bury the
physically
dead
but you
go and
proclaim
the kingdom
of God
salvation
of humanity
in Christ
you don't
do that
job
and to
neglect
doing that
job
to neglect
the proclamation
of the good
news of the
gospel
means that
this man
was blinded
to his
father's
deepest
needs
not the
first death
that's not
your biggest
concern
the second
death
rejection
from God
for eternity
that's what
your dad
needs to
know
Christ
if we're
really on the
road with
Jesus
life is
filled
with this
intense
urgency
we have
the words
of life
and life
is short
and there
is so little
time
and we
have such
good news
to proclaim
far and
wide
my
desire
for us
as the
church
as we
go through
this
series
is that
my prayer
is that
God
will give
us such
a deep
sense
of that
urgency
of the
gospel
being
proclaimed
I've got
to be honest
I'm not
sensing it
at the
moment
my fear
is this
series is so
important for
us
that we've
settled
in the
comfort
of us
so one
of my
prayers
is that
we would
live out
a radically
different
dream
a dream
to do
something
radically
loving
with our
possessions
something
radically
loving
with our
money
something
radically
loving
with our
time
something
radically
loving
with our
families
and our
relationships
sense
the urgency
of what
God
has
called
us
to
the
third
would
be
to
see
that
Jesus
demands
allegiance
from
those
who
follow
him
verse
61
still
another
said
I'll
follow
you
Lord
but
first
let me
go
back
and
say
bye
to
family
Jesus
replied
no one
puts
a hand
to the
player
and looks
back
as fit
for
service
of
the
kingdom
of
God
simple
point
here
is
you
cannot
play
out
in a
straight
line
while
constantly
looking
backwards
for
those
of
you
not
familiar
with
agriculture
you can't
drive on the
right side
of the
road
for too
long
if you're
constantly
looking at
the
re-vision
bearer
it
doesn't
work
I
tried
and I
ran
many years
ago
I was
about 15
I think
late one
night
driving a
truck
which
should
be
growing
and
driving
along
this
road
which
had
big
cotton
stuff
cotton
modules
pressed
and you
think
cotton
you think
oh that's
nice
fluffy
nice and
soft
but you
get
14 tons
of it
and push
it into
a block
it's a
solid
block
and so
I'm
driving
along
and I
argued
with the
guy beside
me about
something
it was
late the
afternoon
we're
looking
out
there's
this
machine
up in
the distance
driving
and I
said what
machines
were
and I
said no
it's not
and I
drove
along
and I
just sort
of thought
I'm going
to win
this argument
and I'm
staring at
this stuff
forgetting I'm
driving
and what you
do when
you're looking
in a particular
direction
you subconsciously
start doing
that
you subconsciously
start driving
in the direction
you should try
sometime
and
next thing
you know
I drove
back
straight into
one of
these
14
tons
of
cotton
which is
unforgiving
totally smashed
this truck
up big
time
don't know
how anyone
was killed
I mean
listen
if you got
straight into
the industry
you would land
in the
cotton
maybe
that's
Jesus
pointing
you can't
plough
in a
straight line
by looking
back
you can't
follow
Jesus
you can't
make Jesus
look great
if you're
always
second guessing
is he
worthy
is he
most
important
the
disciple
must not
condition
their
commitment
to Jesus
even on
the most
highest
of
obligations
in this
world
such as
family
and other
relationships
oh my
family's
requiring me
to do
more here
Jesus
so let me
just lower
the bar
with you
just for a
little bit
a bit of a
season while I
need to
attend to this
Jesus
doesn't
negotiate
with the
level of
commitment
the call
that Jesus
makes here
is that he
must come
first and
must remain
the focus
of one's
life
those who
pine after
what's been
left behind
who are
always
remembering
that comforts
at home
who dream
about how
life might
be if they
had not
stepped onto
the road
with Jesus
who keep
looking over
their shoulder
and the reason
you should be
up
do not last
long on the
road
allegiance to
Jesus is
supreme over
everything
what are you
saying here
as you look
through
he's saying
Christ
I know
you idols
I know
what you
hold deep
in your
heart
that is
competing
for affection
with me
he knows
we love
our possessions
he knows
we love
our cultures
he knows
we love
our families
he knows
we love
our careers
he knows
that we
primarily
love
ourselves
we don't
surrender
anyone
and when
Jesus responds
the way
he does
he with
these three
will be
followers
he's making
a radical
call on
their life
he calls
them
very simple
two words
follow
me
but just
think about
who's calling
us
we have
been soaking
for 12
weeks
in Galatians
in the gospel
of grace
of what God
has done
for us
and before
that
we did
another
five weeks
on the
solace
from the
reformation
again
focusing
on the
gospel
this is
the creator
of the
universe
this is
the king
of kings
the lord
of lords
the one
who holds
all things
by the power
of his word
the one
who is
from
everlasting
to everlasting
never had a
beginning
will never
have an end
born of a
virgin
as the holy
one of God
his perfect
in obedience
he's triumphant
over sin
and death
and hell
and demons
in him
are hidden
all the
treasures
all the
treasures
of wisdom
and knowledge
the one
who calls
this earth
his footstool
mine's this
bit
because
his
earth
his footstool
the one
who commands
the wind
and the
waves
the one
who raises
the dead
he's the one
who says
you follow
me
he's
offering
himself
for our
fellowship
and friendship
and partnership
there should
be no
question
as to
that he
is
worthy
but he
is challenging
us here
he's ready
to call
our life
he's testing
testing
is that
enough
is his
call
follow
me
is
he
enough
for us
to follow
he's not
holding anything
else out
except him
is he
enough
is he
our treasure
our joy
our security
our hope
our friend
in times of
loneliness
our home
our father
our mother
our power
to get out
of bed
in the morning
Jesus
looks
every single
one of us
in the face
tonight
and he sees
right near our
hearts
and he's
poking around
in there
by
I pray he's
poking around
in there
by his spirit
to see
who or what
it is
that we are
living for
please
let him
do that
in your
heart
there's not
a single
person
sitting in
this room
tonight
that doesn't
need that
work in
their heart
or standing
in this room
right now
doesn't need
that work
in their heart
please let
him do
it
you don't
lose
with Jesus
William W.
Gordon
he was the
heir of a
wealthy
Chicago family
in 1904
and 1905
he was 16
years of age
and he traveled
the world
in the chaperone
I suppose you
can do that
we've got lots
of money
but unlike
most of us
who travel
the world
at times
of self
intelligence
he
he's
God
used it
in his
life
to give
him a
vision for
mission
God's purposes
in the world
what followed
from that
came back
from that
trip
Britain
education
at Yale
and Princeton
and then also
on to Princeton
Seminary
and it was
when he was
at Princeton
Seminary
he committed
his life
to seek
to win
the Muslim
communities
in China
to Christ
so in
1913
at the age
of 25
he left
for Egypt
and he
never looked
back
he put his
hand in the
plow
and he
didn't look
back
before he
left
Borden
gave away
his
inheritance
$800,000
that's
equivalent
to $20
million
today
what he
didn't
know
was that
was the
final year
of his
life
in Cairo
which he
went to
to get
more language
studies
before he
went to
China
to reach
the Muslims
he contracted
cerebral
meningitis
and he
died
his mother
was on
the way
from
Chicago
to Cairo
to have
a short
holiday
with him
before he
went to
China
she arrived
just in
time to
bury him
and it
is said
that she
found his
Bible
and other
small possessions
he had
and in
his Bible
were written
the words
no reserve
and the
date
that he
wrote that
suggested
it had
been written
shortly
after
he
renounced
his fortune
and
he
gave
the money
and
when he
did that
no reserve
he wrote
in his
Bible
later
his mother
discovered
he had
written
no retreat
in his
Bible
and the
date
that he
wrote
no retreat
corresponded
to his
father telling
him that he
would never
hold a position
in the
family
business
done
with
his dad
wasn't a
Christian
his mum
was
done
finally
shortly
before
he died
in Egypt
literally
days before
he died
in Egypt
he wrote
in his
Bible
no
regrets
no reserve
no retreat
no regrets
that's the
kind of
radical
attitude
Christ
is calling
for
in Luke
9
tender
mercy
and
stealing
to
the
thing
friends
it's
my call
for us
in the
next six
weeks
is for
us
to
take
whatever
steps
we need
to take
we're
not all
going to
be
written
borders
but
don't
sit
here
and
not
do
anything
call
for us
as a
church
will
be
to
take
greater
risk
for
the
cause
of
Christ
I
have
been
inspired
encouraged
deeply
as much
as it's
an enormous
grief
for me
personally
as it
is for
some
of you
to
lose
Sam
and
Sally
from
us
but
their
decision
at
great
risk
to
themselves
to
go
and
plan
a
church
in
another
state
is
a
risky
gutsy
decision
so
that
people
might
be
one
for
Christ
that's
their
call
what's
yours
what's
ours
what's
God
calling
us
to
the cost
of picking
up our
cross
and following
Jesus
is
steep
it
costs
us
everything
we
have
to gain
something
that we
can never
lose
but
reward
is
so
sweet
that's
what
makes
the
reward
so
sweet
we
gain
more
than
we
ever
had
in
the
words
of
Jesus
in
Mark
10
no
one
who
has
left
home
or
brothers
or
sisters
or
mother
or father
or
children
or
fields
for
me
and
the
gospel
will
fail to
receive
a hundred
times as
much
in
his
present
age
and
in
the
age
to
come
eternal
life
Amen