You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.
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We come this morning in our study of Luke's gospel to a really hard passage.
It's not hard because it's complicated to understand.
In fact, it's remarkably simple to track with.
It's hard to live out.
It's one of those that although many of us in here profess to be followers of Christ,
and most of us understand what this passage means,
I don't know if any of us truly, consistently live by its standards.
It's Luke 14, at verse 25.
Jesus is in the midst of teaching about his kingdom while he journeys toward Jerusalem and the cross.
This is God's holy word.
And if not, while the other is yet a great way off,
he's laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying,
this man began to build and was not able to finish.
Or what king going out to encounter another king in war will not sit down first and deliberate
whether he is able with 10,000 to meet him who comes against him with 20,000?
And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.
So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored?
It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile.
It is thrown away.
He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
Let's pray as we look at God's word together.
Father, we need your help.
I'm afraid we understand already some of what your word calls us to.
But it is hard for our hearts.
Holy Spirit, would you come and would you challenge us?
Would you show us what we need to see in your word?
And would you show us Jesus?
We might love him, that we might know more what it looks like to follow him.
We ask in his name.
Amen.
Sir John Franklin was a British explorer who in 1845 departed with about 130 men on what would be his final expedition.
Author Annie Dillard describes their plans this way.
They embarked from England to find the Northwest Passage across the high Canadian Arctic to the Pacific Ocean.
They sailed in two, three-masted barks.
Each sailing vessel carried an auxiliary steam engine and a 12-day supply of coal for the entire projected two or three years voyage.
Instead of additional coal, each ship made room for a 1,200-volume library,
a hand organ playing 50 tunes,
China place settings,
cut glass wine goblets,
and sterling silver flatware.
Two months after departure,
a British whaling captain met the two barks in Lancaster Sound.
He reported back to England on the high spirits of officers and men.
He was the last European to see any of them alive.
They died of disease,
starvation,
of cold in the Arctic.
Or you could say,
they died of underestimating the cost.
The cost of their commitment to explore.
They packed for a pleasure cruise, as it were,
and walked into a much more serious and difficult situation.
They thought they could continue their comfortable officer club lifestyle they'd been enjoying in England
on board this expedition around the world.
But the truth was,
everything about that needed to change.
And that's a big part of Jesus' point here,
when he tells the stories of counting the cost before heading into a battle,
before building a tower.
He's saying,
just as in those situations,
when you determine to follow me,
to be a part of my kingdom,
you should consider what is required.
What you're really committing to.
See,
many of us think we can continue our comfortable lifestyles,
and just kind of tack Jesus on the side,
as a nice addition to what we already do.
It'll be a master suite on the back,
you know,
nothing else will change.
It'll work nicely.
I thought about it in terms of my phone.
Most of you have a phone.
I try really hard not to have mine with me when I'm up here.
But there's a significant difference
that Jesus is asking us to consider in following him.
It's like the difference between adding an app on your phone
and changing operating systems.
See,
like you,
I can just add a free app on my phone anytime,
right?
Just click,
and it's there.
And I can use that app,
and it doesn't affect any of the rest of the phone.
I can open up that Jesus app
and use it,
and the emails work just the same,
and the text messages are the same,
and the calendar is just the same.
Nothing else changes.
But Jesus is suggesting that following him
involves changing operating systems.
Now, that's something entirely different, isn't it?
How many of you, like me,
avoid updating your operating system
as long as possible at all costs?
I know some of you do this.
Why do we do that?
You're pointing at each other.
This is terrible.
That's so mean.
Why do we delay so long
updating our operating system?
Because it changes everything else,
doesn't it?
Nothing else works the same.
It doesn't work right.
I changed mine finally over a year ago.
I still can't add a new event to my calendar.
I have not figured it out yet
in the new system.
They mess with you.
Why would you want that to change, right?
My email doesn't load the same.
Texts don't look the same.
All the other apps function differently.
And Jesus says,
that's what it means to follow me.
To have that center operating system
of your life changed
so that everything else has to adapt
in light of that priority.
He's not just one thing on a list of many.
He must be the first priority,
the greatest value
that everything else revolves around.
That's what it means to follow him,
to be a part of his kingdom.
And he challenges us, doesn't he,
on that very issue
in some specific areas
that are not easy for us to hear.
But we need to hear them
and to trust that he knows what's best for us.
Three times in this passage,
he says,
as you're counting the cost,
realize that unless,
fill in the blank,
you cannot be my disciple.
Unless this changes,
you cannot be my disciple.
What things does he say have to change?
First one, verse 26,
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.
We must value Jesus
more than any other person.
Now listen,
kids,
you especially listen,
okay?
This does not mean
that it is okay
to treat your brothers and sisters meanly,
unkindly.
It does not mean
that it is okay
to be disrespectful
to your parents,
to hate them.
It does not mean
it's okay to be harsh
with your children,
parents.
Those are not okay.
It's not what Jesus is saying.
Jesus says in many places
we are to honor our parents,
to love our spouses,
to care tenderly
for our children,
and even we're to love our enemies.
So we know
that he's not saying
those other things are okay.
What he is saying
in this passage
is that we are to love him
above all others.
He gets first place.
Everyone else
gets second place.
This idea in the Hebrew culture
when we talk about hate
in this passage
is one of your greatest priority.
What will your heart be given to?
To hate in this sense
is a disavowal
of primary allegiance.
It's a change
in who is most important.
I think of it in terms
of what I would say
to a couple
in premarital counseling.
I will often remind
that couple
that leaving and cleaving
means something
very important.
It means once we get married
there must be
no confusion
about who my primary
commitment is to.
It's to my new wife
or my new husband.
Now I'm still to honor
my father and mother.
That relationship
remains important.
We should care about it.
But we must make sure
that our spouse
understands
he or she
is my first priority
in my family.
Right?
You may have said
you cannot be married
to me
unless you value me
more than your mother.
Jesus says
you cannot be my disciple
unless you value me
more than any other person.
For many of my friends
in India
that has meant
losing relationship
with family
who have disowned them
because they embrace Jesus.
Some of you
know that experience.
You've dealt with
some of that pain
in your close relationships.
Mocking
from friends.
Rejection
from family.
But for many of us
it looks a little bit
different
from that.
It's that we have
such high
family values
that we subtly
begin to value
our family
more than we value
Jesus.
And it's not that
these people
we value
are bad people
they're just bad gods.
Last week
in the passage
we were looking at
it was three good things
used as excuses
to keep people
from rejoicing
in the king's banquet
wasn't it?
A wife
some oxen
a new field
good things
that kept people
from God
eternally.
Watch out.
They're not sinful
things.
We recognize
those more quickly.
These are not
sinful things
keeping us from God
but when we try
to put these good things
in God's place
they ultimately
can't bear that weight.
Isn't that true
in your marriage?
I've watched myself
more than I
care to remember
forgetting
God's delight
in me
and trying
to fulfill
myself
through Christi
to think
that she's
the one
who's got
the pressure
on her
to make me
okay
to have
her approval
and her affection
make me feel
secure
and significant
and accepted
and when that
happens
I become
this
needy
demanding
person.
it's exhausting
it can be
even crushing
to a spouse
right?
Many of us
do the same
to our kids
centering
our lives
around them
so that
our priority
of worshiping
God
accidentally
becomes
secondary
and our kids
can wilt
under the pressure
right?
You've seen it
happen.
They're not
bad people
to love
they're just
bad gods
I found
this to be
one of
many
very
hard
aspects
of parenting
how do you
make it
so your
children
feel
deeply
unconditionally
loved
without them
also feeling
the world
revolves around
them?
Isn't that
hard?
How do you
communicate
to them
and demonstrate
to them
how loved
they are
without making
them think
it's all
about them?
It's one of
those hard
questions
that's very
difficult
in many
situations
it's one of
the reasons
I'm so
thankful
Derek's
going to
answer it
for us
in about
30 seconds
Tuesday night
so you'll
want to be
there for
that
thank you
Derek
but what I
see in my
own parenting
and in our
church culture
is a tendency
to love
our children
so much
that we
obscure
the person
we actually
want them
to love
most
God
sometimes
unwittingly
we communicate
to our
children
their
athletic
performance
their
academic
success
their
having
fun
in the
worship
service
or
Sunday
school
or youth
group
is what
really
matters
we need
to make
sure
that you
like it
that you're
happy there
and that it's
more important
than the
worship of
God
itself
than living
in community
together
than learning
about God
together
just want
you to
like it
now those
things don't
have to be
competing
priorities
but sometimes
we treat
them that
way
pastor
Kent Hughes
says we
often love
our kids
in a way
that shows
we hate
God
in the
language of
this passage
we get it
backwards
thinking what
are even
our highest
priorities
for our
kids
he writes
we fall
short
when we
spend more
time in
the car
in one
day
shuttling
them to
games and
lessons
than we
do in a
month
in prayer
for their
souls
ouch
what kind
of pastors
say things
like that
it's convicting
isn't it
what do we
most long
for for
them
what are
our hearts
for our
kids
we love
them but
do we
love them
as God
has called
us to
Jesus
says put
me
first
value
me
prioritize
me
and those
second
things
will
flourish
your love
for your
family
will deepen
and be
enriched
when it's
in its
proper
place
it can't
handle
first
place
that's
not what
they were
created
for
I am
I'm
the one
you must
trust
then Jesus
continues in a
similar vein
with some
other specific
things
he says
we must
value him
more than
our own
comfort
or reputation
look at
verse 27
whoever does
not bear his
own cross
and come
after me
cannot be
my disciple
now this
certainly could
involve dying
for the cause
of Christ
after all
Jesus has
made it very
clear he's
headed where
he's headed to
Jerusalem
to a cross
to lay down
his life
and so
if you're
considering
following
him
you ought
to count
that cost
he's
saying
to those
walking
along the
road
with him
carefully
count the
cost of
following
Jesus
but even
more
particularly
this second
statement
is talking
about how
we live
Jesus
elsewhere
calls us
to take
up our
crosses
not once
when we
die
but daily
right
as we
live
that's
the picture
taking
up your
cross
the part
of that
journey
where the
condemned
criminal
would actually
put the
cross
on his
back
and have
to walk
through
the streets
of town
up the
hill
in deep
physical
agony
carrying
this heavy
weight
with friends
and neighbors
gathered around
mocking
shouting
at them
ridiculing
them
so the
emotional
agony
the shame
that is
experienced
in taking
up
one's
cross
well before
the actual
death
that's what
Jesus is
describing
he's saying
that truly
following him
will not
be comfortable
will not be
socially
advantageous
it's a lot
less like
a pleasure
cruise
and a lot
more like
a death
march
that's why
I bristle
when someone
says to me
and it
happens
quite
regularly
well I
I just
know God
wants me
to be
happy
so
he does
you know
that
I know
he wants
you to be
completely
satisfied
in him
that's
one thing
but the
bible
seems to
say that
reality
might involve
quite a bit
of painful
suffering
difficult
obedience
when it
doesn't
feel like
it
humiliating
repentance
when we
fail
things that
you may
well not
mean in
your definition
of happy
that you're
suggesting to
me right now
God wants
you may not
use those
words
you wouldn't
think of
saying that
perhaps
but where
are you
believing that
lie
about happiness
in your
life
if we're
not walking
into
uncomfortable
places
and painful
situations
taking up
our cross
we're not
following
Jesus
and cannot
be his
disciple
finally
after reminding
us to
count the
cost of
following him
telling those
parables
Jesus makes
a third
statement
in some
ways it's a
summary
statement
verse 33
so therefore
any
one of
you who
does not
renounce all
that he
has
cannot be
my disciple
we must
value Jesus
more than
any other
possession
yes that
could mean
very broadly
anyone or
anything
you can't
follow Jesus
and hang on
to a pet
sin
you can't
follow Jesus
and hang on
to old
priorities
and habits
that's
losing
your
saltiness
losing
the unique
flavor
and impact
of the
kingdom
becoming
eternally
useless
Jesus
says
but especially
here this last
statement in
terms of money
and possessions
they certainly
have value
to us
don't they
they must
not be more
valuable
than Jesus
we must
not use
our things
to build
our status
rather than
build his
kingdom
we must
not pursue
financial gain
at the expense
of kingdom
gain
rather
Jesus is
saying
everything we
have is
valuable
in relation
to furthering
his kingdom
what matters
most
one of the
things I always
say in the
welcome to
Southwood
class is
is that there
are no
membership
dues here
at Southwood
there's no
fee to be a
member of the
church
and that's
true
perhaps I
should also
say but you
need to know
that following
Jesus with us
here will cost
you everything
we want to be
shaped by God's
word right
which says here
if I'm to be
his disciple
everything I
have is at
his disposal
I must not
cling more
tightly to
anything
than I do
to Jesus
so here's
what I've been
wrestling with
lately
what God has
been showing
me in my
own life
is that if
that's to be
true
it must
actually begin
with me
treasuring
valuing
Jesus
himself
for who
he is
for how
wonderful
and glorious
he is
that God
himself
would be
the greatest
prize
the only
one I
truly can't
live without
the one
worth more
who's
more fulfilling
than everything
I own
or could
own
I love
the way
Paul says
this after
he reviews
all his
assets
his possessions
his spiritual
resume
boosters
he looks at
all of them
and he says
whatever gain
I had
I counted
as loss
for the
sake of
Christ
indeed
I count
everything
as loss
because of
the surpassing
worth
of knowing
Christ Jesus
my Lord
for his
sake
I've suffered
the loss
of all
things
and count
them as
rubbish
in order
that I
may gain
Christ
the surpassing
worth
of knowing
Christ Jesus
my Lord
have you
experienced
that
have you
felt that
reality
that surpassing
worth
Paul says
even suffering
can help him
know Jesus
better
as he learns
how Jesus
suffered
and what
could be
better than
knowing
Jesus
he's all
glorious
he's perfectly
good
he's endlessly
faithful
he's so
worthy
of our
worship
right
kids
all of you
who are here
have people
who've brought
you here
today
who could
be
during this
couple of
hours
doing
something else
to make
some money
whether it's
the work they
usually do
or something
else
and you need
to know
that a
big part
of the
reason
that they're
here
and not
off doing
that
is they
believe
Jesus
is worth
it
Jesus
is more
valuable
than money
we have
to believe
that
to be here
together
but sometimes
that reality
is hard
to remember
at other
times
and on
other days
isn't it
am I truly
delighted in him
do I
really
treasure
Jesus
because
I've had to
wrestle with
that
because if
I don't
treasure him
for just
who he is
in himself
he's going
to ask me
to do
really hard
things
and to
leave behind
other things
that I
really love
and so
there's
no way
I'm
going
to do
that
unless
Jesus
is worth
it to
me
that's
what I've
been
wrestling
with
that's
what
Jesus
is
calling
us
to
consider
this
morning
so often
I
don't
trust him
value
him
follow
him
if you're
really up
for a gut
check
if you
really want
to consider
Jesus'
challenge
in this
passage
here's a
question
that gets
at the
same
issue
a different
way
I've been
wrestling
with
and dodging
this
for a few
weeks
now
so you
can dodge
it too
or wrestle
with it
along with
me
what would
change
in your
life
if Jesus
left
if your
relationship
with God
ceased
if it was
no longer
a priority
what would
change
would it
just free
up two
hours on
Sunday
and say
roughly
10%
of your
income
just a
little
blip
on the
radar
screen
but
everything
else
basically
the
same
would you
treat your
spouse
any
differently
if
Jesus
didn't
matter
would you
live in a
different
neighborhood
attend
different
schools
spend
time
in
different
relationships
in other
words
if the
operating
system
of your
heart
changed
today
it wasn't
Jesus
anymore
would the
money app
function
any differently
from what it
does today
the parenting
app
work different
or just the
same
how about the
free time
app
the workplace
app
would it
affect
any of
those
if the
honest answer
is no
then
something's
wrong
I know
I'm
meddling
but Jesus
started it
he did it
first
and he's
doing it
to me
first
this is
where he
calls us
to consider
the cost
of following
him
and to
ask
how much
do I
truly value
him
or do I
just say
I do
what would
it cost
us to be
in relationship
with Jesus
to be part
of his
kingdom
he tells
us we
should expect
it to cost
us everything
we have
Walter
Gowans
was one
of three
friends
who in
1893
followed
the call
of Jesus
to go
from Canada
to Sudan
with the
good news
of Jesus
like many
other
missionaries
of the
time
they sold
many of
their
possessions
and they
packed
what little
they kept
into a
coffin
and bought
a one way
ticket
across the
Atlantic
to Africa
not expecting
to come
back
counting the
cost
prepared to
give
everything
the
efforts
of
Walter
and his
two
friends
were the
beginnings
of a
long-standing
mission
agency
called
Sudan
Interior
Mission
but Walter
never saw
that
himself
one year
after leaving
Canada
he was
dying
of malaria
and he
wrote this
final journal
entry to
his mother
back home
August
9
1894
written in
view of my
approaching
end which
has often
lately seemed
so near
but just
now seems
so imminent
and I want
to write
while I have
the power
to do it
well glory
to God
he has
enabled me
to make a
hard fight
for the
Sudan
and although
it may seem
like a total
failure and
defeat it is
not
we shall have
the victory
and that
right speedily
I have
no regret
for undertaking
this venture
and in this
manner my
life has
not been
thrown away
my only
regrets are
for my
poor dear
mother
for her
sake I
would have
chosen to
live
mother dear
and what a
mother you
have been
it seems
I appreciate
you now
more than
ever I
did
oh how
often I
have thought
while lying
here of
your love
and how
I have
longed to
see you
again in
the flesh
don't mourn
for me
darling
dearest
mother
if the
suffering
was great
remember it
is all
over now
and think
of the
glory I
am enjoying
and rejoice
that your
boy was
permitted to
have a
hand in
the redemption
of the
Sudan
oh how
I did
wish to
live for
your sake
goodbye
dearest till
we meet
at Jesus
feet
Walter
you may
or may
not have
to leave
those you
love
pack all
your
possessions
in a
coffin
for
following
Jesus
to cost
you
everything
but he
does ask
for
everything
and knowing
him is
worth it
isn't it
after all
no matter
what it
costs us
to be in
that
relationship
to be a
part
of his
kingdom
being in
this
relationship
with us
cost him
more
didn't it
he gave
up
heaven
he
bought
the
one way
ticket
as it
were
to
earth
and with
passionate
resolution
headed
to the
cross
for you
and for
me
what a
great
savior
to trust
and to
follow
let's
pray
Jesus
we need
your help
to know
what this
call means
in our
lives
we need
your help
to be
willing to
embrace
that
to be
willing to
give up
things that
we love
so
Holy Spirit
would you
make Jesus
glorious
beautiful
and valuable
in our
eyes
this morning
that we
might follow
him
no matter
the cost
we ask
in his
name
amen
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information
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