WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:13.439 There is a river that flows beneath the throne, and the surface there reflects that holy place. 00:00:13.439 --> 00:00:23.679 ! Oh, I'm sure that all the splendor will be so grand to see. 00:00:23.679 --> 00:00:29.980 ! What I long to see the most is Jesus' face. 00:00:29.980 --> 00:00:39.980 Cause that's all that matters to me. 00:00:39.980 --> 00:00:49.980 To bow my head and thank my blessed Savior on my knees. 00:00:49.979 --> 00:00:59.979 On those peaceful hills of glory in His presence I will be. 00:00:59.979 --> 00:01:09.979 To know I'm home, that's all that matters to me. 00:01:09.980 --> 00:01:25.980 Oh, the lights of that fair city will never fade away. 00:01:25.980 --> 00:01:35.980 It's a perfect land where night will never come. 00:01:35.980 --> 00:01:43.980 But all the beauty I'll behold there can't compare to how I'll feel. 00:01:43.980 --> 00:01:53.980 When I hear my precious Lord say, well done. 00:01:53.980 --> 00:02:03.980 That's all that matters to me. 00:02:03.980 --> 00:02:13.980 To know I'm home, that's all that matters to me. 00:02:13.979 --> 00:02:43.979 00:02:43.979 --> 00:02:45.979 I'm looking forward to that day as well. 00:02:45.979 --> 00:02:46.979 I hope that you are. 00:02:46.979 --> 00:02:48.979 If you have your Bibles, Luke chapter number 14. 00:02:48.979 --> 00:02:53.979 If you're able to stand for the reading of God's word, Luke chapter number 14, I ask that you would. 00:02:53.979 --> 00:02:58.979 And back in our series here in the Gospel of Luke, finishing up this chapter. 00:02:58.979 --> 00:03:05.979 And Jesus has been reminding the listeners, really the Pharisees and all those that have been gathered around Him, that He is coming back. 00:03:05.979 --> 00:03:07.979 And to be ready. 00:03:07.979 --> 00:03:09.979 And many were there and they would have heard this. 00:03:09.979 --> 00:03:14.979 And many in the crowds would have been excited and said, hey, I want to follow Him. 00:03:14.979 --> 00:03:16.979 I love His teaching, man. 00:03:16.979 --> 00:03:17.979 He's a great teacher. 00:03:17.979 --> 00:03:18.979 He's a great preacher. 00:03:18.979 --> 00:03:19.979 He's healed people. 00:03:19.979 --> 00:03:20.979 He's fed people. 00:03:20.979 --> 00:03:23.979 I want to be on His team. 00:03:23.979 --> 00:03:26.979 And instead of Jesus saying, yeah, everybody come on in. 00:03:26.979 --> 00:03:28.979 Here's what Jesus wants us to do. 00:03:28.979 --> 00:03:30.979 He wants us to count the cost. 00:03:30.979 --> 00:03:32.979 Because here's the reality. 00:03:32.979 --> 00:03:35.979 There is a cost for following Christ. 00:03:35.979 --> 00:03:37.979 And it's a heavy cost. 00:03:37.979 --> 00:03:38.979 But it's worth it. 00:03:38.979 --> 00:03:42.979 But Jesus lays out the cost of discipleship here in Luke chapter number 14. 00:03:42.979 --> 00:03:44.979 You found your place there in verse 25. 00:03:44.979 --> 00:03:46.979 You can follow along the screen as well. 00:03:46.979 --> 00:03:48.979 Here's what the Bible says. 00:03:48.979 --> 00:03:52.979 And there went great multitudes with Him. 00:03:52.979 --> 00:03:54.979 And He turned and said unto them, 00:03:54.979 --> 00:04:08.979 If any man come to me and hate not his father and mother and wife and children and brethren and sisters, yea, and his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 00:04:08.979 --> 00:04:11.979 This is a really strong recruiting pitch. 00:04:11.979 --> 00:04:17.980 This is not how you think you probably should gain followers. 00:04:17.980 --> 00:04:19.980 Verse 27. 00:04:19.980 --> 00:04:25.980 And whosoever doth not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 00:04:25.980 --> 00:04:26.980 Verse 28. 00:04:26.980 --> 00:04:33.980 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first and counteth the cost, whether he has sufficient to finish it? 00:04:33.980 --> 00:04:41.980 Lest happily, after he laid the foundation and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, saying, 00:04:41.980 --> 00:04:44.980 This man began to build and was not able to finish. 00:04:44.980 --> 00:04:55.980 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 00:04:55.980 --> 00:05:03.980 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth the ambassage and desireth conditions of peace. 00:05:03.980 --> 00:05:11.980 So likewise, whosoever of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. 00:05:11.980 --> 00:05:12.980 Salt is good. 00:05:12.980 --> 00:05:17.980 But if the salt has lost his savor, wherewith shall it be seasoned? 00:05:17.980 --> 00:05:20.980 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill. 00:05:20.980 --> 00:05:22.980 But men cast it out. 00:05:22.980 --> 00:05:27.980 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 00:05:27.980 --> 00:05:29.980 So Jesus has this crowd following him. 00:05:29.980 --> 00:05:31.980 The Bible says multitudes. 00:05:31.980 --> 00:05:37.980 Instead of saying, hey, let's keep going, he turns around and says, here's what it looks like if you keep going. 00:05:37.980 --> 00:05:41.980 Here's what discipleship really will cost you. 00:05:41.980 --> 00:05:43.980 And here's the reality. 00:05:43.980 --> 00:05:45.980 God is still sending forth a call. 00:05:45.980 --> 00:05:48.980 Jesus still says, follow me. 00:05:48.980 --> 00:05:54.980 But there's a cost and he wants us to see what it is and to make sure that we understand what we're signing up for. 00:05:54.980 --> 00:05:57.980 So let's ask the Lord to help us this morning as we go through this text. 00:05:57.980 --> 00:05:59.980 Father, thank you for this time together. 00:05:59.980 --> 00:06:05.980 Thank you for the songs that have been sung, the special that reminds us really what is important, Lord, and it's you. 00:06:05.980 --> 00:06:07.980 We see that here in our text. 00:06:07.980 --> 00:06:12.980 That many, I would say even in this room, many in this crowd in our text would desire to follow you. 00:06:12.980 --> 00:06:15.980 But Lord, help us to understand the cost. 00:06:15.980 --> 00:06:19.980 Help us to understand what it entails that we would be all in for you. 00:06:19.980 --> 00:06:21.980 Lord, you're not looking for halfway discipleship. 00:06:21.980 --> 00:06:23.980 You're looking for all in followers. 00:06:23.980 --> 00:06:25.980 Lord, I pray you be with me. 00:06:25.980 --> 00:06:28.980 I pray you would just empty me of self, cleanse me of sin. 00:06:28.980 --> 00:06:30.980 Lord, I pray that you would fill me with your spirit. 00:06:30.980 --> 00:06:31.980 Lord, we need you. 00:06:31.980 --> 00:06:32.980 I need you. 00:06:32.980 --> 00:06:33.980 That you would speak to hearts. 00:06:33.980 --> 00:06:35.980 You would challenge us. 00:06:35.980 --> 00:06:36.980 You would convict us where need be. 00:06:36.980 --> 00:06:38.980 And we ask this in Christ's name. 00:06:38.980 --> 00:06:39.980 Amen. 00:06:39.980 --> 00:06:40.980 Thank you so much for standing. 00:06:40.980 --> 00:06:41.980 You may be seated. 00:06:44.980 --> 00:06:46.980 I'm sure you've started a project at home. 00:06:46.980 --> 00:06:48.980 I think we talked about this a while back. 00:06:48.980 --> 00:06:50.980 But you start a project and you think, I'm going to finish this. 00:06:50.980 --> 00:06:52.980 A real quick project. 00:06:52.980 --> 00:06:58.980 I was trying to fix some sprinkler heads at my house last Saturday before we left for camp. 00:06:58.980 --> 00:07:00.980 It did not go quite like I thought it would. 00:07:00.980 --> 00:07:01.980 You know, I take pictures of it. 00:07:01.980 --> 00:07:05.980 Anybody else take pictures of what you need so when you go to Home Depot, you have the 00:07:05.980 --> 00:07:06.980 picture. 00:07:06.980 --> 00:07:09.980 You find the Home Depot guy, you're like, hey, I need something like this right here that's 00:07:09.980 --> 00:07:10.980 going to fit on that. 00:07:10.980 --> 00:07:11.980 You're like, what size is it? 00:07:11.980 --> 00:07:14.980 I'm like, this is the size. 00:07:14.980 --> 00:07:15.980 Right here. 00:07:15.980 --> 00:07:16.980 I don't know those kind of questions. 00:07:16.980 --> 00:07:18.980 Why would you ask me something like that? 00:07:18.980 --> 00:07:19.980 And he's like, oh yeah, that's good. 00:07:19.980 --> 00:07:20.980 This is it. 00:07:20.980 --> 00:07:21.980 And so I get it home. 00:07:21.980 --> 00:07:23.980 That guy, it was not it. 00:07:23.980 --> 00:07:25.980 And then I came back and he's like, what are you doing here? 00:07:25.980 --> 00:07:27.980 I'm like, okay, here's another picture. 00:07:27.980 --> 00:07:28.980 This is actually what we need. 00:07:28.980 --> 00:07:29.980 And it's kind of one of those things. 00:07:29.980 --> 00:07:32.980 Maybe you've been there and I thought it was going to take just a little bit of time. 00:07:32.980 --> 00:07:37.980 And then a few weekends later and a hundred trips to the hardware store and I'm way over 00:07:37.980 --> 00:07:38.980 budget. 00:07:38.980 --> 00:07:40.980 The sprinklers work, praise the Lord for that. 00:07:40.980 --> 00:07:44.980 Apparently, I didn't even need them to work because it just rains from heaven all the time 00:07:44.980 --> 00:07:46.980 around here in Gainesville, Texas now. 00:07:46.980 --> 00:07:51.980 We've all signed up for something that sounded super exciting, super amazing. 00:07:51.980 --> 00:07:53.980 And it seems like this is a great deal. 00:07:53.980 --> 00:07:57.980 But you realize that the commitment was far greater than you expected. 00:07:57.980 --> 00:07:59.980 We've all found our place there. 00:07:59.980 --> 00:08:04.980 And the problem usually isn't the activity or the project. 00:08:04.980 --> 00:08:07.980 The problem is we didn't count the costs beforehand. 00:08:07.980 --> 00:08:12.980 We didn't count what it would actually come out of our pocket, how much time it would actually 00:08:12.980 --> 00:08:13.980 take. 00:08:13.980 --> 00:08:14.980 And here's the thing. 00:08:14.980 --> 00:08:17.980 The same thing can happen to us spiritually. 00:08:17.980 --> 00:08:21.980 I believe many people are attracted to Jesus for what he can give them. 00:08:21.980 --> 00:08:24.980 We've seen it here in the Gospel of Luke. 00:08:24.980 --> 00:08:26.980 There's crowds that are following Jesus. 00:08:26.980 --> 00:08:27.980 They're always around them. 00:08:27.980 --> 00:08:29.980 They don't want to miss the next miracle. 00:08:29.980 --> 00:08:30.980 They don't want to miss the next meal. 00:08:30.980 --> 00:08:34.980 I mean, when's the next time he's going to break five loaves and two fish and feed a multitude? 00:08:34.980 --> 00:08:36.980 And they wanted to be a part of that. 00:08:36.980 --> 00:08:40.980 But they also wanted that peace that he offers that he was always talking about. 00:08:40.980 --> 00:08:42.980 They're looking for forgiveness. 00:08:42.980 --> 00:08:43.980 They're looking for purpose. 00:08:43.980 --> 00:08:45.980 They're looking for meaning. 00:08:45.980 --> 00:08:48.980 And they say, hey, I want what Jesus offers. 00:08:48.980 --> 00:08:50.980 And we should, by the way. 00:08:50.980 --> 00:08:51.980 I'm not down on that. 00:08:51.980 --> 00:08:52.980 I want all those things too. 00:08:52.980 --> 00:08:54.980 I'm thankful for the mercies of God. 00:08:54.980 --> 00:08:59.980 I'm thankful for the peace and the forgiveness and all the things that he offers us freely. 00:08:59.980 --> 00:09:07.980 But sometimes we never stop to consider what it truly means to go all in for Christ. 00:09:07.980 --> 00:09:11.980 Because when you do study the Gospels, you see many times after, not many times, 00:09:11.980 --> 00:09:16.980 pretty much every time after he does a miracle, he preaches a message. 00:09:16.980 --> 00:09:18.980 And the crowds start to dwindle. 00:09:18.980 --> 00:09:21.980 I mean, go back to the feeding of the 5,000 in John chapter 6. 00:09:21.980 --> 00:09:23.980 I mean, he feeds them. 00:09:23.980 --> 00:09:24.980 They want to make him king. 00:09:24.980 --> 00:09:27.980 Like, hey, this guy's got my vote. 00:09:27.980 --> 00:09:28.980 Let's crown him king right now. 00:09:28.980 --> 00:09:30.980 And then he starts preaching. 00:09:30.980 --> 00:09:31.980 He starts teaching. 00:09:31.980 --> 00:09:33.980 They said, this is a hard saying. 00:09:33.980 --> 00:09:34.980 Who can hear it? 00:09:34.980 --> 00:09:35.980 Here's what they said. 00:09:35.980 --> 00:09:37.980 We didn't sign up for that. 00:09:37.980 --> 00:09:38.980 We're here for the free food. 00:09:38.980 --> 00:09:44.980 We're not here for this, all this talk about following you and dying and all of these things. 00:09:44.980 --> 00:09:52.980 But as we've seen even in this section of Luke's Gospel, Jesus is steadily making his way towards Jerusalem. 00:09:52.980 --> 00:09:54.980 Why is he doing that? 00:09:54.980 --> 00:09:57.980 Well, the Bible tells us that his face is set towards Jerusalem. 00:09:57.980 --> 00:09:59.980 It's set towards the cross. 00:09:59.980 --> 00:10:01.980 That Jesus knows why he came. 00:10:01.980 --> 00:10:03.980 He didn't come to draw crowds. 00:10:03.980 --> 00:10:05.980 He didn't come to do miracles necessarily. 00:10:05.980 --> 00:10:08.980 He came to die on a cross. 00:10:08.980 --> 00:10:10.980 And he knows this. 00:10:10.980 --> 00:10:13.980 He knows the road ahead is going to be difficult. 00:10:13.980 --> 00:10:20.980 But yet when we meet the crowds constantly, it seems they have a very different picture of what's taking place. 00:10:20.980 --> 00:10:23.980 A very different picture of what's actually happening. 00:10:23.980 --> 00:10:26.980 I mean, they're astounded by his miracles. 00:10:26.980 --> 00:10:27.980 His teaching is so powerful. 00:10:27.980 --> 00:10:29.980 Man, I've never heard a guy preach like this. 00:10:29.980 --> 00:10:32.980 His popularity is skyrocketing. 00:10:32.980 --> 00:10:39.980 And see, what many in this crowd would have thought is they were following the Messiah to what was headed towards a coronation. 00:10:39.980 --> 00:10:41.980 It was headed to a kingdom. 00:10:41.980 --> 00:10:44.980 It was headed to something they've been looking forward to their whole life. 00:10:44.980 --> 00:10:50.980 Hey, if they could just get rid of Rome or they could get rid of all their problems, then everything would be good. 00:10:50.980 --> 00:10:57.980 But what they did not understand is that before the crown was going to come, there was going to be a cross. 00:10:57.980 --> 00:11:06.980 And so Jesus, as this great multitude is traveling with him, he stops and he begins to teach them and he gives them a reality check. 00:11:06.980 --> 00:11:09.980 Don't you love growing up when your parents gave you a reality check? 00:11:09.980 --> 00:11:12.980 I didn't care for those too much. 00:11:12.980 --> 00:11:14.980 Because I just wanted to be oblivious and enjoy my life. 00:11:14.980 --> 00:11:17.980 And my dad would say, well, that's just not how life works. 00:11:17.980 --> 00:11:19.980 I'm like, well, let's just pretend like it does. 00:11:19.980 --> 00:11:23.980 It's a lot more fun when life's just kind of, we're oblivious, so to speak. 00:11:23.980 --> 00:11:30.980 But what Jesus is doing here in our text this morning is he is laying out the terms of discipleship. 00:11:30.980 --> 00:11:35.980 Not after they commit, before they commit. 00:11:35.980 --> 00:11:43.980 You know, when you try to sign something, especially these days, you've got to have like a law degree just to figure out what you're signing up for. 00:11:43.980 --> 00:11:47.980 You know, and most of us were like, agree, agree, agree, agree, agree, agree. 00:11:47.980 --> 00:11:49.980 And you're like, wait, what did I agree to? 00:11:49.980 --> 00:11:51.980 We don't know all the fine print. 00:11:51.980 --> 00:11:52.980 We don't know all that. 00:11:52.980 --> 00:11:54.980 Jesus lays it all out right here. 00:11:54.980 --> 00:11:57.980 He wants them to know before they sign up and say, well, we didn't know that. 00:11:57.980 --> 00:12:00.980 Hey, Jesus, this is not what we signed up for. 00:12:00.980 --> 00:12:04.980 He said, no, before you keep following, hey, you're here and I'm thankful you're here. 00:12:04.980 --> 00:12:07.980 But he says, I want to talk to you about a few things. 00:12:07.980 --> 00:12:13.980 Why is Jesus so serious about laying out the terms and the costs of discipleship? 00:12:13.980 --> 00:12:15.980 Because he's not looking for fans. 00:12:15.980 --> 00:12:19.980 Jesus isn't coming saying, hey, I want as many fans as possible. 00:12:19.980 --> 00:12:21.980 No, he's looking for disciples. 00:12:21.980 --> 00:12:23.980 He's looking for followers. 00:12:23.980 --> 00:12:27.980 And discipleship always comes with a cost. 00:12:27.980 --> 00:12:34.980 He intended for them and he intends for us today that know him as our savior to be all in. 00:12:34.980 --> 00:12:41.980 And here's kind of the big idea of the text that following Jesus, it requires complete surrender to him. 00:12:41.980 --> 00:12:48.980 Because he will not share first place with anyone or anything else. 00:12:48.980 --> 00:12:51.980 And he wanted them to know that. 00:12:51.980 --> 00:12:57.980 He wasn't going to try to pull the carpet from underneath them once they got in and say, hey, just so you know, this is how it looks now. 00:12:57.980 --> 00:13:01.980 So what does true discipleship require? 00:13:01.980 --> 00:13:03.980 If you're taking notes, we're going to answer that question. 00:13:03.980 --> 00:13:06.980 What does true discipleship require? 00:13:06.980 --> 00:13:11.980 Number one, it requires this, a supreme love for Christ. 00:13:11.980 --> 00:13:17.980 Maybe when you read verse 26 or you heard me read it out loud, you kind of just squirmed a little bit. 00:13:17.980 --> 00:13:20.980 Like that doesn't seem like Jesus. 00:13:20.980 --> 00:13:26.980 I mean, he's talking about hating your father and mother and your wife and your children and your brothers and your sisters. 00:13:26.980 --> 00:13:29.980 You say, I can get on board with that one, but I can't get on board with the other ones. 00:13:29.980 --> 00:13:32.980 This doesn't seem like Jesus does it. 00:13:32.980 --> 00:13:38.980 I mean, he's taught us and you look at the Bible, he teaches us to honor our father and mother. 00:13:38.980 --> 00:13:43.980 He teaches us for husbands to love their wives and vice versa. 00:13:43.980 --> 00:13:47.980 He even taught us in the Sermon on the Mount that we're to love our enemies. 00:13:47.980 --> 00:13:55.980 But yet Jesus looks at a group of people that want to follow him and say, hey, if you want to follow me, you got to hate all these people. 00:13:55.980 --> 00:14:00.980 That's not what Jesus is saying like we would have maybe think off the top of our head. 00:14:00.980 --> 00:14:03.980 He's not commanding literal hatred. 00:14:03.980 --> 00:14:06.980 We know this, the Bible doesn't contradict itself. 00:14:06.980 --> 00:14:08.980 So what is Jesus saying here? 00:14:08.980 --> 00:14:15.980 Jesus is making a deliberate, he's making a kind of a crazy comparison. 00:14:15.980 --> 00:14:22.980 See, the idea is that not that we hate our family, but that our love for Christ must be so great. 00:14:22.980 --> 00:14:24.980 It must be so supreme. 00:14:24.980 --> 00:14:34.980 It must be so consuming in our life that every other type of love, every other relationship appears secondary by comparison. 00:14:34.980 --> 00:14:36.980 It doesn't even approach the same level. 00:14:36.980 --> 00:14:39.980 That Jesus is on a plane all of his own. 00:14:39.980 --> 00:14:44.980 And what Jesus is saying in verse 26 is I must be your first loyalty. 00:14:44.980 --> 00:14:46.980 We see in the great commandment. 00:14:46.980 --> 00:14:48.980 When they try to trap and say, hey, what's the great commandment? 00:14:48.980 --> 00:14:53.980 Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, all thy soul, all thy might, all thy strength. 00:14:53.980 --> 00:14:56.980 That we are to be all in. 00:14:56.980 --> 00:15:02.980 And see, every other relationship in our life must take second place. 00:15:02.980 --> 00:15:04.980 That's what Jesus is saying. 00:15:04.980 --> 00:15:07.980 That he must occupy the place in our heart. 00:15:07.980 --> 00:15:11.980 That he will not share the throne with anything else. 00:15:11.980 --> 00:15:12.980 That he's worthy. 00:15:12.980 --> 00:15:15.980 We sing about it all the time and we would agree with it. 00:15:15.980 --> 00:15:19.980 But sometimes when he gets real practical like this, we're thinking, I don't know about that. 00:15:19.980 --> 00:15:23.980 I mean, Jesus, my number one job is to love my family. 00:15:23.980 --> 00:15:25.980 My number one job is to do these things. 00:15:25.980 --> 00:15:32.980 And I would imagine the majority of us in this room would never say that we hate God. 00:15:32.980 --> 00:15:36.980 But what Jesus is exposing here in this verse is where our priorities lie. 00:15:36.980 --> 00:15:39.980 Because sometimes our priorities say something different. 00:15:39.980 --> 00:15:42.980 Sometimes our priorities say, well, God's on the list. 00:15:42.980 --> 00:15:44.980 No, no, here's the list. 00:15:44.980 --> 00:15:45.980 God. 00:15:45.980 --> 00:15:49.980 And then way down there somewhere else is other things in our life. 00:15:49.980 --> 00:15:54.980 See, often our priorities are going to show us where our heart is. 00:15:54.980 --> 00:15:56.980 And we're not wrong for loving our spouse. 00:15:56.980 --> 00:15:58.980 We're not wrong for loving our children. 00:15:58.980 --> 00:16:01.980 We're not wrong for caring about our responsibilities. 00:16:01.980 --> 00:16:04.980 All of those things are gifts from God. 00:16:04.980 --> 00:16:06.980 God wants you to take care of them. 00:16:06.980 --> 00:16:08.980 God has a purpose and he has a plan. 00:16:08.980 --> 00:16:13.980 But sometimes even good gifts can become idols in our life. 00:16:13.980 --> 00:16:19.980 They become what we worship when they occupy a place that belongs only to Jesus Christ. 00:16:19.980 --> 00:16:21.980 That becomes an issue. 00:16:21.980 --> 00:16:24.980 See, some people love success more than Jesus. 00:16:24.980 --> 00:16:25.980 Some people love comfort. 00:16:25.980 --> 00:16:28.980 Some people love their plans, their reputations. 00:16:28.980 --> 00:16:33.980 And yes, some people love their family more than Jesus. 00:16:33.980 --> 00:16:36.980 Well, we can fall into that trap and it's easy. 00:16:36.980 --> 00:16:37.980 Because it's there. 00:16:37.980 --> 00:16:40.980 And we have to live our life and we're going to work. 00:16:40.980 --> 00:16:41.980 And my kids say, why do you go to work? 00:16:41.980 --> 00:16:43.980 Because you always ask me what we're eating. 00:16:43.980 --> 00:16:45.980 That's why I go to work. 00:16:45.980 --> 00:16:49.980 I mean, I love my children so much. 00:16:49.980 --> 00:16:50.980 We've been gone all week long. 00:16:50.980 --> 00:16:52.980 We're like just on grand going home. 00:16:52.980 --> 00:16:54.980 We haven't even made it home. 00:16:54.980 --> 00:16:56.980 What's for dinner? 00:16:56.980 --> 00:16:59.980 It's like, don't ask me that right now. 00:16:59.980 --> 00:17:03.980 Still trying to pretend like I'm at camp and having a good time. 00:17:03.980 --> 00:17:05.980 It's just where we are. 00:17:05.980 --> 00:17:07.980 Now hear me carefully. 00:17:07.980 --> 00:17:09.980 And I think this is what Jesus wants us to say. 00:17:09.980 --> 00:17:13.980 There's nothing wrong with wanting what's best for your family. 00:17:13.980 --> 00:17:15.980 I mean, I understand the struggle. 00:17:15.980 --> 00:17:17.980 I want my children to succeed. 00:17:17.980 --> 00:17:18.980 I want them to thrive. 00:17:18.980 --> 00:17:19.980 I want them to have opportunities. 00:17:19.980 --> 00:17:21.980 I want them to do well in life. 00:17:21.980 --> 00:17:25.980 I want my wife to have all of the same things and to provide for her. 00:17:25.980 --> 00:17:27.980 But sometimes we can miss the mark. 00:17:27.980 --> 00:17:31.980 When we become more concerned about all of the things that they are doing in their life. 00:17:31.980 --> 00:17:34.980 As opposed to what God wants to do in their life. 00:17:34.980 --> 00:17:43.980 We live in a culture that can be so more prone to just look at athletic success and academic success or social success. 00:17:43.980 --> 00:17:46.980 Or setting them up on a path for a great career. 00:17:46.980 --> 00:17:48.980 And those things are good. 00:17:48.980 --> 00:17:50.980 And there's a time and there's a place. 00:17:50.980 --> 00:17:52.980 But here's what Jesus is interested in. 00:17:52.980 --> 00:17:53.980 Our soul. 00:17:53.980 --> 00:17:54.980 Our heart. 00:17:54.980 --> 00:17:56.980 That he wants all of it. 00:17:56.980 --> 00:17:58.980 Because he knows where he wants to take us. 00:17:58.980 --> 00:18:00.980 He knows what's best for our life. 00:18:00.980 --> 00:18:06.980 And all of those things that we tend to live for sometimes, they're temporary. 00:18:06.980 --> 00:18:08.980 But our soul is eternal. 00:18:08.980 --> 00:18:10.980 And that's what Jesus is reminding. 00:18:10.980 --> 00:18:14.980 That sometimes we're so focused on things that are important, yes. 00:18:14.980 --> 00:18:21.980 And people are important, but their soul is more important than having this and going there and being involved in these different situations. 00:18:21.980 --> 00:18:27.980 See, Jesus is reminding us that no relationship should come before him. 00:18:27.980 --> 00:18:30.980 Not because he doesn't want us to care for our families. 00:18:30.980 --> 00:18:32.980 No, because he knows what our family needs. 00:18:32.980 --> 00:18:37.980 And here's the beautiful paradox about this statement. 00:18:37.980 --> 00:18:43.980 That when we love Christ the most, we're going to love other people better. 00:18:43.980 --> 00:18:48.980 A husband who loves Christ the most is going to be a better husband. 00:18:48.980 --> 00:18:52.980 A wife that loves Christ the most is going to be a better wife. 00:18:52.980 --> 00:18:57.980 A parent who loves Christ the most is going to be a better parent and a better friend. 00:18:57.980 --> 00:18:58.980 I mean, you go down the list. 00:18:58.980 --> 00:19:04.980 When Jesus is where he needs to be, when this relationship is right, these relationships will be right as well. 00:19:04.980 --> 00:19:06.980 And that's what Jesus is showing us. 00:19:06.980 --> 00:19:10.980 That true discipleship, it's not about adding Jesus to your life. 00:19:10.980 --> 00:19:12.980 No, it's about surrendering it to him. 00:19:12.980 --> 00:19:14.980 And that's what we see. 00:19:14.980 --> 00:19:18.980 And if he's truly first, then how do we make that happen? 00:19:18.980 --> 00:19:20.980 Well, this is the hard part. 00:19:20.980 --> 00:19:23.980 We say no to ourself. 00:19:23.980 --> 00:19:29.980 Anybody, as a parent, no is about the easiest word that comes out of my mouth. 00:19:29.980 --> 00:19:32.980 I mean, my kids start to open their mouth like no. 00:19:32.980 --> 00:19:34.980 I don't even know what it is. 00:19:34.980 --> 00:19:35.980 You don't know what it is. 00:19:35.980 --> 00:19:36.980 No. 00:19:36.980 --> 00:19:39.980 I mean, sometimes it's just prone to come out of my mouth. 00:19:39.980 --> 00:19:43.980 But you know who I have a hard time saying no to? 00:19:43.980 --> 00:19:45.980 This guy. 00:19:45.980 --> 00:19:47.980 Because I like what I like. 00:19:47.980 --> 00:19:48.980 I want what I want. 00:19:48.980 --> 00:19:51.980 And I'm going to make sure that it happens for me. 00:19:51.980 --> 00:19:54.980 And that's exactly where Jesus takes us next. 00:19:54.980 --> 00:19:56.980 Here's what true discipleship requires. 00:19:56.980 --> 00:20:00.980 It requires daily self-denial. 00:20:00.980 --> 00:20:06.980 I mean, verse 26, verse 26 to us might seem just extreme. 00:20:06.980 --> 00:20:11.980 But really to them, to the first century here, verse 27 would have just blew their mind. 00:20:11.980 --> 00:20:13.980 Here's what the Bible says. 00:20:13.980 --> 00:20:20.980 And whosoever that doth not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 00:20:22.980 --> 00:20:23.980 We think of a cross. 00:20:23.980 --> 00:20:25.980 We may think of, we got one here in the baptistry. 00:20:25.980 --> 00:20:27.980 You see a church has one. 00:20:27.980 --> 00:20:29.980 You may have one on a necklace right now. 00:20:29.980 --> 00:20:30.980 It's a piece of jewelry, a ring. 00:20:30.980 --> 00:20:32.980 It's decoration. 00:20:32.980 --> 00:20:36.980 That's not what a cross was when they heard about it. 00:20:36.980 --> 00:20:41.980 To a first century person, when they start talking about a cross, they knew exactly what it meant. 00:20:41.980 --> 00:20:42.980 It meant one thing. 00:20:42.980 --> 00:20:43.980 Death. 00:20:43.980 --> 00:20:46.980 They would have seen it as they were in Jerusalem. 00:20:46.980 --> 00:20:49.980 It was a tool of the Romans. 00:20:49.980 --> 00:20:50.980 And it had one thing. 00:20:50.980 --> 00:20:52.980 And it was execution. 00:20:52.980 --> 00:20:55.980 No one wore a cross around their neck in the first century. 00:20:55.980 --> 00:20:56.980 There's nothing wrong with it, by the way. 00:20:56.980 --> 00:20:58.980 I'm not coming against you wearing that. 00:20:58.980 --> 00:21:02.980 I want us to understand where they're coming from in their context. 00:21:02.980 --> 00:21:04.980 Because the cross is a beautiful thing to us. 00:21:04.980 --> 00:21:06.980 And we do wear it as a reminder. 00:21:06.980 --> 00:21:07.980 You may have it on a ring. 00:21:07.980 --> 00:21:09.980 We have it on a wall in our house. 00:21:09.980 --> 00:21:11.980 And it reminds us what Jesus did for us. 00:21:11.980 --> 00:21:16.980 But to them, the cross was a terrifying instrument of execution. 00:21:16.980 --> 00:21:18.980 And here's what Jesus says. 00:21:18.980 --> 00:21:20.980 Carry your cross. 00:21:20.980 --> 00:21:22.980 Bear your cross. 00:21:22.980 --> 00:21:27.980 You know what you would have done in those days if a cross was anywhere near you? 00:21:27.980 --> 00:21:29.980 Run the other direction. 00:21:29.980 --> 00:21:31.980 It's not something you wanted to be a part of. 00:21:31.980 --> 00:21:33.980 It's not something that was exciting. 00:21:33.980 --> 00:21:40.980 His audience would have immediately understood that he was speaking about surrender and sacrifice. 00:21:40.980 --> 00:21:49.980 And what Jesus is teaching here in the context of discipleship is that true followers of Christ, it involves dying to self. 00:21:49.980 --> 00:21:52.980 Dying to our wants, our desires. 00:21:52.980 --> 00:21:53.980 Not wants. 00:21:53.980 --> 00:21:54.980 Daily. 00:21:54.980 --> 00:21:55.980 Daily. 00:21:55.980 --> 00:21:59.980 I mean, that's exactly what Paul says, 1 Corinthians 15, 31. 00:21:59.980 --> 00:22:01.980 I die daily. 00:22:01.980 --> 00:22:06.980 Because every single day, I mean, I can make a decision today, I'm going to live for the Lord. 00:22:06.980 --> 00:22:09.980 But tomorrow when I wake up, you know what my flesh wants to do? 00:22:09.980 --> 00:22:11.980 What it wants to do. 00:22:11.980 --> 00:22:14.980 And we heard it all week at camp, young people. 00:22:14.980 --> 00:22:18.980 It's easy to make a decision at camp when everybody's talking about it and everybody's surrounded by it. 00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:22.980 But you come back to the real world, so to speak, and you have a decision. 00:22:22.980 --> 00:22:25.980 Am I going to die to myself or am I going to do what I want to do? 00:22:25.980 --> 00:22:28.980 That we must die to our self. 00:22:28.980 --> 00:22:34.980 See, real biblical discipleship is a series of perpetual deaths. 00:22:34.980 --> 00:22:38.980 It's exciting on a Sunday morning. 00:22:38.980 --> 00:22:39.980 Woo! 00:22:39.980 --> 00:22:42.980 Just what all you came to hear. 00:22:42.980 --> 00:22:46.980 But this is not what they came to hear either. 00:22:46.980 --> 00:22:48.980 They're following like, man, we're going to Jerusalem. 00:22:48.980 --> 00:22:50.980 This is going to be awesome. 00:22:50.980 --> 00:22:53.980 Now Jesus is talking about hating people and dying. 00:22:53.980 --> 00:22:56.980 Well, what is up with that? 00:22:56.980 --> 00:23:05.980 But every day we must die to our pride, to our self-will, to our desire to be in control, to the temptation to place ourself on the throne. 00:23:05.980 --> 00:23:07.980 You say, not me. 00:23:07.980 --> 00:23:08.980 Don't lie. 00:23:08.980 --> 00:23:10.980 That's built in us. 00:23:10.980 --> 00:23:17.980 The closer we get to Christ, the easier it is to die to self sometimes because we understand the reality of it. 00:23:17.980 --> 00:23:19.980 But what Jesus is saying is this. 00:23:19.980 --> 00:23:23.980 He's saying, hey, following me is not merely adding me to your life. 00:23:23.980 --> 00:23:25.980 That's not what discipleship is. 00:23:25.980 --> 00:23:28.980 I mean, these people were there and Jesus, hey, Jesus, come along. 00:23:28.980 --> 00:23:29.980 I need help here. 00:23:29.980 --> 00:23:30.980 I need help there. 00:23:30.980 --> 00:23:32.980 But when something better came on, you know what they went? 00:23:32.980 --> 00:23:33.980 They just went the other direction. 00:23:33.980 --> 00:23:36.980 Or when they didn't like what he said, they said, well, I'm going to go the other way. 00:23:36.980 --> 00:23:39.980 Discipleship is not adding Jesus to your life. 00:23:39.980 --> 00:23:43.980 It is completely yielding your life to him. 00:23:43.980 --> 00:23:48.980 Surrendering everything you have and are to him. 00:23:48.980 --> 00:23:49.980 Not keeping compartments. 00:23:49.980 --> 00:23:54.980 Well, Jesus, you can have this and you can have this and you have this, but don't touch that. 00:23:54.980 --> 00:23:55.980 That's mine. 00:23:55.980 --> 00:23:57.980 Hey, this part of my life is my life. 00:23:57.980 --> 00:24:00.980 This part of, you know, it's not bad. 00:24:00.980 --> 00:24:02.980 Just let me have this. 00:24:02.980 --> 00:24:04.980 No, here's what the disciple says. 00:24:04.980 --> 00:24:07.980 Lord, whatever you want, it's yours. 00:24:07.980 --> 00:24:12.980 That's what Paul describes in Philippians chapter 3. 00:24:12.980 --> 00:24:20.980 He says, listen, he counted everything in his life lost except knowing Christ. 00:24:20.980 --> 00:24:24.980 I mean, he lists, you read the first eight or nine verses of that chapter. 00:24:24.980 --> 00:24:25.980 He lists everything he had. 00:24:25.980 --> 00:24:27.980 He had every religious credential known to man. 00:24:27.980 --> 00:24:29.980 He said, I count it but dung. 00:24:29.980 --> 00:24:31.980 He said it's worthless. 00:24:31.980 --> 00:24:32.980 Why? 00:24:32.980 --> 00:24:34.980 Because that's not what life is about. 00:24:34.980 --> 00:24:37.980 It's not about doing all of these things and just adding Jesus where you need him here and there. 00:24:37.980 --> 00:24:39.980 No, it's about knowing him. 00:24:39.980 --> 00:24:47.980 That's why Paul said that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his suffering being made conformable unto his death. 00:24:47.980 --> 00:24:49.980 Paul understood what it meant. 00:24:49.980 --> 00:24:53.980 Paul understood to really know Christ, you have to die to yourself. 00:24:53.980 --> 00:25:01.980 And he wasn't saying that his life was horrible because, well, life stinks because Jesus took everything from me. 00:25:01.980 --> 00:25:04.980 You know why Paul came to that conclusion? 00:25:04.980 --> 00:25:09.980 Because he realized that Jesus was more valuable than anything else in his life. 00:25:09.980 --> 00:25:17.980 But sometimes we're not true disciples because we love Jesus but we value other things more than we value him. 00:25:17.980 --> 00:25:19.980 Because it's maybe tangible. 00:25:19.980 --> 00:25:21.980 And maybe we feel like that's really helping my life. 00:25:21.980 --> 00:25:23.980 It's not going to help your life. 00:25:23.980 --> 00:25:26.980 It might be temporarily helping your life but it's going to fade. 00:25:26.980 --> 00:25:27.980 It's going to run out. 00:25:27.980 --> 00:25:29.980 That job's going to, the newness is going to wear off. 00:25:29.980 --> 00:25:30.980 That car, that, whatever. 00:25:30.980 --> 00:25:31.980 It's all going to fade away. 00:25:31.980 --> 00:25:33.980 Jesus doesn't. 00:25:33.980 --> 00:25:34.980 That he's there constantly. 00:25:34.980 --> 00:25:36.980 That he's there consistently for us. 00:25:36.980 --> 00:25:39.980 And that's the heart of discipleship. 00:25:39.980 --> 00:25:47.980 That when Christ becomes worth more than comfort and convenience and popularity and personal ambition, that's when we really take a step. 00:25:47.980 --> 00:25:53.980 That's when we say, Lord, I'm willing to die to all of that if I just know you more. 00:25:53.980 --> 00:25:56.980 If you just work in my life more. 00:25:56.980 --> 00:26:00.980 Before we move on to the next verses, I know this is true. 00:26:00.980 --> 00:26:02.980 This wasn't a popular message for them. 00:26:02.980 --> 00:26:04.980 It's not a popular message today. 00:26:04.980 --> 00:26:07.980 We live in a culture that says, protect yourself. 00:26:07.980 --> 00:26:09.980 Promote yourself. 00:26:09.980 --> 00:26:11.980 Live for yourself. 00:26:11.980 --> 00:26:15.980 All the marketing on the TV, you know what it is? 00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:16.980 You need this. 00:26:16.980 --> 00:26:17.980 You deserve that. 00:26:17.980 --> 00:26:19.980 And I'm like, you know what? 00:26:19.980 --> 00:26:20.980 I do deserve that. 00:26:20.980 --> 00:26:23.980 I do deserve that chips and salsa at that restaurant. 00:26:23.980 --> 00:26:25.980 I'm going to go have it. 00:26:25.980 --> 00:26:26.980 Because that's what I want. 00:26:26.980 --> 00:26:28.980 And I'm going to eat it. 00:26:28.980 --> 00:26:30.980 But you know what? 00:26:30.980 --> 00:26:32.980 Then Jesus shows up. 00:26:32.980 --> 00:26:34.980 Whether it's the first century or it's right here today. 00:26:34.980 --> 00:26:36.980 He says, deny yourself. 00:26:36.980 --> 00:26:38.980 Die to yourself. 00:26:39.980 --> 00:26:42.980 Which one of those two sounds better to our flesh? 00:26:42.980 --> 00:26:43.980 Easy. 00:26:43.980 --> 00:26:45.980 Live for yourself. 00:26:45.980 --> 00:26:47.980 That's not what Jesus calls us to. 00:26:47.980 --> 00:26:49.980 The world says, follow your heart. 00:26:49.980 --> 00:26:54.980 Jesus says, follow me. 00:26:54.980 --> 00:26:57.980 And Jesus is not trying to make life miserable. 00:26:57.980 --> 00:26:58.980 Here's what he's trying to do. 00:26:58.980 --> 00:26:59.980 Make it meaningful. 00:26:59.980 --> 00:27:02.980 He wants your life to have purpose and meaning. 00:27:02.980 --> 00:27:03.980 Because you know what? 00:27:03.980 --> 00:27:04.980 You live for yourself. 00:27:04.980 --> 00:27:05.980 You come to the conclusion. 00:27:05.980 --> 00:27:06.980 We see it all the time. 00:27:06.980 --> 00:27:07.980 Whether it's celebrities or this. 00:27:07.980 --> 00:27:09.980 And they think, this is all there is? 00:27:09.980 --> 00:27:11.980 I have everything in the world and there's nothing? 00:27:11.980 --> 00:27:16.980 I mean, Jesus says, what is the profit of man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? 00:27:16.980 --> 00:27:18.980 This world has nothing to offer you. 00:27:18.980 --> 00:27:20.980 Yes, Jesus, it's going to be costly. 00:27:20.980 --> 00:27:21.980 There's going to be difficulties. 00:27:21.980 --> 00:27:25.980 You're going to have to die to some dreams and desires and all different things. 00:27:25.980 --> 00:27:28.980 But listen, it's going to be worth it. 00:27:28.980 --> 00:27:31.980 He wants us to see that. 00:27:31.980 --> 00:27:38.980 See, no one has ever become a true disciple of Jesus Christ and lived a life of ease. 00:27:38.980 --> 00:27:40.980 There are some people that preach that. 00:27:40.980 --> 00:27:43.980 I can't find it in here. 00:27:43.980 --> 00:27:47.980 It's not that we don't have comforts and blessings. 00:27:47.980 --> 00:27:50.980 It's not like we're just the most miserable people in the world. 00:27:50.980 --> 00:27:53.980 But life is just hard. 00:27:53.980 --> 00:27:57.980 One of the preachers at camp said this, life sometimes stinks. 00:27:57.980 --> 00:28:01.980 Okay, just making sure it wasn't just teenagers to deal with that. 00:28:01.980 --> 00:28:03.980 No, we all deal with that. 00:28:03.980 --> 00:28:06.980 And when we follow Jesus, we can't have this idea that as long as we follow him, 00:28:06.980 --> 00:28:10.980 we're going to be healthy, wealthy, and wise, and no problems are ever going to come across our table. 00:28:10.980 --> 00:28:12.980 Not true. 00:28:12.980 --> 00:28:14.980 But we're not alone. 00:28:14.980 --> 00:28:16.980 We can walk with him. 00:28:16.980 --> 00:28:26.980 There's countless believers throughout history and probably even in your own life that you know that have discovered that surrendering everything to Christ was worth every sacrifice. 00:28:26.980 --> 00:28:28.980 It always is. 00:28:28.980 --> 00:28:35.980 And I would imagine at this point that somebody in the crowd would have been thinking, man, that's a pretty high price. 00:28:35.980 --> 00:28:38.980 I'm not sure I'm willing to pay that kind of price. 00:28:38.980 --> 00:28:41.980 And let's be honest, maybe you're thinking the same thing. 00:28:41.980 --> 00:28:44.980 Like, who would sign up for that? 00:28:44.980 --> 00:28:47.980 Like, who's on board there? 00:28:47.980 --> 00:28:49.980 Well, here's the awesome thing. 00:28:49.980 --> 00:28:51.980 Jesus would agree with that question. 00:28:51.980 --> 00:28:52.980 That is a high price. 00:28:52.980 --> 00:28:54.980 He would agree with that line of thinking. 00:28:54.980 --> 00:29:00.980 But he wants us to see this number three, that true discipleship, it requires us to count the cost. 00:29:00.980 --> 00:29:08.980 See, in these opening verses in verse 26 and verse 27, Jesus has kind of described the relational cost. 00:29:08.980 --> 00:29:12.980 Because sometimes you are going to follow Christ and it's going to cost you relationships. 00:29:12.980 --> 00:29:13.980 It might cost you friends. 00:29:13.980 --> 00:29:15.980 We talked about it at camp this week, teens. 00:29:15.980 --> 00:29:21.980 It might cost you family members that don't understand why you're doing what you do and kind of ostracize you. 00:29:21.980 --> 00:29:27.980 But he also lays out the sacrificial cost that it's going to cost you maybe some things that you want in your life. 00:29:27.980 --> 00:29:30.980 And they may not be bad, but it's not what God has for you. 00:29:30.980 --> 00:29:33.980 So naturally, he just raises that question. 00:29:33.980 --> 00:29:38.980 Why would you sign up for something so demanding without thinking it through? 00:29:38.980 --> 00:29:39.980 And here's what Jesus answers. 00:29:39.980 --> 00:29:41.980 Nobody should do that. 00:29:41.980 --> 00:29:45.980 He didn't want these people just to keep following him thinking, everything's going to be great. 00:29:45.980 --> 00:29:49.980 As long as I follow this guy, I'm going to have no problems in my life. 00:29:49.980 --> 00:29:54.980 And so what Jesus does in verse 28 through 33 is he gives a couple of illustrations. 00:29:54.980 --> 00:30:03.980 He gives an illustration of a man setting out to build a tower and we see a second of a king that's preparing for war. 00:30:03.980 --> 00:30:09.980 Here in the first illustration, the builder lays out the foundation and the people see the project. 00:30:09.980 --> 00:30:16.980 You know, I don't know if they did this in the first century, but they would drive by on their camel and they're like, anybody know what that is? 00:30:16.980 --> 00:30:24.980 You know, if you build something, they should put a, they should legally have to put a sign out that says, this is what this is. 00:30:24.980 --> 00:30:28.980 I mean, I guess it keeps our marriage exciting because we're like, what do you think that is? 00:30:28.980 --> 00:30:30.980 And so we try to, you know, we're trying to go with that. 00:30:30.980 --> 00:30:31.980 We're trying to figure out what it is. 00:30:31.980 --> 00:30:32.980 I'm like, Google it, Google it, figure it out. 00:30:32.980 --> 00:30:34.980 And, you know, brother Kevin works for this in the city. 00:30:34.980 --> 00:30:35.980 I'm like, call brother Kevin. 00:30:35.980 --> 00:30:36.980 He might know what it is. 00:30:36.980 --> 00:30:37.980 I call him all the time. 00:30:37.980 --> 00:30:39.980 He's like, man, I don't know what it is either. 00:30:39.980 --> 00:30:40.980 But everybody saw it. 00:30:40.980 --> 00:30:41.980 They were excited about it. 00:30:41.980 --> 00:30:43.980 They were expecting the completion. 00:30:43.980 --> 00:30:47.980 But all of a sudden the work stops and the tower sets unfinished. 00:30:47.980 --> 00:30:56.980 I'm 40 years old and I used to live in Flower Mound area and we drive up here all the time. 00:30:56.980 --> 00:30:58.980 And I don't know if anybody's ever driven this part of 35. 00:30:58.980 --> 00:31:00.980 There is a house in Sanger. 00:31:00.980 --> 00:31:05.980 That is exactly what this Bible is talking about right here. 00:31:05.980 --> 00:31:08.980 And every time I drive past them, I'm like, what are they doing over there? 00:31:08.980 --> 00:31:10.980 Like, did they not figure out how much? 00:31:10.980 --> 00:31:12.980 I mean, it's been that way since I was a little kid. 00:31:12.980 --> 00:31:13.980 It might be longer than that. 00:31:13.980 --> 00:31:14.980 I don't know. 00:31:14.980 --> 00:31:15.980 Some of you may know the details. 00:31:15.980 --> 00:31:16.980 You can tell me afterwards. 00:31:16.980 --> 00:31:20.980 Even a year or two, they put an article in the paper that somebody bought it and they're going to turn it into a wedding venue. 00:31:20.980 --> 00:31:21.980 Guess what? 00:31:21.980 --> 00:31:22.980 Still not finished. 00:31:22.980 --> 00:31:26.980 And now we drive past and we just make fun of them. 00:31:26.980 --> 00:31:28.980 Like, man, yeah. 00:31:28.980 --> 00:31:29.980 And that's what the Bible says. 00:31:29.980 --> 00:31:34.980 He said when people see it, they begin to mock and say, that guy thought he could build a tower. 00:31:34.980 --> 00:31:35.980 He didn't even count the cost. 00:31:35.980 --> 00:31:39.980 I mean, he didn't know the cost of building something like that. 00:31:39.980 --> 00:31:42.980 The issue wasn't that this man decided to build a tower. 00:31:42.980 --> 00:31:46.980 The issue when they tried to build a really nice fancy house down there off 35 and Sanger. 00:31:46.980 --> 00:31:52.980 Here's the issue is sometimes we start things without understanding what completion would require. 00:31:52.980 --> 00:31:58.980 I think a lot of people get excited about serving God and they're saved and they're thankful for it. 00:31:58.980 --> 00:31:59.980 And they know they're on their way to heaven. 00:31:59.980 --> 00:32:00.980 And they're there. 00:32:00.980 --> 00:32:01.980 I'm going to do all these things. 00:32:01.980 --> 00:32:04.980 But then they realize, well, I still have problems in my life. 00:32:04.980 --> 00:32:06.980 I still got difficulties in my life. 00:32:06.980 --> 00:32:07.980 All right. 00:32:07.980 --> 00:32:08.980 Why is this happening? 00:32:08.980 --> 00:32:09.980 And here's what sometimes they do. 00:32:09.980 --> 00:32:10.980 They just walk away. 00:32:10.980 --> 00:32:13.980 Say, eh, it's not worth it. 00:32:13.980 --> 00:32:15.980 They would have told me that when I signed up. 00:32:15.980 --> 00:32:17.980 I wouldn't have signed up. 00:32:17.980 --> 00:32:24.980 Jesus gives another illustration there in verse number 31 of a king that discovers a larger army is approaching. 00:32:24.980 --> 00:32:28.980 And he's got to decide whether he can take them or surrender. 00:32:28.980 --> 00:32:29.980 He's got to count the cost. 00:32:29.980 --> 00:32:33.980 Say, hey, can we go out and meet this army that's got 20,000 even though we got 10,000? 00:32:33.980 --> 00:32:40.980 Or are we going to just send out an ambassador to help us and to make sure that we don't get whooped in this war? 00:32:40.980 --> 00:32:41.980 Here's what they were doing. 00:32:41.980 --> 00:32:44.980 They were, he was understanding the cost. 00:32:44.980 --> 00:32:53.980 And what Jesus is trying to get us to see in these couple of illustrations is he's saying this, don't make a shallow commitment to me. 00:32:53.980 --> 00:32:55.980 He's got this crowd following. 00:32:55.980 --> 00:33:00.980 He's saying, I don't want you to be just some unfinished project on the side of the road. 00:33:00.980 --> 00:33:06.980 I don't want you to get out in the middle of a battle and realize you don't have the ability to win this battle. 00:33:06.980 --> 00:33:08.980 Don't make a shallow commitment to Jesus. 00:33:08.980 --> 00:33:12.980 He's saying, listen, I want you to understand what discipleship means. 00:33:12.980 --> 00:33:16.980 I want you to know what you're signing up for. 00:33:16.980 --> 00:33:18.980 Like I'm at that age. 00:33:18.980 --> 00:33:19.980 I want to know what I'm signing up for. 00:33:19.980 --> 00:33:27.980 I remember in elementary school the teachers say, can somebody, I'm like, I'm not raising my hand because what did they say? 00:33:27.980 --> 00:33:29.980 Clean the bathroom. 00:33:29.980 --> 00:33:32.980 And everybody's like, I'm not doing that. 00:33:32.980 --> 00:33:35.980 Listen, Jesus wants us to know what we're signing up for. 00:33:35.980 --> 00:33:37.980 Why? 00:33:37.980 --> 00:33:41.980 Because following Jesus is not a hobby. 00:33:41.980 --> 00:33:45.980 It's not a weekend activity that we have on Sundays. 00:33:45.980 --> 00:33:49.980 It's not adding religion to an already crowded schedule. 00:33:49.980 --> 00:33:51.980 Anybody got a crowded schedule? 00:33:51.980 --> 00:33:55.980 You got a calendar just like, how am I going to make it through next week? 00:33:55.980 --> 00:33:57.980 Listen, we're busy people. 00:33:57.980 --> 00:34:01.980 Jesus isn't saying like, try to find somewhere to fit me in. 00:34:01.980 --> 00:34:03.980 No, here's what it is. 00:34:03.980 --> 00:34:07.980 It's surrendering your entire life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. 00:34:07.980 --> 00:34:10.980 Every aspect, every area. 00:34:10.980 --> 00:34:11.980 That is the cost. 00:34:11.980 --> 00:34:13.980 That's what he says in verse 33. 00:34:13.980 --> 00:34:23.980 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. 00:34:23.980 --> 00:34:30.980 Jesus must have never read the church growth books because he is saying, listen, if you're not all in, get out of here. 00:34:30.980 --> 00:34:32.980 That's basically what he's saying. 00:34:32.980 --> 00:34:34.980 He's looking for somebody all in. 00:34:34.980 --> 00:34:36.980 Now, don't misunderstand what Jesus is saying. 00:34:36.980 --> 00:34:41.980 He's not saying sell every possession that you have and then just live as a monk on top of a mountain for God. 00:34:41.980 --> 00:34:43.980 That's not what he's saying. 00:34:43.980 --> 00:34:46.980 But here's what he's wanting us to think. 00:34:46.980 --> 00:34:52.980 Does Christ have unrestricted access to every area of our lives? 00:34:52.980 --> 00:34:55.980 You say, well, he has it here and he has it there. 00:34:55.980 --> 00:34:56.980 No, no, no. 00:34:56.980 --> 00:34:57.980 I didn't say which areas. 00:34:57.980 --> 00:35:00.980 I said every area. 00:35:00.980 --> 00:35:05.980 Paul says that we are to lay down our life as a living sacrifice. 00:35:05.980 --> 00:35:06.980 You know what that includes? 00:35:06.980 --> 00:35:08.980 All your possessions. 00:35:08.980 --> 00:35:09.980 All your plans. 00:35:09.980 --> 00:35:10.980 All your ambitions. 00:35:10.980 --> 00:35:12.980 All your relationships. 00:35:12.980 --> 00:35:13.980 Your future. 00:35:13.980 --> 00:35:15.980 Everything about you. 00:35:15.980 --> 00:35:20.980 Everything you are belongs to Jesus. 00:35:20.980 --> 00:35:22.980 That's what discipleship looks like. 00:35:22.980 --> 00:35:24.980 That's what counting the cost looks like. 00:35:24.980 --> 00:35:26.980 I mean, think about it. 00:35:26.980 --> 00:35:30.980 Every worthwhile accomplishment in life requires the cost. 00:35:30.980 --> 00:35:32.980 I mean, you see these athletes that do it. 00:35:32.980 --> 00:35:36.980 I mean, I love when the Olympics roll around and they start talking about it. 00:35:36.980 --> 00:35:37.980 We just see the product. 00:35:37.980 --> 00:35:38.980 They're not. 00:35:38.980 --> 00:35:40.980 But they counted the cost a long time ago. 00:35:40.980 --> 00:35:45.980 And some of them, I mean, since they were five, six, eight years old. 00:35:45.980 --> 00:35:46.980 I'm not saying that. 00:35:46.980 --> 00:35:47.980 I'm not saying six, seven. 00:35:47.980 --> 00:35:54.980 The poor speaker at camp, he kept saying six, seven to these kids and it just didn't go well. 00:35:54.980 --> 00:36:01.980 But they decided at five years old, they're going to completely focus on making the Olympics. 00:36:01.980 --> 00:36:04.980 And they'll spend their entire life. 00:36:04.980 --> 00:36:06.980 And they really don't have a normal childhood. 00:36:06.980 --> 00:36:07.980 They're training constantly. 00:36:07.980 --> 00:36:08.980 They're going here. 00:36:08.980 --> 00:36:09.980 They're in specialized schools. 00:36:09.980 --> 00:36:10.980 They count the cost. 00:36:10.980 --> 00:36:11.980 They count the cost. 00:36:11.980 --> 00:36:15.980 We see students do that in school when they realize I need to do this. 00:36:15.980 --> 00:36:17.980 And if I'm going to get in this college, I'm going to have to count the cost. 00:36:17.980 --> 00:36:18.980 I'm going to have to buckle up. 00:36:18.980 --> 00:36:20.980 I'm going to have to really get serious about my studies. 00:36:20.980 --> 00:36:21.980 Business owners do it. 00:36:21.980 --> 00:36:23.980 Military does it. 00:36:23.980 --> 00:36:24.980 Parents do it. 00:36:24.980 --> 00:36:29.980 No one accidentally accomplishes anything significant without counting the cost. 00:36:29.980 --> 00:36:34.980 We're not going to accidentally just become a disciple of Christ and just, oh, we're just going to float into it. 00:36:34.980 --> 00:36:36.980 Jesus says that's not how it works. 00:36:36.980 --> 00:36:44.980 It's going to cost you and you need to know because before you follow him, you must understand the demands of complete surrender. 00:36:45.980 --> 00:36:47.980 Jesus is not looking for admirers. 00:36:47.980 --> 00:36:52.980 He's looking for disciples and he says it over and over and over again. 00:36:52.980 --> 00:36:59.980 And if discipleship is this costly, then why does it matter so much that he's so interested in disciples? 00:36:59.980 --> 00:37:03.980 Well, that's the question he's going to answer there in verse 34 and 35. 00:37:03.980 --> 00:37:11.980 Because when believers fail to live as true disciples, they lose the influence God intends for them to have. 00:37:11.980 --> 00:37:13.980 Look at verse number 34. 00:37:13.980 --> 00:37:14.980 Salt is good. 00:37:14.980 --> 00:37:17.980 That's Brother Garrett's life verse right there. 00:37:17.980 --> 00:37:18.980 Salt is good. 00:37:18.980 --> 00:37:21.980 He's got a salt shaker on his desk just in case food shows up. 00:37:21.980 --> 00:37:22.980 He needs salt on it. 00:37:22.980 --> 00:37:27.980 But if the salt has lost his savor, wherewith shall it be seasoned? 00:37:27.980 --> 00:37:32.980 It is neither fit for the land nor yet for the dunghill, but men cast it out. 00:37:32.980 --> 00:37:35.980 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 00:37:35.980 --> 00:37:40.980 Maybe at first glance these verses kind of seem disconnected. 00:37:40.980 --> 00:37:43.980 Your Bible may even have a paragraph mark on it. 00:37:43.980 --> 00:37:45.980 And this is a new little thought. 00:37:45.980 --> 00:37:49.980 But I think it's the perfect conclusion of what Jesus is saying. 00:37:49.980 --> 00:37:53.980 See, in the ancient world, salt served several purposes. 00:37:53.980 --> 00:37:55.980 It preserved things. 00:37:55.980 --> 00:37:56.980 It purified things. 00:37:56.980 --> 00:37:57.980 It flavored things. 00:37:57.980 --> 00:37:59.980 And it prevented decay. 00:37:59.980 --> 00:38:06.980 But the usefulness of the salt depended entirely on his distinctiveness. 00:38:06.980 --> 00:38:12.980 And true discipleship requires remaining distinct. 00:38:12.980 --> 00:38:18.980 That if we're going to be an all-in follower for Christ, we need to be that all the time. 00:38:18.980 --> 00:38:20.980 That it can't be a Sunday and a Wednesday thing. 00:38:20.980 --> 00:38:23.980 It can't be a church camp for a week thing. 00:38:23.980 --> 00:38:27.980 No, it's how we live our life every single day. 00:38:27.980 --> 00:38:29.980 Salt's got one job. 00:38:29.980 --> 00:38:31.980 It doesn't matter if it's a Monday or a Sunday. 00:38:31.980 --> 00:38:32.980 It's to be salt. 00:38:32.980 --> 00:38:33.980 It's to season. 00:38:33.980 --> 00:38:34.980 It's to purify. 00:38:34.980 --> 00:38:35.980 It's to flavor. 00:38:35.980 --> 00:38:36.980 It's to prevent decay. 00:38:36.980 --> 00:38:40.980 But if salt loses its distinctiveness, it's useless. 00:38:40.980 --> 00:38:46.980 He says in verse 35, I mean, you ever been somewhere and you put salt on it and you take a bite? 00:38:46.980 --> 00:38:49.980 You're like... 00:38:49.980 --> 00:38:53.980 Because if it's not salty, it's worthless. 00:38:53.980 --> 00:38:56.980 You have to ask the waitress for another salt shaker. 00:38:56.980 --> 00:39:00.980 You might as well throw it in the trash because that's the only job salt has. 00:39:00.980 --> 00:39:02.980 Is to be salty. 00:39:02.980 --> 00:39:06.980 Salt that no longer acts like salt has no purpose in life. 00:39:06.980 --> 00:39:14.980 And when it comes to discipleship, a disciple who refuses the cost of discipleship becomes spiritually ineffective. 00:39:14.980 --> 00:39:16.980 They're useless. 00:39:16.980 --> 00:39:21.980 Well, what's the purpose of saying I follow Christ when you don't follow him when it's hard and when it's difficult 00:39:21.980 --> 00:39:25.980 and when somebody needs it and when God calls you here and God calls you there? 00:39:25.980 --> 00:39:27.980 We don't lay the terms of discipleship out. 00:39:27.980 --> 00:39:29.980 Jesus does. 00:39:29.980 --> 00:39:31.980 And he says, follow me. 00:39:31.980 --> 00:39:33.980 That's where he calls us to. 00:39:33.980 --> 00:39:37.980 The world doesn't need Christians who look and act like everybody else. 00:39:37.980 --> 00:39:43.980 The world needs believers who live lives that have been transformed by Jesus Christ that have counted the cost and said, 00:39:43.980 --> 00:39:48.980 listen, it might be not exactly how I would live my life, but I love you so much, Lord, I'll live it for you. 00:39:48.980 --> 00:39:50.980 Wherever you send me, I'll go. 00:39:50.980 --> 00:39:53.980 However you call me, I'll follow. 00:39:53.980 --> 00:40:01.980 The world needs believers who love Christ supremely, who deny themselves daily, who have counted the cost and are willingly following, 00:40:01.980 --> 00:40:03.980 because that's the kind of people that God uses. 00:40:03.980 --> 00:40:06.980 He uses people that are worth their salt. 00:40:06.980 --> 00:40:09.980 You ever met somebody, you think, they're not worth their salt? 00:40:09.980 --> 00:40:12.980 We get this from the first century. 00:40:12.980 --> 00:40:14.980 They would pay Roman soldiers in salt. 00:40:14.980 --> 00:40:16.980 It was a valuable commodity. 00:40:16.980 --> 00:40:20.980 And if a soldier wasn't worth his salt, he didn't get paid. 00:40:20.980 --> 00:40:23.980 Listen, are we worth our salt as Christians? 00:40:23.980 --> 00:40:29.980 I mean, Jesus taught us in the Sermon on the Mount, ye are the salt of the earth. 00:40:29.980 --> 00:40:35.980 But salt doesn't accomplish anything when it's in the shaker. 00:40:35.980 --> 00:40:38.980 It doesn't matter how fancy your shaker is either. 00:40:38.980 --> 00:40:41.980 You can have a cheap one, the one with the little fruits on it, you know. 00:40:41.980 --> 00:40:44.980 Or you have real fancy ones you bought in a bottle and all this kind of stuff. 00:40:44.980 --> 00:40:46.980 It doesn't matter what kind it is. 00:40:46.980 --> 00:40:49.980 In order for salt to be useful, it has to be poured out. 00:40:49.980 --> 00:40:51.980 It has to be applied. 00:40:51.980 --> 00:40:54.980 And that's the same way discipleship works. 00:40:54.980 --> 00:40:58.980 Being a disciple is not, I go to church on Sunday. 00:40:58.980 --> 00:41:01.980 Now, how do you live outside of these walls? 00:41:01.980 --> 00:41:02.980 Are you all in? 00:41:02.980 --> 00:41:06.980 Hey, discipleship's not, well, I'm here on this and I read my Bible. 00:41:06.980 --> 00:41:10.980 No, what about that one area that God keeps saying, give it to me? 00:41:10.980 --> 00:41:11.980 He's like, well, that's mine. 00:41:11.980 --> 00:41:13.980 That's my area, Lord. 00:41:13.980 --> 00:41:20.980 See, God doesn't save us so that we can sit comfortably. 00:41:20.980 --> 00:41:25.980 No, he saves us to impact the world around us. 00:41:25.980 --> 00:41:27.980 That's what a disciple does. 00:41:27.980 --> 00:41:29.980 That's why we have to count the cost. 00:41:29.980 --> 00:41:31.980 Because we know this, that he's coming back. 00:41:31.980 --> 00:41:34.980 That's what he's been, he's been preaching this over and over the last few chapters. 00:41:34.980 --> 00:41:36.980 He's coming back, be ready. 00:41:36.980 --> 00:41:38.980 How's the world going to know that he's coming back? 00:41:38.980 --> 00:41:39.980 How are they going to know he's going to be ready? 00:41:39.980 --> 00:41:44.980 That Christians that are salty go out into the world and say, listen, Jesus loves you. 00:41:44.980 --> 00:41:45.980 Jesus cares about you. 00:41:45.980 --> 00:41:47.980 The gospel's true. 00:41:48.980 --> 00:41:51.980 Imagine standing in that crowd that day. 00:41:52.980 --> 00:41:53.980 You've watched the miracles. 00:41:53.980 --> 00:41:55.980 You've heard the teaching. 00:41:55.980 --> 00:41:58.980 You've seen the excitement surrounding Jesus. 00:41:58.980 --> 00:42:00.980 You think, man, I want to follow that guy. 00:42:00.980 --> 00:42:02.980 I mean, this is awesome. 00:42:02.980 --> 00:42:04.980 I've never seen anything like this. 00:42:04.980 --> 00:42:09.980 And then Jesus turns around to you and says, you're going to come after me. 00:42:09.980 --> 00:42:14.980 You've got to hate your mom, your dad, your spouse. 00:42:14.980 --> 00:42:16.980 You've got to pick up your cross. 00:42:16.980 --> 00:42:19.980 It's going to cost you a lot. 00:42:19.980 --> 00:42:21.980 And you're going to have to forsake all. 00:42:21.980 --> 00:42:24.980 How would we respond then? 00:42:24.980 --> 00:42:28.980 Not the recruiting strategy that most people would choose. 00:42:28.980 --> 00:42:32.980 But here's why Jesus is so serious. 00:42:32.980 --> 00:42:36.980 Here's why he's so blunt because it's the truth, number one. 00:42:36.980 --> 00:42:41.980 But number two, he's not interested in emotional decisions that are going to disappear tomorrow. 00:42:43.980 --> 00:42:45.980 We talked to the teenagers about this at camp. 00:42:45.980 --> 00:42:46.980 The preacher talked to them. 00:42:46.980 --> 00:42:48.980 I know Brother Garrett and Brother Forrest did. 00:42:50.980 --> 00:42:53.980 Camp has the opportunity to be emotional. 00:42:53.980 --> 00:42:56.980 And it's okay to make an emotional decision because God is stirring you. 00:42:56.980 --> 00:42:58.980 I think God gave us our emotions. 00:42:58.980 --> 00:43:02.980 But our discipleship is not based on our emotions. 00:43:02.980 --> 00:43:05.980 It's based on commitment to Christ. 00:43:05.980 --> 00:43:06.980 Yielded to him. 00:43:06.980 --> 00:43:11.980 That when the hard times come, it's not some emotion that we made a long, long time ago. 00:43:11.980 --> 00:43:14.980 Lord, I'm going to do it because that's what you want me to do right here today. 00:43:14.980 --> 00:43:22.980 See, Jesus wants people who understand what truly following him means. 00:43:24.980 --> 00:43:27.980 Jesus is not some tyrant asking us to surrender our life. 00:43:27.980 --> 00:43:29.980 He's not some stranger. 00:43:29.980 --> 00:43:33.980 He's not someone who doesn't love us. 00:43:33.980 --> 00:43:37.980 No, in fact, he's the only one that loves us like he loves us. 00:43:37.980 --> 00:43:43.980 The one who came and gave all is the one that's asking us to follow him. 00:43:43.980 --> 00:43:46.980 That he laid down his life for me and for you. 00:43:46.980 --> 00:43:52.980 And when we understand who he is and what he's done, the question changes. 00:43:52.980 --> 00:43:56.980 The question is not, well, why would I surrender my life to Christ? 00:43:58.980 --> 00:44:01.980 The question should be, why would I hold anything back from him? 00:44:01.980 --> 00:44:06.980 If somebody loves me that much, willingly lay down his life for me. 00:44:07.980 --> 00:44:09.980 He's not trying to make my life miserable. 00:44:09.980 --> 00:44:10.980 No, he's trying to give it meaning. 00:44:10.980 --> 00:44:11.980 He's trying to give it purpose. 00:44:11.980 --> 00:44:14.980 And every true disciple of Christ comes to the same conclusion. 00:44:14.980 --> 00:44:18.980 Jesus is worth it. 00:44:18.980 --> 00:44:25.980 Every sacrifice, every surrender, every act of obedience, every cross we bear, 00:44:25.980 --> 00:44:28.980 everything he asks us to do, it's worth it. 00:44:28.980 --> 00:44:30.980 Why? Because he's worth it. 00:44:30.980 --> 00:44:31.980 I want to leave you with this. 00:44:31.980 --> 00:44:34.980 Following Jesus is not adding him to your life. 00:44:34.980 --> 00:44:37.980 It's surrendering your life to him. 00:44:37.980 --> 00:44:42.980 Because true discipleship begins when Jesus is not just part of our lives. 00:44:42.980 --> 00:44:45.980 Listen, I'm thankful you're here today. 00:44:45.980 --> 00:44:48.980 But Jesus wants you to be more than just a part of your life. 00:44:48.980 --> 00:44:51.980 He wants every part of your life. 00:44:51.980 --> 00:44:54.980 You think, well, I wish I could do this and do that. 00:44:54.980 --> 00:44:55.980 I wish I was a better husband. 00:44:55.980 --> 00:44:56.980 I wish I was better to do this. 00:44:56.980 --> 00:44:58.980 Jesus can make you that. 00:44:58.980 --> 00:45:00.980 That's what he promises. 00:45:00.980 --> 00:45:04.980 Would we surrender all? 00:45:04.980 --> 00:45:05.980 We must count the cost. 00:45:05.980 --> 00:45:08.980 Let's stand with our heads bowed and with our eyes closed. 00:45:10.980 --> 00:45:13.980 If you're new here, we're just going to have a moment of invitation. 00:45:13.980 --> 00:45:15.980 Many pray right here in their chairs. 00:45:15.980 --> 00:45:21.980 But I believe any time the word of God is open that we should respond to the Lord who spoke to our heart. 00:45:21.980 --> 00:45:27.980 I'm so thankful that Jesus isn't trying to pull the wool over our eyes. 00:45:27.980 --> 00:45:33.980 He's not trying to get us in before then we have to read all the fine details, the fine print. 00:45:33.980 --> 00:45:35.980 No, he lays it all out and said, listen, there's going to be a cost. 00:45:35.980 --> 00:45:37.980 It's going to be difficult. 00:45:37.980 --> 00:45:39.980 But he reminds us this, it's going to be worth it. 00:45:39.980 --> 00:45:47.980 The fact that you may know the Lord as your Savior this morning is because somebody realized this, it's worth following Christ. 00:45:47.980 --> 00:45:49.980 They counted the cost. 00:45:49.980 --> 00:45:51.980 They counted the cost. 00:45:51.980 --> 00:45:58.980 Maybe you grew up in a Christian home and they realized, it's not that they didn't want you to be involved in certain things, but they made a priority on the word of God. 00:45:58.980 --> 00:46:00.980 And because of that, your life has been changed. 00:46:00.980 --> 00:46:07.980 I'm so thankful for the parents here today that counted the cost and said, you know what, it's worth sending my kid to youth camp. 00:46:07.980 --> 00:46:10.980 And God uses that in a way and impacts us eternally. 00:46:10.980 --> 00:46:18.980 Maybe there's some areas in our life that we've surrendered to God in certain areas, but not all of them. 00:46:18.980 --> 00:46:24.980 Believer, maybe there's an area that Christ has kind of just put his finger on this morning and said, what about this area? 00:46:24.980 --> 00:46:28.980 Is there an area you're holding back, you're reluctant to surrender? 00:46:28.980 --> 00:46:31.980 Why don't you come to this altar and lay it at his feet? 00:46:31.980 --> 00:46:35.980 Why don't you pray right there in your chair and say, Lord, I'm just going to trust you on this. 00:46:35.980 --> 00:46:37.980 I'm struggling letting this go. 00:46:37.980 --> 00:46:41.980 Maybe you're here and you don't know Christ as your savior. 00:46:41.980 --> 00:46:44.980 You can't be a disciple without knowing him first. 00:46:44.980 --> 00:46:47.980 And Jesus loved you so much. 00:46:47.980 --> 00:46:51.980 Yes, he's going to ask a lot from you, but he gave everything for you. 00:46:51.980 --> 00:46:54.980 He gave his own life on the cross of Calvary. 00:46:54.980 --> 00:46:55.980 He paid your sin debt. 00:46:55.980 --> 00:46:58.980 The Bible says we've all sinned and come to the glory of God. 00:46:58.980 --> 00:47:04.980 And the wages, the payment of that sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life. 00:47:04.980 --> 00:47:06.980 That's where it begins. 00:47:06.980 --> 00:47:08.980 He died for your sins and he rose again. 00:47:08.980 --> 00:47:12.980 And today he's inviting you to follow him. 00:47:12.980 --> 00:47:14.980 Will you surrender to him? 00:47:14.980 --> 00:47:16.980 Will you surrender your life? 00:47:16.980 --> 00:47:18.980 You don't find heaven by being a good person. 00:47:18.980 --> 00:47:21.980 You find it by surrendering to Christ. 00:47:21.980 --> 00:47:25.980 Placing your full faith in his work on the cross of Calvary. 00:47:25.980 --> 00:47:28.980 Father, I pray you would just work in this invitation. 00:47:28.980 --> 00:47:31.980 That if you spoke to hearts, whatever it may be. 00:47:31.980 --> 00:47:34.980 If there's somebody that needs to know you as savior, that today would be that day. 00:47:34.980 --> 00:47:36.980 Maybe there's some that know you. 00:47:36.980 --> 00:47:38.980 They know heaven's their home. 00:47:38.980 --> 00:47:42.980 But if they're honest, they really aren't all in. 00:47:42.980 --> 00:47:47.980 They kind of count at the cost and say, well, at least I'm in, but I'm not going to go that far. 00:47:47.980 --> 00:47:49.980 Lord, you went all the way for us. 00:47:49.980 --> 00:47:51.980 Help us to go all the way for you. 00:47:51.980 --> 00:47:52.980 We ask it in Christ's name. 00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:54.980 With every head bowed, every eye closed, 00:47:54.980 --> 00:47:56.980 Brother Jerry begins to sing a verse of invitation.