Pastor Dan Nickerson
June 13th, 2023
Continuing with the topic of Disciple making from last week, when it comes to being a disciple of Jesus Christ…….
- Jesus must come first
- Made strikingly clear by Jesus Himself – (Luke 14:25-26)
- Before anyone else – (Matthew 10:34-37)
- Even before one’s own self – (Luke 9:23-25)
- They left their business and family – (Matthew 4:20-22)
- As Peter would say later – “we have left all and followed You” – (Matthew 19:27)
- Jesus requires the same for us today – (Matthew 6:33)
- Willing to suffer for Christ
- Taking up our own cross to follow Him – (Luke 14:27)
- Trying to live godly lives in an ungodly world – we may find – that following Christ sometimes involves ridicule and persecution – (2 Timothy 3:12)
- Even if we are blessed to escape such things – we must still be willing to support others
- Forsaking all to follow Jesus
- Having counted the cost – (Luke 14:28-33)
- In other words – Jesus must be recognized King and Lord of our lives
- Seen in self-denial of worldly passions and influences – (Colossians 3:1-10)
- Also in the sacrifice of time – talents – monies for the cause of Christ – (Colossians 4:5)
- This cost of discipleship required by Jesus caused many to turn from following Him
- But Jesus wasn’t trying to attract large crowd – He wanted disciples