Outline of Sunday Sermon
What does it mean to follow Jesus?
I. The Roman Legionnaire
– turn your back on your family
– cannot get married
– Minimum age is 16
– Shortest term of service is 20 years
– They do not want homesick soldiers
– They lay their lives on the line
– Reason for effectiveness: Commitment & Discipline
– What Jesus asks: total commitment
II. The Tower
– When you plant a vineyard, you build a tower
– Like a mini- fortress
– Not finishing the tower means having the wrong priorities
III. The War
– Terms of peace = terms of surrender
– Surrender means giving up all your rights
IV. The Disciples
– Fully understood the cost of discipleship
– They were ALL IN 100%
– Huge crowds followed Jesus for the wrong reasons
– If you follow Jesus for the wrong reasons, you will end up surrendering to the enemy: defeated, discouraged, disillusioned, demoralized
V. The Punch line
– Salt losing saltiness is an oxymoron. A contradiction in terms
– A follower of Jesus who is not following Jesus is an oxymoron
“The fastest way for evil to triumph is to have a lot of good people do nothing.”
Key verse:
Luke 14:26-27New International Version (NIV)
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”
Possible questions for your Growth Group this week: Read Luke 14: 25-35
1. What was something you learned or what stood out to you from the sermon last Sunday?
2. Read Luke 14:25-27. The Roman soldier was a profession that demanded high commitment. Are there professions today that require such high commitment? Do you think those professions are worth the sacrifice? What do you think motivates people to sacrifice so much for such careers?
3. What endeavors are you currently passionate about? How much time and effort do you devote to it? Why is it important to you?
4. Read Luke 14: 28-30. The tower illustration is all about priorities. Name 3 top priorities in your life? Does your schedule and your checkbook reflect those priorities?
5. What place does Jesus have in your priority list? How much time and effort do you devote in serving him in any given week?
6. Read Matthew 20:18-20. What does discipleship mean to you? Do you think discipleship is required of all Christians or do you think it is only for a select few who are willing to go further?
7. On a scale of 1-10, (with 10 being absolutely committed) how would you rate your commitment to Jesus? Why do you say that?
8. Jesus does not expect perfection from us. However, he expects us to grow. What measures are you taking in order to grow as a follower of Jesus?
Sunday’s Question to Ponder:
9. Have you experienced a time in your life when following Jesus cost you something? How did it affect your life? What would it have cost you if you did not follow Jesus?