January 29, 2001
Title of Bible Study Lesson: Dues of Discipleship
Theme: The High Cost of Discipleship
Age Level: Junior High and High School Young Men
Scripture Passage: Luke 14:25-35
Related Scriptures: 2 Timothy 3:12, Luke 9:59-62, Philippians 3:7,
Luke 14:33, Luke 16:13, Judges 9:45.
Selected Memory Passage (optional): Luke 14:27(?)
Learner’s in the Group:
Learner’s Needs
to consider the cost of submitting to Christ’s lordship.
to prioritize life goals and daily activities according to God’s
will.
to be an example of righteous living in an unholy world.
to be encouraged to conduct daily personal Bible study.
to study and apply the Scripture passage for themselves.
to find and take opportunities to share the Gospel and what God has
done in their lives.
Learner’s Interests
They enjoy going to Bible study with other young men.
They desire to share stories, experiences, and opinions with others.
They especially like challenge and compete with each other.
Learner’s Abilities:
With guidance, students can use the discovery method of Bible study.
The students can correlate past Biblical events with current issues.
They can apply the truths they learned while studying Scripture.
They can express concern and pray for the needs of each other.
Outline of Content:
Background – Luke 14:25
Introduction – Luke 14:26
Thesis – Luke 14:27
Illustration I – Luke 14:28-30
Illustration II – Luke 14:31-32
Restatement of Thesis – Luke 14:33
Final Result – Luke 14:34-35
Specific Aim:
Identify what can hinder our walk with Christ.
Consider what changes need to be made to become more like Christ.
Daily practice denying yourself of selfish ambitions.
Analyze the submissive example of Christ to God the Father.
Desire to follow Christ in every area of life.
Compare tasteless salt to a bankrupt Christian.
Sincerely develop a submissive outlook to God’s will.
Lesson Outline:
[Pre-Session] Discussion of witnessing experiences.
Reviewing last week (the woman at the well, John 4), how have we shared the
gospel with the people God placed in our lives this past week? How did we relate
to the inquirer? Did we talk about their need of forgiveness? How did we help
clarify their theological questions? Did we present Jesus as the Messiah?
["Hook"] Question on Chalkboard. Sharing.
Today, there are innumerable "members only" clubs that have
standards for membership. [Discuss] Costco and Country clubs require a monetary
membership fee. The DMV requires auto insurance of all licensed drivers. The
speech club team requires members to participate in public speaking meetings.
The baseball team requires players to show up not only for games, but also for
practice.
Transition:
Likewise, Christ also set a membership standard for His disciples. It isn’t
an annual fee (in contrast to the charity obligation of Muslim oil cartels) or a
participation requirement (in contrast to the endless grind of Jehovah’s
Witnesses / Mormons). Instead, it is a calling to give up selfish ambitions
and follow Christ. We are called to consider the calling of God as most
important in our lives, far above any person or possession which might ensnare
us. Let’s turn to Luke 14:25 to begin our study of the cost of being a
disciple.
"Book". Questions on a worksheet. Open Q&A time.
Background:
Who followed after Jesus? (v.25)
Immense throngs were following Him.
Why so many people?
because of His works (healing, mastery of nature, etc.)…
and because of His words (rejection of status quo in religious
circles, proclamation of the Kingdom of God, unique insight into
Scripture).
[Transition] Picture illustrations.
With the multitudes in hot pursuit of Christ, Jesus issues a call to consider
one’s motives in following Christ. Oftentimes, people will pursue someone
because of their charisma (i.e. Arnold Schwartzenager or Ronald Reagan). Yet
Jesus gives a warning to those who "go with the flow" of the crowd
without commitment to the call of the Savior.
Introduction: (v.26) Questions on a worksheet. Open Q&A time.
How did Jesus get the multitudes’ attention?
Jesus issued a sharp statement that ran against the grain of
traditional Jewish thinking.
What was Jesus asking for in verse 26?
Did Christ command to hate? A true disciple’s attitude towards
earthly matters will seem like disdain in comparison with his true
love, devotion, and loyalty to the will of God. One’s loyalty to
Jesus must come before his loyalty to his family or even to life
itself. A true disciple will not hang on to those relationships if
they keep him from committing himself to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Correlation: Luke 9:59-62
Where did these men put their first focus?
Each man was focused on his home rather than on following Christ.
How did Christ respond?
"I’m not going to accept you because you are to attached
to your family. You’ll never be willing to pay the price of
discipleship." Jesus considered burying the dead, saying
goodbye, or looking backwards while plowing to be counterfeit to the
true cost of discipleship.
How does this relate to today’s world?
Many people will not take a stand because they are afraid it will
disrupt their families. But Jesus taught that a true disciple will
forsake his family if necessary.
In the Judeo-Christian Western world, the extreme aspects of leaving family
are not often practiced. However, as in Jesus’ day, a Hebrew Jew becoming a
Christian today would encounter great persecution from his family. In the same
way, today, if a Muslim became a Christian, he would face stiff opposition such
as the death penalty. Closer to home, the manifestation of true faith is
evidenced by a commitment that will not be ultimately swayed by any outside
influence. Sure, you love your family. But if you are a real disciple, your
commitment to Christ must be so deep that you will say no, if necessary.
Thesis: (v.27) Questions on a worksheet. Open Q&A time. Picture
illustrations(?)
What was a cross in ancient times?
The disciples (except Judas Iscariot) were all from Galilee. There
had been a recent rebellion in Galilee led by Judas of Galilee. Judas
had gathered a band of men together to throw the Romans out. But the
Romans crushed Judas and his insurrection. The Roman general, Varus,
decided to teach the Jews a lesson so he crucified over two thousand
Jews. Then, he put their crosses all along the roads of Galilee so
everybody could see them. Also, every Jew that was crucified carried
the crossbeam for his own execution on his back.
The cross was a symbol of painful, torturous death. The most
excruciating death man ever invented was crucifixion. It is a slow
death; and the slumping of the body on the wounds created by the
nails, not only causes excruciating pain, but eventually suffocates
the internal organs.
What is a cross in modern times?
Some say, "My parents are my cross", or "My brother
is my cross", or "My little sister is my cross", or
"My math book is my cross". However, these are not crosses.
What did the crowd think a cross was?
Had they seen Christ on the cross? No. When He spoke of a cross,
they understood him to be talking about dying – just plain old
dying.
What did the disciples think a cross was?
The disciples understood that to take up the cross mean abandoning
themselves to the Lordship of Christ, even if it meant their lives.
Why did Christ say this? It wasn’t a fuzzy call to belief. It wasn’t a
self-help answer to life’s problems. It wasn’t an invitation to cheap
conviction or faith. T.V. and radio talk show hosts bask in the limelight of
compromise and human apathy. Instead of welcoming the accolades of the
uncommitted masses, Christ sought only those who were willing to invest all they
had in His kingdom. He is calling for unquestionable loyalty to Him, denial of
self service, and laying aside of the old self. In taking up the cross, we must
practice self-denial and let go of anything which impedes our commitment to Him.
This is it means to carry a modern cross is: practicing self-denial and letting
go of anything which impedes or hinders our commitment to Him.
[Transition]
With the I-beam of commitment set to heavenly standards, Christ gives the
multitudes an admonition to consider the cost of being a disciple. People
consider many things in life, such as what school to go to, what college to
attend, what career to go into, where to live, who to marry, etc. Jesus calls
the multitudes to "sit down and consider" the issue and decision of
one’s eternal destiny.
Illustration I: (vv. 28-30) Questions on a worksheet. Open Q&A time.
What should the builder be concerned about?
He needs to be concerned with what he will have to put into the
project. How much it will cost him to carry out the mission? Commentator
Matthew Henry says, "…It will cost them the mortifying of their
sins, even the most beloved lusts; it will cost them a life of
self-denial and watchfulness, and a constant course of holy duties; it
may perhaps, cost them their reputation among men, their estates and
liberties, and all that is dear to them in this world, even life
itself."
Why should he be concerned about this?
The end result is not mentioned, but failure to meet the end result
is highlighted. If he does not complete it, he himself will be
ridiculed. Not only will he be jeered, but Jesus Christ whom he
represents will be mocked. In ourselves, none of us has the power to
finish this tower; but Christ said, "My grace is sufficient for
thee", and that grace shall not be lacking to any of us, if we seek
for it and make use of it.
Illustration II: (vv. 31-32) Questions on a worksheet. Open Q&A time.
According to this illustration, what is the Christian up against?
The Christian is in a military mindset as a soldier of Christ against
the forces of the evil one. The king is in a position where he must do
something; he cannot sit idle.
Why would the king send a delegation of peace? What spiritual
implication does this give?
It is better to stay with the world than to hypocritically pretend to
renounce it and then return to it when tribulation or persecution comes.
It was better for the Rich Young Ruler to walk away sorrowful from
Christ than to deceitfully stay with Him and then flee when it cost him
too much.
[Transition] Biographical depiction
Unlike the Rich Young Ruler, there was a man who initially submitted to
Christ and became a disciple. He shared a persistent misunderstanding of Jesus’
mission. He expected Jesus to make the right political moves. What was his
name? Judas Iscariot. When Jesus kept talking about dying, Judas and the
rest of the disciples felt varying degrees of anger, fear, and disappointment.
They didn’t understand why they had been chosen if Jesus’ mission was doomed
to fail. In choosing to make the greatest mistake in history, Judas didn’t
lose his relationship with Jesus; rather, he never found Jesus in the first
place.
Judas does us a favor if he makes us think a second time about our commitment
to God and the presence of God’s Spirit within us. Are we true disciples and
followers, or uncommitted pretenders? Judas’s betrayal sent Jesus to the cross
which guaranteed our salvation. Will we accept Jesus’ free gift, or like
Judas, betray him? Unlike Judas, the man who counts the cost is willing to dig
deep, he thinks about the responsibility, he understands what he is committing
to, and he wants to do it right.
Restatement of Thesis: (v.26)
Where is the phrase "his own" used in this section
(vv.25-35)?
"his own" relatives (v.26), "his own" life
(v.26), "his own" possessions (v.33). The individual in the
crowd is encouraged to surrender the things of highest personal value.
What does it mean to give something up?
His disciples must be willing to reject all earthly bonds and
possessions that would interfere with God’s supreme will over their
lives.
Moving back to Judas, let’s look at a cross-reference which ties in this
principle of giving up all: John 12:4-6. Judas’ true motives
were revealed in verse 6, where it says that he was a pilfering thief. Instead
of giving up his own agenda to follow Christ, Judas remained in his hard-hearted
sin. Judas’ commitment to Christ’s will was non-existent. His heart was
focused on temporal things.
Two chapters over, in Luke 16:13 Jesus highlights those who
have spiritual myopia or double-vision. Relatives, possessions, and even life
itself must take back stage to the will of God revealed in His Word.
What are some of your most prized possessions? [Discuss] For some, it
might be your computer, telephone, TV, electronic games, bike, or bank account.
For me, I really enjoy my book library. I just recently finished publishing
online my library book list (www.jeremytiss.com). I have spent a lot of time
with my library and I enjoy reading the books in it. Is Christ saying to throw
it all to the wind? What He is trying to get across is that if it hinders our
walk with Him, do without.
[Transition]
Yet some people feel they cannot go without. They are like the salt that
Jesus describes in verses 34-35.
Final Result – Luke 14:34-35 Object illustration: Have one or more
people taste salt mixed with cornstarch, and pure sea salt.
What kind of salt is tasteless?
Salt that is mixed with other impurities loses its distinctive
flavor. However, a life that is submissive to the Spirit and His Word
emit a spiritual zest or flavor to the people around him (Not by words
or deeds necessarily, but by a heart attitude.) But a life that is
focused on two things, the world and Christ, will dilute his witness
and loose his flavor. Salt that has no taste is like a spiritually
bankrupt Christian.
What is the destiny of salt that has lost its flavor?
In Judges 9:45, Abimelech destroyed Shechem (where Jacob’s well
is) and scattered salt throughout the city in order for it to remain
perpetually desolate. In the same way, when useless salt is cast out,
it suffocates whatever life is left in the soil.
Do we blend into the world to avoid the cost of standing up for Christ? Do we
compromise our testimony to satisfy our boss, our friends, or our relatives? Or
on the other hand, do we taste different from the world around us? Do we taste
like salt in the midst of a decaying society (salt is a preservative). Do we
seek to season with God’s love the lives of those He places before us?
Look: Final Application
Christ was asking for total commitment, in good times and in bad. For those
who have not committed their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ, I would encourage
you to "sit down and consider" the doing so. It is easy to fall
captive to the temporal fear of man and overlook the eternal fear of God. For
those of you who have dedicated your life to Christ, do we look back while
plowing? I would encourage you to search your heart and see if there be any area
that you are not submitting to the will of God. You might be like Judas, who
follows Christ in name, yet holds onto his own agenda and sin. Or, you find
yourself going with the flow of the crowd, like salt diluted with the cornstarch
of compromise.
Took: Where can we go from here?
Maybe your focus has been distracted by friends, possessions, or a love of
self. Hopefully, you have identified an area God wants you to change in your
life. As a disciple, pray and trust Him for the strength and power to be
submissive to Him. Let us be in the Word daily, so that we can know His will.
Let us pray for each other, that we would be submissive to Him, even when the
cost seems high.
Works Consulted:
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. The Cost of Discipleship. Trans. F.H. Fuller.
New York, New York: Touchstone. 1959.
Hale, Thomas. The Applied New Testament Commentary. Colorado
Springs, Colorado: Victor Books. 1996.
Henry, Matthew. Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible.
Hendrickson Publishers, Inc. 1991.
MacArthur, John. The MacArthur Study Bible. Nashville, Tennessee:
Word Bibles. 1997.
------. The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Matthew 16-23. Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago. 1988.
------. The Hallmarks of Discipleship: Study Notes on Matthew 10:24-42.
Panorama City, California: Word of Grace Communications. 1982.
Morris, Canon Leon. Luke: An Introduction and Commentary. Grand
Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. 1988. Revised
Edition.
Ryrie, Charles Caldwell. Ryrie Study Bible, Expanded Edition.
Chicago, Illinois: Moody Press. 1995.
------. Balancing the Christian Life. Moody Bible Institute of
Chicago. 1994.
Walvoord, John F. and Roy B. Zuck. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: New
Testament. Colorado Springs, Colorado: Victor Books. 1983.
Zondervan Corporation. Life Application Study Bible: New American
Standard Bible—Updated Edition. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan
Publishing House. 2000.