Preacher's Corner
Sermon Outline for Sunday Morning 7/25/2010
Making Disciples Not Increasing Attendance
Luke 14:25-31 -
Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, (26) "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. (27) And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. (28) For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it — (29) lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, (30) saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' (31) Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? NKJV
Our commandment as the church is to ‘‘make disciples’’.
‘‘Disciple’’ is the most common word in the New Testament for followers of Christ, used 264 times in the Gospels and Acts.
A phrase used three times by Jesus is ‘‘cannot be My disciple.’’
Until this point in the gospel, multitudes were following Him.
This becomes the turning point passage. Jesus was interested in making disciples, not increasing attendance.
1. Commandment To Be Kept.
Luke 14:25-26 -
Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, (26) "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. NKJV
-
Jesus’ words sound harsh.
-
At this point He is saying that we are not to love anyone ‘‘more than Me.’’
-
Jesus’ question to Peter after the Resurrection was, ‘‘Do you love me?’’
-
How often has Jesus said, ‘‘Follow Me,’’ and we have answered, ‘‘But first . . .’’.
2. Cross To Be Carried.
Luke 14:27 -
And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. NKJV
-
Salvation is through coming to the Cross; discipleship is through carrying the Cross.
-
Jesus commanded those who would follow Him to take up the cross daily. It is not just a one-time experience.
-
We must realize that it is a cross, not a thorn.
-
Crosses are voluntary, a decision—thorns are not.
3. Cost That Has Been Counted. (Luke 14:28–33)
Luke 14:28-33 -
For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it — (29) lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, (30) saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' (31) Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? (32) Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. (33) So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. NKJV
-
This passage is often viewed from the perspective that we must count the cost.
-
But, consider this: Jesus is the builder and the King. He has counted the cost; He knows what it will take to build His kingdom. There is no math for us to do because here is the bottom line: ‘‘Every one of you who does not say good-bye to all his possessions cannot be my disciple’’.
-
We must have the attitude that ‘‘I don’t have to survive.’’
-
That attitude is seen in all those God has used to build His kingdom. Abraham, Hebrew boys, Daniel, Esther, the widow, Stephen, Paul and yes Jesus.
There is one question which determines if I am a disciple, ‘‘Have I given up everything for Christ?’’
It could also be asked, ‘‘Am I in control, or is He in control?’’
The issue is one of surrender.
Evening Service 7/25/2010
Son of Encouragement
Acts 4:36 -
And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus,
Character is what God knows you are. Reputation is what people think you are.
There can be an enormous gap between the two.
In our culture the emphasis is usually placed on ‘‘image.’’
The great thing about Barnabas is that his character and his reputation were very much in pace.
We see his influence in:
1. Encouraging the Church.
Acts 4:36-37 -
And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, (37) having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet. NKJV
-
There was a generous spirit about Barnabas.
-
It’s relatively easy to be a ‘‘taker,’’ but what a joy to find a ‘‘giver.’’
2. Encouraging Someone Disliked.
Acts 9:26-27 -
And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. (27) But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. NKJV
-
Barnabas said, ‘‘let’s reach out to this guy.’’
3. Encouraging Someone Who Failed.
Acts 15:36-39 -
Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing." (37) Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. (38) But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. (39) Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; NKJV
-
Barnabas gave up traveling with the great apostle Paul in order to pour his life into this wobbly kid Mark.
If it hadn’t been for the encouragement of Barnabas, we wouldn’t have had Mark’s Gospel or Paul’s Epistles.
Who can you encourage this week?