For the last several weeks we have spent time considering that we as followers of Jesus we are to be His disciples. This term “disciple” carries the meaning of being a student or pupil of Jesus. Today we identify with Jesus using the term “Christian” which implies an association or follower of Jesus.
To say you’re a “Christian” carries the idea that you’re a disciple but does it? Many in the Christian world today the understandings of what it means to be a Christian for many is to include a lot of don’t such as movies you can’t see, places you can’t go, things you can’t read. The Christian walk carries the understanding that because you are a Christian you can’t have fun anymore.
This is not true; Christianity is not about a lot of don’ts, but it is about a relationship with Jesus starting with your decision to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. (Rom 10:10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. NIV) Through salvation comes the first act of obedience in believer’s life that of baptism, through the ordinance of baptism we identify with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. The old person who was spiritually dead. (Eph 2:5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved. NIV) This is called “salvation” through salvation we become a “Christian”. I have discovered from my years in the pastorate that there are two types of Christians, the “committed and uncommitted Christian. In Luke 14: 26-27 Jesus defines the committed Christian.
Sermon Text: Luke 14:26-27 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters — yes, even his own life — he cannot be my disciple. 27 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. NIV
ILLUSTRATION: Discipleship Is Not A Second Step In ...By SermonCentral
1"Discipleship is not the second step in Christianity, as if one first becomes a believer in Jesus and then (if he chooses) a disciple, but from the beginning, discipleship is involved in what it means to be a Christian." Committing to becoming a follower of Jesus includes the commitment to become a student or pupil, to learn to be Christ-like each day, to become more like Jesus. When I enlisted in the Army I took an oath to obey the orders and commands given by my superiors. In the same way, you and I have enlisted in the Army of God and our commander in chief is Jesus. As a soldier of (2 Tim 2:3 Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs — he wants to please his commanding officer. NIV)
1st Taking Up the Cross – Luke 14: 27 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
What does it mean to “carry his cross”? The Bible God’s Word is the only place a Christian can turn to define this statement of “carrying his cross”.
Acts 11:24 provides us with an idea of what it means to be a Christian, spiritual profile” of Barnabas, and he appears to be the kind of Christian all of us would do well to emulate. He was a righteous man who obeyed the Word in daily life so that his character was above reproach. He was filled with the Spirit, which explains the effectiveness of his ministry. That he was a man of faith is evident from the way he encouraged the church and then encouraged Saul. New Christians and new churches need people like Barnabas to encourage them in their growth and ministry(2). When the people of Antioch observed the life of Barnabas, they did not see him, but they saw Jesus.
Acts 11:26 ... So for a whole year, Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. NIV
Paul speaking to King Agrippa shared his faith with him. Note Agrippa's response to Paul's appeal to him. Acts 26:28 Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" NIV
From the time of Paul’s Damascus road conversion, he (Paul) had a burning desire to share his conversation with all he came in contact with. He said in 1 Cor 1:18-19 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. NIV As a disciple of Jesus we need to share the message of the cross with others as commanded by Jesus in the “Great Commission” in Matthew 28.
As Christian, we should understand that the Christian walk is not easy. Jesus said that the world would hate us because it hated Him first (Jn 15:18). As a disciple, we could expect to live a life of difficulty in this world, but we are not to be ashamed of the trouble we face but to praise God because we bear His name. 1 Peter 4:16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. NIV
2nd Carrying the Cross – Luke 14:27 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
As a disciple, we must carry our cross as Jesus did. The cross was a symbol of suffering and shame. It was an instrument of execution for criminals by the Romans. The original meaning of the cross is pain, suffering, and death. Because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, it has become the symbol of life. Not because of the cross itself but because of the death of Jesus who died for us. As a Christian, the cross has become the symbol of abundant life. Jesus said that we could not be a disciple if we were not willing to live a life committed to carrying the cross, not a wooden cross but the cross of Jesus. Living life the way Jesus lived.
We must understand there is a cost to be a disciple. Jesus describes the cost of being a disciple in Luke 14:25-33 as you read the text you can’t help seeing the life which Jesus lived and the life situations he faces. If the student, pupil or disciple desires to be like the teacher the disciple must take on the life of the teacher. A “disciple” is a learner, one who attaches himself or herself to a teacher to learn a trade or a subject. Perhaps our nearest modern equivalent is “apprentice,” one who learns by watching and by doing. The word disciple was the most common name for the followers of Jesus Christ and is used 264 times in the Gospels and the Book of Acts (3).
We are to love God with all our hearts and soul. And not to let anything take the place of the Lord in our soul, heart or our lives. Deut 6: 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. NIV
ILLUSTRATION: The Cross Bearers…By Christian Cheong (Sermon Central)
The Lord brought two of his disciples to a road. He gave each one a cross of the same weight and asked them to carry it up to the end of the road, where he would wait for them. After this, the Lord disappeared.
The first disciple carried the cross with ease, while the second disciple lagged, obviously having a hard time. After carrying the cross for a day, the first disciple reached the end of the road and handed the cross to his Master.
"Well done, my son," the Lord told him and patted the first disciple on his back.
The second disciple reached the end of the road in the evening of the second day. When he got there, he threw the cross at the Lord’s feet.
"It’s not fair!" he complained. "You gave me a much heavier cross than the first disciple, which is why it took me longer to get here!"
The Lord looked at his second disciple with sadness. "Son," the Lord said to the disciple, "both crosses are of the same weight."
"But how come I carried mine with much difficulty while he carried his with ease?"
"Do not blame the cross," the Lord told him. "It is because you were complaining as you carried your cross. Every complaint added to the weight of the cross. The first disciple carried his cross with ease because every loving thought diminished its weight.4"
3rd Living the Cross – Luke 14:26-27 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters — yes, even his own life — he cannot be my disciple.
As a disciple of Jesus, we must realize that there is a cost involved. Jesus said in Luke 14:28 "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? NIV The committed Christian must put living for Jesus first in everything.
Consider Paul the Apostle from his conversion to Christianity his life was committed to only one thing. To take the message of the Gospel to all the world. He lived Christ, he loved Christ, and he lived Christ. As a disciple, we must put our lives and our family in second place and put Jesus first. Paul wrote in:
Phil 3:7-11 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ — the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. NIV
Jesus said in John 12:25-26 The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. NIV
A disciples' life must be rooted and grounded in God's Word. Anything else is in opposition to being a disciple. It may seem to be an exorbitant price to pay to become a disciple but we must remember we have been bought with a price, the precious blood of Jesus and we are not our own.
Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope — the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. NIV
Claiming the title of Christian brings the responsibility of becoming a disciple. There is no other way but to take on Jesus for the life of a believer. It is our teacher Jesus who has redeemed us from the penalty of sin and death to the glory’s eternal life with our Creator.
