Sermon Tone Analysis

The Cost of Following Jesus

Introduction: When we follow Jesus we do not lose anything, But following Jesus does cost.

Following Jesus does cost each of us the same thing.

We can not pay for our salvation.

Jesus paid for that.

Following Jesus costs us our convenience, our loyalty and our determination.

These are the expectations for the disciple!

When we follow Jesus we do not lose anything, But following Jesus does cost.

Following Jesus does cost each of us the same thing.

We can not pay for our salvation.

Jesus paid for that.

Following Jesus costs us our convenience, our loyalty and our determination.

These are the expectations for the disciple!

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus

23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

DT: Following Jesus cost us more than we think

Aim: We will willingly sacrifice things which mean a lot to us to follow Jesus.

Following Jesus Will Costs You Your Convenience ()

Explanation: Jesus is approached by a man who makes the declaration, “Jesus I will follow you where ever you go” Jesus responds, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” Jesus was saying are you sure?

a.

Following Jesus is not always convenient

b.

We must be willing to leave our comfort zones

Illustration: Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the amazing Christian martyr of Germany, said, “Discipleship means allegiance to the suffering Christ.”

Great leaders have always demanded personal allegiance.

King Arthur bound his knights to him by rigid vows.

Giuseppe Garibaldi, nineteenth-century Italian patriot, offered his followers hunger, death, and Italy’s freedom.

Sir Winston Churchill’s stirring speech in the House of Commons, May 13, 1940, is best remembered by the dramatic words: “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the amazing Christian martyr of Germany, said, “Discipleship means allegiance to the suffering Christ.”

Great leaders have always demanded personal allegiance.

King Arthur bound his knights to him by rigid vows.

Giuseppe Garibaldi, nineteenth-century Italian patriot, offered his followers hunger, death, and Italy’s freedom.

Sir Winston Churchill’s stirring speech in the House of Commons, May 13, 1940, is best remembered by the dramatic words: “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat.”

G. Curtis Jones, 1000 Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1986), 78.

Application: Following Christ is more than words.

We must be willing to follow Christ even when its not convenient.

Are you willing to follow Christ even when your schedule gets hectic.

Is you Jesus requires you and I to come out of our comfort zones and commit to Christ.

It will not always be easy.

It is tough at times.

People will sometimes pick one you.

Some will lie on you and many will forsake you but you can trust Jesus.

Transition:

Transition:

Following Jesus Will Cost You Your Loyalty ()

Explanation: The text teaches that Jesus asked another man to

2.1.

Burial Rituals.

Jews of the NT period buried their dead promptly, as soon as possible after death and almost always on the same day.

Preparations began at the moment of death: the eyes of the deceased were closed, the corpse was washed with perfumes and ointments (), its bodily orifices were stopped and strips of cloth were wound tightly around the body—binding the jaw closed, the feet together and the hands to the sides of the body ().

The corpse was then placed on a bier and carried in a procession to the family tomb ().

Eulogies were spoken, and the corpse was placed inside the tomb, along with items of jewelry or other personal effects.

The funeral was thus conducted without delay, and most bodies were interred by sunset on the day of death.

But Jewish burial rituals did not conclude with this first, or primary, burial.

A year after the death, members of the immediate family returned to the tomb for a private ceremony in which the bones were reburied after the body had decayed.

Illustration: On the the reality show survivor there is much said about alliances and loyalty.

You will find that regardless of the episode people are switching alliances and their loyalties to each other.

Application: Who gets first dibs in your life?

If it is anyone but Jesus, your loyalties are in the wrong place.

Jesus deserves our time.

We should honor hime with our commitment.

Make Jesus a priority in your life.

What does Jesus have to wait for in your life?

What have you said, I want to do it but I have too much on my plate?

Don’t give other people and other opportunities first place in your life.

Christ wants our loyalty above:

Our Jobs

Our Families

Our Sororities

Our Fraternities

Football

Basketball

the Club

Shopping

Parties

See when you can make these things a priority and before your relationship and service to God, your loyalty is in the wrong place.

Isn’t it interesting that we can make time for these things and when we do not have time time for them we make time for them.

Jesus says, “Make me first” If you are loyal to anything or anyone else your loyalty is misplaced.

Transition: Lastly, Following Jesus will cost you your determination

Following Jesus Will Cost You Your Determination ()

Explanation: Jesus explains to this guy, that you have began the process but you want to leave because you are distracted by your relationships.

In farming, when the farmer plows a field he plows it with determination to complete the task.

He generally keeps going until he finishes.

He does not stop and look back to see how much he has completed and he does not look a head with the intent to see how much more he has until he is finished.

The farmer just works until its done or until its dawn.

Illustration: Stevie Wonder had a song some time ago called my part-time lover . . .

Application: Remain determined to serve God.

Do not become distracted by your past.

Do not become distracted by your attachments.

Do not be distracted by your frustrations.

Do not let your relationships determine you relationship with God.

Some of us cannot handle relationships yet.

Because when they are out of their relationships, they come to church.

When they are in a new relationship they are with their boo.

Jesus does not want to be your part time lover.

Conclusion: