What Is The Cost of Discipleship? - McLean Bible Church
What Is The Cost of Discipleship? - McLean Bible Church
What Is The Cost of Discipleship? - McLean Bible Church
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
LIVING THE INVESTED LIFE:<br />
<strong>What</strong> <strong>Is</strong> <strong>The</strong> <strong>Cost</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Discipleship</strong>?<br />
Message #3<br />
In the first session, we examined, “<strong>What</strong> is discipleship?”<br />
In the second session, we considered, “How do I make disciples?”<br />
In this last session, let us consider, “<strong>What</strong> is the cost <strong>of</strong> discipleship?”<br />
<strong>The</strong>n, as we come to a close, we’re going to have a time <strong>of</strong> prayer, a time <strong>of</strong> worship, and<br />
we’re going to partake <strong>of</strong> the Lord’s Supper.<br />
Introduction<br />
<strong>The</strong> Scriptures clearly teach that eternal salvation is the free gift <strong>of</strong> God.<br />
“For the wages <strong>of</strong> sin is death, but the free gift <strong>of</strong> God is eternal life in Christ<br />
Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)<br />
You can’t earn it. You can’t buy it. You don’t deserve it. God gives it to you for free<br />
because <strong>of</strong> the enormous price His Son paid on the cross.<br />
That said, becoming a true and faithful disciple is not free. Nor is the decision not to<br />
make disciples.<br />
Both are immensely costly.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Cost</strong> <strong>of</strong> Becoming A True Disciple<br />
When it came to talking about the cost <strong>of</strong> becoming a true and faithful disciple, Jesus<br />
did not mince words.<br />
<br />
<br />
“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife<br />
and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My<br />
disciple.” (Luke 14:26)<br />
“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy <strong>of</strong> Me; and he who<br />
loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy <strong>of</strong> Me.” (Matthew 10:37)<br />
<strong>What</strong> did Jesus mean?<br />
<strong>What</strong> is holding you back from giving all <strong>of</strong> yourself to Jesus?<br />
<strong>What</strong> else did Jesus say?<br />
1
“So, then, none <strong>of</strong> you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own<br />
possessions.” (Luke 14:33)<br />
<strong>What</strong> did Jesus mean?<br />
<strong>What</strong> is holding you back from giving all <strong>of</strong> your earthly possessions to Jesus?<br />
<strong>What</strong> else did Jesus say?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
“Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My<br />
disciple.” (Luke 14:27)<br />
“You will be hated by all because <strong>of</strong> My name, but it is the one who has endured<br />
to the end who will be saved.” (Matthew 10:22)<br />
“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. It is enough for<br />
the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they<br />
have called the head <strong>of</strong> the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the<br />
members <strong>of</strong> his household….Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to<br />
kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in<br />
hell.” (Matthew 10:24-26, 28)<br />
“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all<br />
kinds <strong>of</strong> evil against you because <strong>of</strong> Me. Rejoice and be glad, for great is your<br />
reward in heaven.” (Matthew 5:11-12)<br />
<strong>What</strong> did Jesus mean?<br />
Are you fearful <strong>of</strong> ridicule, rejection, persecution and/or death?<br />
<strong>Is</strong> this what’s holding you back from being discipled? <strong>Is</strong> this what’s holding you back<br />
from making disciples?<br />
<strong>What</strong> about the “great reward” our Savior promises to those who love Him enough to<br />
obey Him, not matter what the cost?<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Cost</strong> <strong>of</strong> Not Making Disciples<br />
Yes, there is a cost to becoming a true and faithful disciple.<br />
But there is also a cost in not becoming a true disciple – and cost in not making<br />
disciples.<br />
In the big picture, I see a real tragedy unfolding around the world, but especially in the<br />
2
American <strong>Church</strong>.<br />
Many Christians seem to believe that “busyness is next to godliness.” <strong>The</strong>y behave as if<br />
moving fast, thinking big, and focusing on the many is a more valuable approach to life<br />
than slowing down, thinking small, and faithfully investing in a few.<br />
As a result, many Christians – including church leaders – are living lives <strong>of</strong> speed,<br />
exhaustion, and emptiness, not lives <strong>of</strong> quietness, contentment, joy, and lasting fruit.<br />
And because<br />
the faith <strong>of</strong> many “believers” is no more than skin deep, their lives are fruitless and<br />
defeated.<br />
How much different is the typical American Christian from the typical American<br />
unsaved person?<br />
Generally speaking, are American Christian really winning great victories over<br />
pornography, sexual promiscuity, adultery, homosexuality, abortion, divorce, drug and<br />
alcohol addiction, dysfunctionality, and depression?<br />
And I’m not talking about politics – I talking about winning victory over sin and<br />
temptation in our own personal lives.<br />
Are American Christians significantly godlier and healthier from the society at large, a<br />
society that is increasing risk <strong>of</strong> moral, spiritual and fiscal implosion?<br />
<strong>The</strong> apostle Paul warned us in 2 Timothy 3:5 (NIV) <strong>of</strong> those “having a form <strong>of</strong> godliness<br />
but denying its power.”<br />
Yet, sadly, we see evidence <strong>of</strong> this within the church the world over.<br />
This is the cost <strong>of</strong> not making disciples.<br />
This is the cost <strong>of</strong> little churches when they operate like little neighborhood social<br />
clubs, not as warm and welcoming light houses trying to rescue desperate people lost in<br />
the darkness and helping them become new creations in Christ.<br />
This is the cost <strong>of</strong> big churches when they move too fast, think too big, and cut too<br />
many corners on the things that matter most; when they operate as big institutions,<br />
rather than as warm and welcoming light houses trying to rescue desperate people lost<br />
in the darkness and helping them become new creations in Christ.<br />
3
Please hear my heart:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I’m not against small churches – I grew up in one; Koshy led one – but I don’t<br />
believe smaller churches are better because they are smaller.<br />
I’m not against big churches – I’ve been a member <strong>of</strong> one for 22 years – but I<br />
don’t believe big is necessarily better.<br />
<strong>The</strong> first <strong>Church</strong> in Jerusalem was healthy and pleasing Christ on the day before<br />
Pentecost when it was small, just 120 people.<br />
It was healthy and pleasing Christ on Pentecost when 3,000 people suddenly<br />
received Christ and needed to be baptized and disciple.<br />
It was healthy years later when James told Paul that more than 20,000 people<br />
had come to faith and been baptized and were being discipled.<br />
Why was the <strong>Church</strong> healthy in each <strong>of</strong> these different sizes? Because its leaders<br />
and its member had a Supreme Love for Christ.<br />
Several years ago, I had the joy <strong>of</strong> preaching throughout India with Dr. Koshy.<br />
One day we spoke at a church in Chennai that I believe was the first congregation<br />
God used Brother Bakht Singh to plant. <strong>The</strong>re were 4,000 people there. <strong>The</strong><br />
service lasted nine hours. No air conditioning. No chairs (except for the most<br />
elderly). No cafeteria. <strong>The</strong>re were four sermons. I preached two. With two<br />
translators. People worshipped on their knees. Every person had their <strong>Bible</strong> with<br />
them. Nine hours. <strong>The</strong>y were hungry to know Christ. <strong>The</strong>y were hungry to be<br />
found faithful disciples. Should the pastor have been criticized because there<br />
were too many disciples there? Of course not.<br />
<strong>The</strong> issue isn’t size – the issue is heart.<br />
o the condition <strong>of</strong> the pastor’s heart<br />
o the condition <strong>of</strong> the congregation’s heart<br />
o the faithfulness <strong>of</strong> the people to love Jesus with all their heart, soul, mind<br />
and strength, and to love their neighbors as themselves<br />
o the faithfulness <strong>of</strong> the people to the heart <strong>of</strong> the Great Commission<br />
o the faithfulness <strong>of</strong> the leaders to following the model <strong>of</strong> the early church<br />
Now, let’s take a moment to talk about the personal cost <strong>of</strong> not making disciples.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
We miss opportunity to experience the joy <strong>of</strong> Jesus Christ because we’re<br />
disobeying the Great Commission<br />
We miss the opportunity to make life-long friendships with those we’re investing<br />
in<br />
We miss the joy <strong>of</strong> seeing younger believers grow and mature and bear fruit in<br />
Christ Jesus<br />
4
We miss understanding a deep and powerful level what the Body <strong>of</strong> Christ – the<br />
<strong>Church</strong> -- is really supposed to be<br />
As we close, let’s turn to Acts chapter two.<br />
“<strong>The</strong>y were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to<br />
fellowship, to the breaking <strong>of</strong> bread, and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense<br />
<strong>of</strong> awe; many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all<br />
who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began<br />
selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone<br />
might have need.<br />
“Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from<br />
house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity<br />
<strong>of</strong> heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was<br />
adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.”<br />
(Acts 2:42-47)<br />
<strong>What</strong> a beautiful picture <strong>of</strong> the early <strong>Church</strong>!<br />
Those first disciples in Jerusalem were gathered together:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
to study the Apostle’s teaching/doctrine – and apply it to their lives<br />
to have deep and rich fellowship – to encourage one other to grow strong in the<br />
faith and share their faith with others<br />
to break bread together – that is, to partake <strong>of</strong> the Lord’s Supper and worship<br />
Christ for His sacrificial death on the cross<br />
And to pray – for each other, for their leaders, for the lost, for the people they<br />
were sharing the Gospel with, for the people they were discipling<br />
<strong>The</strong>y were full <strong>of</strong> the Holy Spirit and full <strong>of</strong> joy.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y were expectant to see God move in great power, and unashamed <strong>of</strong> the Gospel <strong>of</strong><br />
His grace.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y were living the abundant life, and they were experiencing the invested life.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y were seeing the fruit <strong>of</strong> the Spirit grow in their own lives, and they were seeing<br />
people come to Christ day by day.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Church</strong> was growing – in depth and in numbers.<br />
This is a true culture <strong>of</strong> discipleship.<br />
5
This is the standard.<br />
This is what Christ tells us to aim for – and the good news is that by God’s grace it is<br />
reachable. So let’s reach it.<br />
Conclusion<br />
Gentlemen, I realize there is so much more to be said.<br />
But I hope you found today helpful in beginning to discover what it means to live the<br />
invested life.<br />
I hope the book is helpful – it just one <strong>of</strong> many resources, but my prayer is that you find<br />
it a useful guide in unpacking what the Scriptures have to say about being a disciple and<br />
making disciples.<br />
Let us close now where we began – with two simple questions:<br />
<br />
<br />
Who is investing in you?<br />
Whom are you investing in?<br />
Sadly, most Christians have no answers. Indeed, most Christians have never asked these<br />
questions <strong>of</strong> themselves or others.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Church</strong> today is currently experiencing an epic failure <strong>of</strong> discipleship – and this is<br />
why so many people who say they are following Christ are so weak, so unfruitful, and so<br />
discouraged in their faith.<br />
But that doesn’t have to be you. Maybe it is today, but the good news is that God wants<br />
to invest more in you, and help you invest in others, if only you are willing.<br />
Jesus Christ is looking for a few good men to surrender all and follow Him.<br />
Are you in?<br />
----------------------------<br />
Invitation to become a disciple <strong>of</strong> Jesus Christ – pray for them.<br />
Invitation to become a disciple-maker – pray for them.<br />
[<strong>The</strong> Lord’s Supper.]<br />
6