Lessons on Service, Friday

0:00Hey kids, welcome to Junior Sprechesis. Go grab your Bibles. We're gonna be digging in and learning some really exciting stories. Let's get started. Our memory verse for this week has been Matthew 10, 38 and 39. It says, He who does not take up His cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. He who finds His life will lose it. And He who loses His life for my sake will find it. Matthew 10, 38 and 39. Jesus pulls no punches when it comes to the price of following Him and that it's clearly intentional. Following Jesus will cost you your life. But the eternal spiritual life gained in return is worth any cost that we may pay physically. The price is one that we must consider for ourselves today. Friday, the cost of discipleship, Luke 14, 25 to 35.

1:01Jesus has been teaching in the home of one of the rulers of the Pharisees. He's been invited there for dinner on a Sabbath and the lessons that he taught the other guests had convinced them that they needed to make some changes in the way that they lived. Some of those dinner guests could have been in the great multitudes following Jesus on the road the next day. Many of the people in that huge crowd probably believe that Jesus was indeed the Messiah and that He would soon declare Himself to be the King of Israel. But knowing their thoughts and the great disappointment that they would soon have, Jesus quickly stopped. He wanted to talk with them about it, turning so as He was facing the people. He told them something of the cost of following Him. What did He say that they had to do? First, Luke 14, 25 to 27. Now, great multitudes went with Him and He turned and said to them,

2:02if 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. And whoever does not bear His cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple. Now the word hate in verse 26 is what we call a figure of speech. It means to love ourselves and others less than we love Jesus. In other words, it means to love Jesus more than anything else. Read how it's written in Matthew 10, 37. He who loves His Father or Mother more than me is not worthy of me. And He who loves His Son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Then Jesus told two parables to show how important it is to first count the cost of being a Christian. For some it might mean the loss of their non-Christian friends. And for working people, it might mean the loss of a job because of the Sabbath.

3:03Read those parables for yourself in Luke 14 verses 28 to 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, less, after he has laid the foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, this man began to build and was not able to finish. Or what king going to make war against another king does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with 10,000 to meet him who come and gets to with 20,000? Or else, while the other is still great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever you does not forsake all that he has cannot be my disciple. Jesus then talked about salt, Luke 14, 34 and 35. And another time he said, have salt in yourselves, Mark 950. You see salt was a symbol of his righteousness

4:03and to have his righteousness in ourselves. We must have the righteous living Christ living through us. Read what Paul said in Galatians 2 20. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. Now quickly, let's apply this. To be real Christians, we must always be willing to give up everything to obey Jesus. That's what verse 33 says. Some children have done that with their non-Christian parents who have put them out of their homes. So what does the Bible say about that? Read Psalm 2710. When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take care of me. This podcast is sponsored by mybibelfers.org.